RECORDER THE BEST 2010 DECEMBER 6, 2010, 2010 ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA LEGAL CONTENT THE WINNERS ARE IN
20 WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 THE BEST THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM Thank you for making us your first choice in legal staffing and contract attorneys. Our sincere thanks to The Recorder subscribers who chose Robert Half Legal as the Best Legal Staffing Firm and Best Contract Attorneys. This vote of confidence from the Bay Area legal community speaks volumes, and receiving both of these awards is a great honor. Temporary Legal Support Project Placement Legal Search 2010 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer. 1110-5010
THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM THE BEST WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 21 Law-Related Services 5 Table of Contents The Best Overnight Shipping Service Welcome to the fourth annual issue of The Best special publication. Inside, you will find the top professional services and products as rated by the legal community. Polling, via an online survey, was conducted over the summer of 2010 We continue to work on ways to improve this highly anticipated program, and we welcome constructive feedback. Please contact me (bhunt@alm.com) with any constructive feedback. Lawyers can be demanding clients, and businesses that earn their loyalty deserve special recognition. We hope that you will support the establishments and organizations that are showcased in this special publication. Enjoy The Best. Sincerely, Brian Hunt, Publisher THE RECORDER The Best ADR Organization The Best Individual Mediator/Arbitrator The Best Contract Attorney Provider The Best Court Reporting Service The Best Deposition Service The Best Data Security/Recovery The Best Document Management/Processing The Best E-Discovery Service The Best Forensic Accounting Firm The Best Forensic Experts The Best Investigator/ Skip Tracer The Best Process Server The Best Lawyer Recruiting Firm The Best Staffing Agency Business Services 6 The Best Business Accounting Firm The Best Commercial Bank The Best Private Bank The Best Commercial Real Estate Firm The Best Malpractice Insurer The Best Messenger Service The Best Travel Agency The Best Advertising Agency The Best PR Agency Technology 9 The Best Case Management Software The Best Practice Management Software The Best Presentation Technology Food & Lodging 9 The Best Establishment for Entertaining Clients The Best Establishment for Partner Retreats The Best Hotel for Business Clients The Best Establishment for Breakfast Meetings The Best Establishment for Lunch Meetings The Best Restaurant for an Important Client Miscellaneous 9 The Best Men s Clothier The Best Women s Clothier Lawyer to Lawyer 10 The Best Trusts & Estates Firm The Best Legal Malpractice Defense Firm The Best Family Law Firm IT CUTS COSTS FOR US AND OUR CLIENTS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. KATHRYN CONDE PARTNER, NUTTER McCLENNEN & FISH LLP BOSTON Corporate clients now expect their law firms to run as efficiently as they do. That s why Kathryn says WestlawNext is a no-brainer. It makes legal research much more efficient, which not only saves the firm money, but also saves their clients money. Hear what Kathryn and others are saying at WestlawNext.com. Learn more about Nutter at Nutter.com. 2010 Thomson Reuters L-364259/11-10 Thomson Reuters and the Kinesis logo are trademarks of Thomson Reuters. L-364259_D.indd 1 11/29/10 10:20 AM
22 WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 THE BEST THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM 78 Throckmorton #2 Mill Valley, CA 94941 info@mslsearch.com www.mslsearch.com 415.381.5048 Stacy Miller Azcarate, Esq. founded Miller Sabino & Lee in 1999. Prior to entering the legal placement field, Stacy practiced real estate and corporate law with a small San Francisco practice. Upon leaving the practice of law, she joined Special Counsel as the Executive Director of its Northern California offices where she managed their San Francisco office and opened their Palo Alto office. As a preeminent recruiter and advisor in the legal placement field, Stacy has placed numerous large groups, assisted firms with mergers, opening branch offices and single attorney placements. She has authored articles that have appeared in California Lawyer Magazine and the Daily Journal. She has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The Recorder, The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, The Wall Street