Prominent Napa law firm adds new Santa Rosa office
By JENNIFER HUFFMAN Napa Valley Register Business Writer
Saturday, February 03, 2007Long a legal powerhouse in Napa, Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty has acquired a small Santa Rosa law firm and will establish an office in Santa Rosa.
The addition of Rybicki & Blevans adds a new practice area to DP&F -- labor and employment. Effective Thursday, the Santa Rosa labor law boutique retained the name Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty.
The merger means DP&F will run a full-service office in downtown Santa Rosa, giving the firm "a platform for further development of its representation in wine, hospitality, land use, real estate, commercial disputes, intellectual property, trusts and estates and litigation," according to a press release.
Attorneys Brandon Blevans, Richard Rybicki and Patrick Sutton, and two non-attorney staff joined DP&F, bringing the firm's roster to 28 attorneys supported by 28 staffers. The courtship began two years ago as the firms began collaborating on various projects, said Blevans. For the past six months Rybicki & Blevans have shared office space with DP&F in Napa.
"We found that our style and quality of our work were very similar," said Blevans. "DP&F's attention to detail and client service mirrored our own. It became a very natural fit."
Blevans and partner Richard Rybicki will become directors at DP&F.
Rybicki lives in Napa and Blevans lives in Santa Rosa. But Blevans is no stranger to Napa Valley -- his father is an attorney in town and family lives in Yountville.
Blevans is also a well-known speaker on labor law issues at various Napa Chamber of Commerce functions.
The Rybicki & Blevans practice opened in July 2002.
Established in 1965, DP&F recently created three inter-disciplinary practice groups, including wine, hospitality and commercial ventures and wealth management.
"Each practice group provides one point of contact for clients who often have multiple, inter-related legal needs and objectives" said Dave Meyers, the managing director of the firm.
"The addition of Rybicki & Blevans to the firm will assist in the provision of legal services in these practice groups, as well as functioning as labor and employment counsel for a host of clients," Meyers said.
The locations of the firms also provided an incentive for its combination, according to Meyers.
"The combination is an exciting development for our clients and will provide us with a solid foundation for expansion of our practice to an ever-increasing client base in both Napa and Sonoma counties -- the areas we live in, work in and know best," said Meyers.
According to Blevans, the merger is only the first step for the growing firm. "We do plan on expanding the size of the offices in both valleys."
In other words, said Blevans, "We are still looking to hire more lawyers." |
