When Best Best & Krieger LLP decided to open a San Diego office in 1993, the firm saw an opportunity to be a part of a vibrant community with great potential to represent substantial clients and hire top attorneys. Twenty-five years later, that vision has been realized. Today, BB&K ranks within the top 25 law firms in San Diego and represents public agencies and small- to large-size businesses located locally and throughout California.
BB&K’s San Diego office opened with seven attorneys. Now 31 attorneys work out of its office in the heart of downtown. The growth is a direct reflection of the region’s expansion over the last few decades. BB&K’s attorneys have been instrumental every step of the way in San Diego’s evolution, helping officials ensure that basic services, infrastructure and businesses blossom and thrive.
“San Diego has been a tremendous place for our firm to grow and for our attorneys to make significant contributions to the community,” states Jim Gilpin, BB&K San Diego Office Managing Partner and one of its founders. “We are proud to be a part of the continued growth of our region.”
Firm attorneys based in the San Diego office have received numerous honors for their outstanding legal and community work, including awards for leadership, business skills and financial acumen. Firm attorneys have also been honored for their pro bono work and on the Best Lawyer and Super Lawyers lists by their peers. U.S. News-Best Lawyers in America ® gave the San Diego office a “Metropolitan Tier 1” designation for Land Use & Zoning Law. Law360 named BB&K a California Powerhouse this year.
Recently, the firm helped broker a public-private partnership deal on behalf of the Port of San Diego to develop a $1.1 billion hotel and convention center on the Chula Vista Bayfront. The firm provides general and special counsel services to dozens of public entities throughout the County, including cities, water districts, transportation districts and schools. The firm also has an evolving business practice representing local business.
Known for its commitment to diversity, BB&K scores high marks for its inclusion of women and minority attorneys. In 2018, American Lawyer Media named BB&K as the number two California law firm with the most women in 2018. The firm also received two number one rankings from Law360 for Best Mid-Size Firms for Women and Minorities and for Minority Attorneys. In the San Diego office, the ratio of female associates to male associates is more than two to one, and the number of women partners is among the highest locally.
Looking ahead, Gilpin says the focus will continue to be on providing clients with superior legal service and ensuring that the next generation of BB&K attorneys continue the culture of being part of the communities the firm serves. “We are lucky to continue to attract great lawyers who share our commitment to provide great service to our clients and to the San Diego region,” he adds.
Best Best & Krieger LLP is a national law firm that focuses on environmental, business, education, municipal and telecommunications law for public agency and private clients. With more than 200 attorneys, the law firm has 10 offices nationwide, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.bbklaw.com or follow @BBKlaw on Twitter or @BestBestKrieger on Facebook.