February 2008

Established in 1965, Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty (DP&F) has earned a local, regional and international reputation for its representation of the California wine, restaurant, hotel and related industries.  DP&F has locations in Napa and Santa Rosa, California.  DP&F is a growing firm that has 29 lawyers and a team of paralegals and planners divided into three interdisciplinary groups focused on our client’s pursuits, including (i) Wine, (ii) Hospitality and (iii) Commercial Ventures/Wealth Management.  DP&F practices law at a high level for a sophisticated clientele while recognizing and encouraging each lawyer’s commitment to family, the community and other non-legal pursuits.   

ALCOHOL BEVERAGE ATTORNEY – Prefer 10+ years of experience in federal and state matters involving the manufacturing, labeling and licensing, advertising and marketing, taxation, distribution and sale of alcohol beverages and related trade practices.  Applicant should have a background in regulatory compliance, winery and hospitality operations, labeling, trade practices, distributor and broker relations and franchise laws. 

BUSINESS/REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY – Prefer 10+ years experience with a wide variety of entrepreneurial and institutional clients in acquisitions and divestitures, corporate and real estate transactions and financings.  Applicant should have a background in restructurings, joint ventures, strategic alliances, legal due diligence, and contracts, including negotiation and drafting.

BUSINESS/REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATE – Requires 2 to 5 years of experience in corporate and real estate transactions and financings.  The successful candidate will work on a broad range of matters in cooperation with land use, intellectual property, estate planning and litigation attorneys, including M&A, debt/equity offerings, real estate purchases/sales and other complex transactions related to the wine industry, including grape purchase and licensing agreements and vineyard and winery leases.

LAND USE ASSOCIATE – Prefer 1 to 4 years of experience in the land use field, including analysis of zoning ordinances, familiarity with CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act, and other state and federal regulatory programs.  Applicants should have experience with land use permits, related entitlements, and land use due diligence.  The position requires excellent writing and speaking skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team to obtain client goals.  The successful candidate will work in residential, winery, vineyard, industrial and commercial acquisitions and development.

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT ASSOCIATE - Seeking a third- to fifth-year associate with at least two years' experience in management-side labor and employment law, preferably with a major firm or boutique employment-law practice.  Experience in both employment litigation and traditional labor relations law is preferred.  The practice addresses a broad spectrum of employment matters including state and federal-court litigation, class actions, appeals, administrative investigations and general compliance advice (wage-and-hour, occupational safety and health, equal employment opportunity, disability accommodation, recordkeeping, wrongful termination, etc.).  We also represent management in traditional labor relations law including collective bargaining, arbitration, administrative litigation and employee benefit actions under national and state labor relations laws.  The candidate will join several full-time labor and employment attorneys as part of a well-developed independent practice group.  We handle both large and small employers, offering significant speaking, writing, community involvement and client development opportunities.  Competent litigation skills and excellent writing ability are required.  This opening is in the firm's Napa office.

TRUSTS & ESTATES PARALEGAL – Prefer 2-plus years of experience in estate and trust administration.  Duties include preparation of court petitions, deeds, property tax forms, etc., as well as collection of asset information, file organization, accountings, and preparation of estate and gift tax returns.  Applicant should have a solid understanding of trusts, wills, and probate and trust procedures.  The successful candidate will be highly motivated, work independently, and willing to communicate directly with clients. Excellent organizational and communication skills, as well as proficiency in Word and Excel, are a must.  Paralegal certificate and/or bachelor’s degree preferred.  Applicant will be required to work at the firm’s Napa location. 

Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty offers a highly professional working environment, with competitive salary and benefits.  Compensation for all open positions is dependent on experience.