Journal Blog, Abovethelaw.com and GlassHammer.com. She frequently lectures and gives presentations on legal recruiting, professional development and the business of the legal profession. Stacy is an active member of the California Bar, serves on the Board of Governor s of the USF School of Law, is the current President of the Lawyer s Club of San Francisco and is a member of the USF Women Lawyer s Council. Stacy is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and earned her JD from The University of San Francisco School of Law. REPRINTS & E-PRINTS WHEN YOUR FIRM IS IN THE NEWS SPREAD THE WORD WITH PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED REPRINTS Call us today for a professionally produced reprint or E-print of an article from today s paper. A perfect piece to display in your office A great leave behind at presentations Add this to your bio on your web site For more information contact: Paula Ryplewski Phone: 415.490.1054 email: pryplewski@alm.com RECORDER ESSENTIAL CALIFORNIA LEGAL CONTENT 1035 Market Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103 with gratitude The professionals of Murphy Pearson Bradley & Feeney thank our colleagues and friends for recognizing our legal acumen in the area of professional liability law. 88 Kearny Street, 10th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94108 415 788 1900 WWW.MPBF.COM
THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM THE BEST WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 23 Law-Related Services The Best ADR Organization: 1. JAMS 2. BASF Mediation Thanks to the legal community for voting us one of the top 2 Lawyer Recruiting Firms. We appreciate your business and your trust. 3. ADR Services The Best Individual Mediator/Arbitrator: 1. Jerry Spolter Tie 2. Mark Gainer Tie 2. Nicole Gesher 3. Hon. Edward Infante The Best Contract Attorney Provider: 1. Robert Half Legal 2. Attorney Assistance 3. Special Counsel The Best Court Reporting Service: Lee L. Kuhn, Esq. 415.359.5111 lee@rydersmithlegal.com Matt Kliszewski, Esq. 650.743.5292 mattk@rydersmithlegal.com 1. Capital Reporting Company 2. Jan Brown Associates 3. Barkley Court Reporters The Best Deposition Service: Samantha Johnston Alexandra Kuhn 213.537.9362 415.493.8132 samantha@rydersmithlegal.com alex@rydersmithlegal.com rydersmithlegal.com San Francisco Los Angeles 1. Merrill 2. Esquire 3. West LiveNote The Best Data Security/Recovery: 1. Iron Mountain 2. McAfee 3. Postini (Google) The Best Document Management/Processing: 1. IKON 2. Xerox 3. Merrill / Interwoven The Best E-Discovery Service: 1. Kroll Ontrack 2. Iron Mountain 3. Stroz Friedberg The Best Forensic Accounting Firm: 1. Deloitte LLP Tie 2. KPMG LLP Tie 2.Ernst & Young LLP 3. Hemming Morse
24 WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 THE BEST THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM The Best Forensic Experts: 1. Navigant Consulting 2. Stroz Friedberg 3. Blanco & Associates The Best Investigator/ Skip Tracer: We are proud to be recognized by our colleagues as one of The Recorder s Best. Thank you. Tie 1. Spencer Investigations Tie 1. Excelsior Services 2. David Feccheimer 3. Cannon Street The Best Process Server: 1. One Legal 2. Wheels of Justice 3. Specialized Legal Services Robbins Family Law 601 California Street, Suite 2100 San Francisco, California 94108 415.788.5400 www.robbinsfamilylaw.com The Best Lawyer Recruiting Firm: 1. Miller Sabino & Lee 2. Ryder Smith Legal Search 3. Swan Legal Search The Best Staffing Agency: 1. Robert Half 2. Hampton O Bannon Partners Western Messenger Service, Inc. would like to thank Bay Area Attorneys and Legal Professionals for voting us, First Place... Best Messenger Service... Again. What Makes Western No. 1? It s personal to us. Established in 1979 by Joe McManus, Dennis Golladay, Patty Sokolecki-Smoot, Karen Olsen and Ray Crosetti, the focus 30 years ago was to expand immediate services throughout the Greater Bay Area and is now ranked as one of the largest in its field. From bicycles to bobtail trucks, Western Messenger finds no job a challenge. Western never sleeps. We are staffed 24 hours 365 days a year. With one phone call, our customer service will input your delivery request, billing information and immediately get your job on the way. You can also place orders On-Line, at your convenience. Once a job is completed, a delivery confirmation can be emailed. Our system allows us to customize your invoice and can also be emailed. We accept Visa and Master Card. We are a member of the California Delivery Association. Western Messenger has a team of staff and messengers and Registered Process Servers for specialized services for Attorneys and the Legal field, able to perform Service of Process, Court Research, Fax Filings, Court Filings, and other attorney support services. A member of N.A.P.P.S., this department we call WESTERN ATTORNEY SERVICES. 