Arent Fox LLP, a leading national law firm, announced that its new San Francisco office will be located in the KPMG Building at 55 2nd Street in the city’s Financial District. The office is scheduled to open this June.
“The partnership is looking forward to moving into San Francisco and building off the success of our Los Angeles office,” said firm ChairmanMark M. Katz. “Our new office will open with Arent Fox partners and associates relocating from Los Angeles, New York, and Washington. We intend to add partners strategically as an extension of the firm’s strong organic growth in California. Our team in San Francisco will reflect the firm’s commitment to providing clients with first-rate legal services.”
The new San Francisco office will be led by California Managing Partner Robert C. O’Brien, who will divide his time between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Mr. O’Brien’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and international arbitration. Another Los Angeles-based partner who will spend a significant amount of time in San Francisco is the firm’s Complex Litigation chair,Stephen G. Larson. A former United States District Judge, Mr. Larson has built a dynamic litigation practice since leaving the bench. He recently successfully defended an executive in the closely watched Lindsey Manufacturing Co. case, one of only a handful of FCPA investigations that have gone to trial in the past several years.
“We are not coming to San Francisco in the mere hope of developing work there,” said Mr. O’Brien. “We are coming in response to existing client demand. Of course, it is our expectation that the excellent client service that caused our LA office to grow exponentially over the past six years will be replicated in San Francisco.”
As a result of client demand, the firm also plans to expand its nationally recognized Health Carepractice into Northern California. Los Angeles-based Health Care partner Lowell C. Brown will spend a substantial amount of time in the new San Francisco office, as will practice group leader Lisa A. Estrada.
Partners who are moving full-time to San Francisco for the June opening are Complex Litigation partner Michael S. Cryan, who focuses on complex commercial litigation and domestic and international arbitration; and Automotive partner Victor P. Danhi, who represents national and regional automotive dealership clients in consumer class actions, complex litigation, and federal and state regulatory matters. Mr. Cryan is currently resident in the firm’s New York office and Mr. Danhi practices in Los Angeles. In September, Sports group leader Richard L. Brand, who represents a number of professional sports teams in deals that include media rights, naming rights, acquisitions of franchises, and sponsorships, will also join the office from Washington, DC.
On the associate front, the San Francisco office will also open with Intellectual Propertyassociate Sheree Rowe, who focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the areas of medical devices, mechanical and electrical products and computer software. Ms. Rowe moved to the Bay Area from the firm’s Washington, DC office. Joining her is Complex Litigation associate Lynn R. Fiorentino. Ms. Fiorentino has worked on cases with Mr. Larson and White Collar & Investigations partner Michael Zweiback. Previously associated with another national firm’s San Francisco office, she joined Arent Fox this week.
The 25-story, 379,330-square-foot office building is located in the Mission Street Corridor. It was designed by Heller Manus and completed in 2002.
