History
In 1883 Robert M. Fitzgerald opened his legal practice, making our firm the oldest continuing law firm in the entire state of California. Over the next 30 years, Mr. Fitzgerald formed a partnership with colleagues Carl H. Abbott and Charles A. Beardsley. In 1918 Judge William H. Donahue resigned from his position as Alameda County Superior Court Judge and William H.L. Hynes resigned as Alameda County District Attorney and founded the firm Donahue and Hynes. The two firms would later join forces to continue a strong history of legal excellence and community service.
Specialties
Donahue Fitzgerald provides comprehensive legal services to business and non-profit entities at every stage of their lifecycle from seed, entity formation, and start-up through growth, expansion, and succession planning. With business acumen developed from decades of representing some of the world's and the Bay Area's most recognized companies, we create innovative, practical and cost-effective solutions for established and emerging companies on issues ranging from M&A and negotiations of venture financing and private equity transactions, copyright and trademark licensing and enforcement, and real estate transactions to litigation and dispute resolution, employment law, legal cannabis, franchising, and global mobility and immigration. With one of the most experienced and specialized trusts and estates practices in the Bay Area, we help business owners and high-net-worth individuals preserve their assets and thrive into the future. Providing pro bono legal services to make legal advice and the legal system accessible to all has been at the heart of the firm and its progressive pro bono policy for over three decades. Donahue Fitzgerald lawyers bring their talents and passions to numerous cultural, educational and non-profit organizations by volunteering and serving on their advisory and executive boards. Donahue Fitzgerald has over 50 lawyers in three Northern California offices located in Oakland, Walnut Creek, and Larkspur.