Overview
Introduction
Founded in the Bay Area in 1962 with three attorneys, Farella Braun + Martel LLP is now a midsize firm and home to over 120 attorneys. It enjoys a solid reputation for corporate transactions and complex commercial litigation, particularly impressive credentials in the renewable energy industry, and—uniquely—a wine industry team in [its] Napa Valley office serving vintners and distributors. The firm has been nationally recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers, Law360
Firm Stats
Total No. Attorneys (2024)
No. of Partners Named (2023)
Featured Rankings
No. of 1st Year Associates Hired (2024)
No. of Summer Associates (2023)
Base Salary
Vault Verdict
For associates who want to be in northern California and experience top-shelf work opportunities in beautiful settings with engaged partners, look no further than Farella. Candidates typically come from top Bay Area schools and have high grades, work experience, and a clerkship background. Coworkers are personable and supportive, and they enjoy socializing together, but not to the detriment of their personal lives. Partners are receptive to associate questions and input while caring about associate well-being and development, which are realized through associates working one-on-one with partners and intensive, firmwide trainings and workshops. Lateral hires are onboarded and made part of the team right away. Lean staffing leads to engaging, challenging work and client contact, tho...
About the Firm
Headquartered in Northern California, Farella Braun + Martel specializes in sophisticated transactions and complex commercial, civil, and criminal litigation. The firm and its attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, U.S. News—Best Lawyers and Law360.
From Trolleys to Vines
Founded in 1962 as a three-lawyer firm in San Francisco, Farella Braun + Martel now has a legal team of more than 120 attorneys and a presence in Napa Valley. A regional firm with a national reach, Farella represents multinational corporations, privately owned entities, exempt organizations, and private clients in business transactions and complex litiga...
Associate Reviews
- “The firm's culture is informal and supportive. Lawyers frequently socialize together organically. There are also numerous firm-sponsored social events. The day-to-day atmosphere is friendly, and lawyers and staff interact very collegially.”
- “The firm sponsors social events, which are well-attended. People here are smart, interesting, and personable. I genuinely enjoy interacting with my colleagues.”
- “The people here are so great to work with—genuinely nice, caring people. I love hanging out with my colleagues for lunches or going to get boba. We have firm social events and get-togethers about once a month or so, but we also really prioritize everyone having their own family time, too, so this isn't a firm where you're going to be going to social events until late into the evening multiple nights a week.”
- “Farella is an exceptionally social firm where attorneys/staff often grab impromptu lunches and plan more-structured events. There is a well-attended retreat to Tahoe or another northern California destination. It is a very collegial environment where practice groups are encouraged to comingle.”
Diversity at Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Getting Hired Here
- “I believe the firm's hiring process is very competitive. The firm looks closely at grades, prior work experience, and clerkships. While there is no stock type, the firm values associates who will be a good ‘fit’—i.e., engaged, intelligent, and personable. The firm values its ‘nice, friendly’ culture and looks for people who exhibit those qualities. The firm frequently hires summer associates from Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, and UC Law SF (formerly Hastings). It casts a wider net when looking for laterals.”
- “The top Bay Area schools tend to be the biggest feeder schools. Because Farella is a well-known regional firm with a smaller summer class, it is highly selective (only a handful of offers are made for each summer class). Farella has a recruiting committee and a multistep process to reduce bias in the hiring process. Candidates who receive an offer usually were rated as ‘excellent’ unilaterally by their interviewers and the committee. Excellent ratings are usually only provided to candidates who are well-rounded and sociable, demonstrate high judgment, and are forward-thinking. More often, the firm has given offers to those with prior work experience.”
- “We hire from Stanford and Berkeley. Grades are, of course, very important. We also look for associates who have a particular interest in the firm and in the work that they're going to be hired to do. We want people who are going to stay and grow rather than people who are going to use Farella as a bridge to a career elsewhere.”
- “The firm seeks out friendly and hardworking candidates and truly values collegiality. The firm frequently hires from Berkeley, Stanford, and UC Law SF but is trying to expand into other law schools.”
Perks & Benefits