Gregory John Wood

I'm the Managing Partner of a growing civil litigation practice in downtown San Francisco. In my 20th year, I am taking on new challenges. How I got to this point is a bit of a story.

I started in San Diego at the largest plaintiff's class action firm that existed at the time. That firm was heading for a breakup, so within a year I moved north and joined a well regarded San Francisco-East Bay firm practicing real estate, employment and intellectual property litigation.

While I learned the basics of a defense practice, a partner trained me to take over his role as outside general counsel to a global manufacturing company. Within a couple of years, I was general counsel of a subsidiary, at which time it made sense for me to open my own office. As luck would have it, within a few months, the parent company got bought. All of the sub GCs were sent packing. In a way, I had to start over.

My next move was to join a boutique San Francisco litigation firm where I was thrown into the fire, handling cases through trial. The principal of the firm taught me everything I needed to know about managing cases, counsel and clients. Within five years, I made partner and proceeded to build a book of business. Now, fifteen years after being hired, I manage the firm.

I am grateful to have litigated a variety of disputes. The top land use firm in the City refers developers my way. The top real estate brokerage refers me homebuyers and sellers with issues. I have bench and jury trial experience in wage and hour, real estate and business tort cases. One of my appellate wins, in a trade secret case, is published and frequently cited. I am also panel counsel for an accountant malpractice defense carrier and defend CPAs in tax, audit and embezzlement cases.

I continue to litigate but, as the managing partner, my time is focused on making strategic decisions in cases, cultivating a highly skilled team of attorneys and growing the business. I work around the clock because I want to.

This year, I undertook to build the firm's previously non-existent business development program. I hired coaches and a specialist to help us identify and achieve our business development objectives.

And, while I am proud of all of the above work, by far my greatest achievement is the team that I built, My current team of eight full-time and part-time attorneys is one of the best in the area. Each member is smart, competitive, detail oriented and has great wit.