General Information
Overview
BartkoZankel, established 40 years ago, is a boutique law firm specializing in national and international complex litigation and investigations, as well as real estate and franchising transactions. We are a 40-lawyer firm dedicated to strategic cutting-edge representation of clients in California, nationally and internationally. We pride ourselves on understanding our clients’ business goals, which drives our strategies and tactics in the important matters we handle. We litigate not just to win our clients’ cases but to further their business objectives, which we come to know intimately.
Our Transactional Real Estate group has a nationally-prominent general office, retail and industrial leasing practice second to none in the country, closing hundreds of major leases per year.
Our Business Litigation group takes pride in solving sophisticated business disputes in the global economy, putting our clients’ over-arching business goals first.
Our Intellectual Property group prosecutes and defends cases involving patent, trade secret, copyright, false advertising, trademark and licensing issues for high-technology and biotech companies.
Our Privacy group has successfully defeated large privacy and data security claims.
Our Franchise and Distribution group represents franchisors and distributors in litigation matters throughout the United States, as well as in implementing legal compliance and strategic plans for domestic and international franchise expansion, distribution and licensing.
Our Real Estate Litigation group represents public entities and private companies in real estate and secured transaction matters nationally.
Our white collar practice is growing and integrated with the firm’s core expertise.
Though litigation is a last resort, we have a trial record of winning large difficult cases. We are an industry leader in partnering with clients on alternative fee arrangements. In times of opportunity or crisis, today’s businesses must be selective. Clients do not simply need lawyers; clients need experienced and visionary crisis managers who take the time to understand the client’s business and key objectives. BartkoZankel is such a law firm. We provide broad experience in delivering innovative creative solutions to business disputes as well as comprehensive advice on negotiating, structuring and closing transactions.
BartkoZankel is a member of Globaladvocaten since 2/27/2017.
Rankings
Bartko, LLP is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 8 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsNational Rankings
Metro Rankings
Rankings
National Rankings
Metro Rankings
Practice Areas
- Antitrust Law
- Art Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Copyright Law
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Employment Law - Individuals
- Employment Law - Management
- Franchise Law
- Health Care Law
- Labor Law - Management
- Labor Law - Union
- Litigation - Antitrust
- Litigation - Health Care
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Litigation - Patent
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Patent Law
- Privacy and Data Security Law
- Real Estate Law
- Retail
- Trade Secrets Law
- Trademark Law
- Trusts and Estates
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Awards
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars For the Law Firm
- The State Bar of California Legal Specialization, Legal Specialists in Franchise and Distribution Law-Charles G. Miller & C. Griffith Towle
- 1978-2023 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (John J. Bartko)
- 1978-2023 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Charles G. Miller)
- 1998-2023 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars. (Robert H. Bunzel)
- 1998-2023 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Benjamin K. Riley)
- 1998-2022 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Andrew H. Schwartz)
- 2000-2023 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Louise Ann Fernandez)
- 2000-2022 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Martin I. Zankel, Emeritus Counsel, Retired)
- 2001-2023 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Marco L. Quazzo)
- 2004-2005, Franchise Times-Legal Eagle (Charles G. Miller)
- 2004-2023 Southern California Super Lawyers (Louise Ann Fernandez)
- 2004-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Benjamin K. Riley)
- 2004-2022 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (J. Thomas Hannan)
- 2004, 2006-2012, 2015-2017, 2019-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Marco L. Quazzo)
- 2005-2021 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (John “Jack” F. McLean)
- 2005-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (John J. Bartko)
- 2005-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Robert H. Bunzel)
- 2005-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Charles G. Miller)
-
2007 Most Highly Regarded Firms: California 2007 - Franchise
- 2008 Law Technology News (LTN) Award for the “Most Innovative Use of Technology during a Trial.”
- 2008-2021 Who's Who Legal-Global Leader, Franchise (Charles G. Miller)
- 2008-2021 Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review, AV Rating, 5 Stars (Richard T. Tarrant, Retired)
- 2009, Franchise Times-Legal Eagle (Charles G. Miller).
- 2009, Most Highly Regarded Firms: California 2009 - Franchise (Who's Who)
- 2009 Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Patrick M. Ryan)
- 2009-2022 Ranked in Chambers (Charles G. Miller, Franchising - USA - Nationwide, Mediator and Arbitrator)
- 2010-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Patrick M. Ryan)
- 4/25/2011, Recorder Supplement-Top Verdicts 2010, California’s Million Dollar Verdicts, Vectren Communication Services.
- 2011-2017, Franchise Times-Legal Eagle (Charles G. Miller).
- 2012 Fortune Top Ranked Law Firms based on AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Ratings
- 2013-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (C. Griff Towle)
- 2013–2019 Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Stephen C. Steinberg)
- 2013 Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Oliver Q. Dunlap)
- 2013-2023 Best Lawyers (John J. Bartko)
- 2013-2023 Best Lawyers (Robert H. Bunzel)
- 2013-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Brian A. E. Smith)
- 2014-2021 Who's Who Legal-Global Leader, Franchise (C. Griffith Towle)
- 10/26/2016 San Francisco Daily Journal-Top Boutiques in California
- 2016-2023 Best Lawyers (Louise Ann Fernandez)
- 2016-2023 Best Lawyers (Charles G. Miller)
- 2017 San Francisco Business Times-Law Firms in the Greater Bay Area, BZBM ranked number 72
- 2018 Number 3 in the Top 100 Verdicts published 6/2019 by The National Law Journal
- 2018 San Francisco Business Times-75 Largest Greater Bay Area Law Firms, BZBM ranked number 74
- 2019-2022 Ranked in Chambers (Benjamin K. Riley for Intellectual Property: Trade Secret, Trademark and Copyright Litigation; and High Net Worth Private Wealth Disputes, including Trust and Estate Litigation)
- 2019-2022 Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Hector Suarez)
- 2020 San Francisco Business Times-Largest Greater Bay Area Law Firms, BZBM ranked number 60
- 2021-2023 Best Lawyers (Benjamin K. Riley)
- 2022 San Francisco Business Times-Largest Greater Bay Area Law Firms, BZBM ranked number 59
- 2022 Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms.
- 2022 CLAY Award By Daily Journal. The recipients are Benjamin K. Riley, Sony B. Barari, Robert H. Bunzel & Gabriella A. Wilkins.
- 2022 Top 100 California Lawyers By Daily Journal. The recipient is Benjamin K. Riley.
- 2022-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Elizabeth (Lisa) T. Ferguson)
- 2022-2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (An N. Ruda)
- 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Oliver Q. Dunlap)
- 2023 AVVO Rating 9.5 (Marco L. Quazzo)
- 2023 AVVO Rating 9.9 (Patrick M. Ryan)
- 2023 Avvo Rating 8.9 (W. Paul Schuck)
- 2023 Avvo Rating 10.0 (Benjamin K. Riley)
- 2023 Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms.
- 2023 Top 100 California Intellectual Property Lawyers By Daily Journal. The recipient is Patrick M. Ryan.
- 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Oliver Q. Dunlap)
- 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers (Stephen C. Steinberg)