Daily Journal Announces Top Antitrust Lawyers The following BASF members were recognized by the Daily Journal in its list of 2020 Top Antitrust Lawyers 2020: Daniel Asimow, Arnold & Porter; Teresa Bonder, Alston & Bird; J. Noah Hagey, Braun Hagey…
Alston & Bird’s Virtual Trivia Night Supports Justice & Diversity Center
In July, BASF Leaders Circle firm Alston & Bird hosted the Bar Association of San Francisco’s (BASF) In-House Counsel Section for a fun and entertaining night of virtual trivia. In-House Counsel Section Chair Karen Scarr and BASF President and Alston…
Bay Area Mediation Services Summer Special
With courtrooms backed up indefinitely, the option of settlement through mediation is more valuable than ever. The benefit of a successful mediation is not just an earlier settlement, but also the opportunity to preserve relationships. The Bar Association of San…
School Choice When Schools Are Closed?
As I write, the unprecedented 2019-2020 school year limps to an anti-climactic close for California’s K-12 students due to COVID-19. Parents are left wondering whether school will resume in-person in the Fall, and if so, will it be safe to…
President's Report: Proximity Creates Connection
As we continue to confront the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19, I cannot begin this column without expressing how proud I am of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) and the Justice and Diversity Center (JDC). I have always been…
Change Amidst Calamity: How COVID-19 Changes the Legal Landscape for Diverse Attorneys
When the San Francisco Bay Area issued its shelter-in-place order on March 16, 2020, industries across the region scrambled to adapt. Restaurant owners transitioned to a takeout-only model, merchants boarded up their storefronts, and San Francisco’s public transportation system almost…
Small Firm Lawyers Adapt to New Reality
How are San Francisco’s solo and small firm lawyers handling the coronavirus pandemic from a business and personal standpoint? To find out, we interviewed—at a social distance, of course—a handful of lawyers across several practice areas. Our aim was to…
Judge Kahn Discusses His Journey to the Bench, Common Mistakes Litigators Make, and How to Avoid Burnout
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Harold E. Kahn is a well-respected judge, who has used his knowledge and passion for the law to make a difference in our community. He has been a strong supporter of the Barristers Club and…
Conflict Intervention Service: Transforming Lives, Transforming Affordable Housing, Transforming Community in Times of COVID-19
The voice on the helpline message for the Bar Association of San Francisco’s (BASF) Conflict Intervention Service quaked with fear: “Please help me. I’m an elderly gay man with HIV. My roommate brings a stranger home every night. He laughs…
San Francisco Court Officials Balance Access to Justice With Public Health Concerns
Long lines to get through security. Courtrooms and jury assembly rooms reconfigured so people can stay six feet apart. Staggered schedules allowing fewer people to be in the building at the same time. Face masks and hand sanitizer everywhere. These…
The Pandemic’s Impact on Regulatory Enforcement
Confusion and Conflict Created by COVID-19 and Shelter-in-Place Orders Environmental investigations and remedial actions in the Bay Area were upended by COVID-19—not by the virus itself, but by the shelter-in-place orders and the various regulatory guidance directing what work could…
URBAN PLAYGROUND: What Kids Say About Living in San Francisco
Book by Katie BurkeReviewed by John O’Grady All of us are neck-deep, nearly drowning, in the volume of daily messaging. Yet, the internet must think we want more, pumping out a vast sea of digital content faster than we can…