888-487-4100 www.westernmessenger.com and www.westernattorneyservices.com Our motto for over 30 years, Service isn t just part of our name, it s our business Tie 3. Special Counsel Tie 3. Legal Additions Business Services The Best Business Accounting Firm: 1. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 2. Deloitte LLP 3. Ernst & Young LLP The Best Commercial Bank: 1. Wells Fargo 2. Citibank 3. Bank of America The Best Private Bank: 1. Wells Fargo 2. Citibank 3. First Republic
THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM THE BEST WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 25 Thanks for tooting our... while we were busy tooting yours. www.blattel.com 415.397.4811 CARR McCLELLAN INGERSOLL THOMPSON & HORN Professional Law Corporation Congratulations to the members of our Estate Planning, Trusts & Wealth Transfer Group and our Trust, Estate & Fiduciary Litigation Group for having been voted by the readers of The Recorder as one of the two most highly regarded Trust and Estate practices in the Bay Area. Carr, McClellan has been dedicated for 65 years to providing exceptional legal services, every client, every day in the areas of: Estate Planning, Trusts & Wealth Transfer Creditors Rights & Bankruptcy Intellectual Property Trust, Estate & Fiduciary Litigation Employment Real Estate Business Litigation Exempt Organizations Taxation Corporate & Business Health Care 216 Park Road, Burlingame, California 94010 www.carr-mcclellan.com 650.342.9600
26 WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 THE BEST THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM Murphy, Pearson, Bradley & Feeney P.C. has a long history and national reputation for successfully representing professionals in a broad range of disciplines. We have successfully represented clients involved in malpractice, disciplinary, Ryder Smith Legal Search is a boutique California-based attorney recruitment agency, with recruiters in San Francisco and Los Angeles, specializing in the permanent placement of exceptional attorneys and attorney groups with client law firms and companies. Ryder Smith focuses on quickly matching clients with qualified attorney candidates, and on making the right placement. The team s diligence, professionalism, and knowledge of the legal market are unparalleled, and Ryder Smith is dedicated to making the placement process a seamless one for clients and candidates alike. and business disputes unique to their professional fields, and have also provided incisive risk management advice to help prevent and manage such disputes. The attorneys of our Professional Liability group are well versed in the laws that apply to professionals and take great pride in delivering superior counsel when representing our clients legal and business needs. Lee Kuhn, Esq. (Duke Law 02/Dartmouth College 98) founded Ryder Smith Legal Search after heading up the San Francisco office of another well-established recruitment agency and practicing employment law with two international law firms. She is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, volunteers as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a foster child, and is a director of a not-for-profit animal rescue organization. Ryder Smith Legal Search 655 Montgomery St, Suite 1900 San Francisco, CA 94111 415.359.5111 info@rydersmithlegal.com Building successful law firm marketing programs since 1997. Marketing consulting services Business development training Award winning marketing communications Branding and identity Advertising campaigns Website design Integrated web marketing We are honored to be recognized once more by our clients and friends in the legal community. BM-rec-bestof-ad-final-111810.indd 1 11/18/10 1:09 PM
THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM THE BEST WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 27 The Best Commercial Real Estate Firm: 1. Cushman & Wakefield 2. Colliers 3. Prudential The Best Malpractice Insurer: 1. Lloyd s of London 2. Lawyers Mutual 3. Arch Insurance Group The Best Messenger Service: 1. Western Messenger 2. One Legal 3. Silver Bullet The Best Overnight Shipping Service: 1. FedEx 2. UPS 3. Golden State Overnight The Best Travel Agency: 1. Expedia 2. American Express 3. Orbitz The BestAdvertising Agency: 1. Bothwell Marketing 2. The Dalton Agency 3. Greenfield Belser The Best Public Relations Agency: 1. Blattel Communications 2. Infinite Public Relations 3. Rockwood Communications Counsel Technology The Best Case Management Software: 1. Concordance 2. CT Summation 3. Time Matters The Best Practice Management Software: 1. Thompson Elite / Prolaw 2. Amicus 3. Time Matters The Best Presentation Technology: 1. Powerpoint 2. TrialDirector 3. Sanction Solutions Food & Lodging The Best Establishment for Entertaining Clients: 1. Boulevard 2. Perbacco The Best Establishment for Partner Retreats: 1. Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay 2. The Inn at Spanish Bay 3. Silverado Country Club Resort & Spa The Best Hotel for Business Clients 1. Le Meridian SF 2. Mandarin Oriental 3. Westin St. Francis The Best Establishment for Breakfast Meetings: 1. Park Grill, Le Meridian 2. Garden Court, Sheraton Palace 3. Silks Restaurant, Mandarin Oriental Hotel San Francisco The Best Establishment for Lunch Meetings: 1. Kokkari 2. Slanted Door 3. Sam s Grill The Best Restaurant for an Important Client: 1. Boulevard 2. Chez Panisse 3. Perbacco Miscellaneous The Best Men s Clothier: 1. Nordstrom 2. Brooks Brothers 3. Hugo Boss
28 WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 THE BEST THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM The Best Women s Clothier: 1. Saks Fifth Avenue 2. Ann Taylor 3. Banana Republic Robert Half Legal is a premier provider of experienced project and full-time professionals for law offices and corporate legal departments. The firm places highly skilled candidates in a wide range of positions for the legal field, including attorney, paralegal, administrator, executive director, litigation support specialist and legal secretary. Robert Half Legal also serves as a reliable source for information on workplace trends and management issues within the legal community. The firm regularly conducts national surveys of attorneys and other legal professionals about topics ranging from new technologies and flexible work options to fastest growing practice areas. As a value-added offering, Robert Half Legal offers clients access to their extensive library of information resources and thought leadership pieces for management within law firms and corporate departments. To learn more about the advantages of working with Robert Half Legal, please visit Robert Half Legal s website at www. roberthalflegal.com, or call (800) 870-8367 to reach the office nearest you. Lawyer to Lawyer The Best Trusts & Estates Firm: 1. Farella Braun + Martel, LLP 2. Carr McClellan Ingersoll Thompson & Horn 3. Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP The Best Legal Malpractice Defense Firm: 1. Murphy Pearon Bradley & Feeney 2. Long & Levit LLP 3. Ropers Majeski Kohn Bentley PC The Best Family Law Firm: 1. McManis Faulkner 2. Robbins Family Law 3. Law Office of Heidi Hudson Farella Braun + Martel s Family Wealth Group is passionate about representing our clients from generation to generation. We assist individuals, families, family businesses and fiduciaries to conceive and implement sophisticated personal wealth transfer and business succession planning. We also represent both individual and corporate fiduciaries, including national and regional bank and trust companies. The practice is grounded in our appreciation of the needs of families and family enterprises. This appreciation is supported by our knowledge of tax law and the laws of business entities. The Family Wealth Group s lawyers are adept in the continually changing federal, state and international tax laws and their implications. We are versed in gift and estate taxes, generation-skipping transfer taxes and fiduciary income taxes, formation of foundations and taxexempt organizations and probate and litigation avoidance. For more information, please contact Lara Gilman at (415) 954-4913 or lgilman@fbm.com. 2010 ERNST & YOUNG LLP Time to worry? It s tough out there and getting tougher. In today s business world, there s a higher risk of fraud, bribery and corruption. While at the same time rising pressures on regulatory enforcement and compliance make getting things right more important than ever. Dealing with these challenges can feel like a full-time job. Our team of global professionals can help you handle sensitive What s next?
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30 WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2010 THE BEST THE RECORDER WWW.THERECORDER.COM THERECORDER