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Our Firm

Led by Deborah Fox, the firm's second female managing principal in its 40-year history, Meyers Nave serves clients by resolving their most complex and high-priority transactional, litigation, and regulatory compliance challenges within California’s intricate legal landscape. We are known for our comprehensive services, an outstanding record of success in high-profile, politically sensitive projects, and the diverse experience and creativity our teams bring to solving high-stakes, precedent-setting matters.

Meyers Nave (pronounced nah-vay, as in pavé diamonds) is the premier California law firm trusted by corporations, non-profit organizations, government entities, and public-private partnerships statewide—as well as by clients across the country with interests in California. Our reputation is built on decades of high-impact legal work, consistent client results, and a firm-wide commitment to excellence, inclusion, and service.

Service is a core value at Meyers Nave. We serve our clients in their most strategically important and high-profile work, helping drive transformative change across California. With decades of celebrated legal triumphs, dedicated professionals, and precedent-setting achievements, the Meyers Nave team prioritizes client service through interesting, challenging, and meaningful legal work.

Beyond serving our clients, we support one another and give back to the communities where we live and work. Meyers Nave is dedicated to advancing inclusion and engagement in the workplace, the legal profession, and the broader communities it serves. The firm upholds the values that define it and continues to foster a dynamic, inclusive work environment.

Values & Principles

Meyers Nave is defined by its people. We are driven by the challenging, meaningful work we do for our clients, the positive impact we create in our communities, and our leadership within the legal profession.

Service and collaboration are at the core of who we are. Our exceptional team works seamlessly across practice areas and in partnership with clients, consistently holding ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. We value strong relationships, clear communication, and delivering practical, results-oriented solutions.

Inclusion and engagement are central to our identity. Our workforce reflects the rich tapestry of the communities we serve, bringing together a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives that fuel our collective success. We are committed to serving others, exceeding expectations, and bringing relentless energy, practical insight, and unmatched responsiveness to everything we do.

Coast

Core Values

At Meyers Nave, our values guide how we serve our clients, support each other, and engage with our communities. They are central to who we are and how we work.

  • Service – We are dedicated to serving our clients, colleagues, and communities with integrity, responsiveness, and care.
  • Collaboration – We prioritize teamwork, inclusivity, and active engagement across the firm and with our clients.
  • Integrity – We uphold the highest ethical standards in all we do.
  • Excellence – We pursue excellence in every aspect of our work, with a commitment to quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Growth – We foster a dynamic, rewarding work environment that values hard work, encourages continuous learning and growth, and supports long-term success.

We believe in the power of service beyond the practice of law. Like the clients we serve, Meyers Nave is committed to social responsibility and corporate citizenship. We support the communities where we live and work through volunteerism, strategic partnerships, and financial contributions. By working alongside a broad network of organizations throughout California, we help generate opportunity, promote inclusion, and create a lasting impact.

old building Oakland

History – Founded in 1986

Meyers Nave was founded in 1986 by Steven Meyers, Elizabeth Silver, and Michael Riback.

Driven by a strong belief in public service, the firm’s early focus was on representing Northern California public agencies, particularly as the City Attorney to municipalities and as General Counsel to special districts. These roles demanded attorneys with deep legal acumen, practical insight, and strong public sector experience.

Soon after its founding, Michael Nave joined the firm, bringing extensive experience representing public entities in eminent domain matters. The firm also developed key strengths in land use and environmental law, labor and employment law, tort and police liability defense, and redevelopment law, among other areas.

Meyers Nave quickly built a reputation for delivering responsive, results-oriented legal services. At one point, the firm served as City Attorney to more municipalities in California than any other private law firm. Simultaneously, we expanded our representation of counties, transportation authorities, redevelopment agencies, and special districts on a broad range of legal matters beyond general counsel services. As client needs grew, so did the firm—adding associates, of counsel, paralegals, and professional staff to support a growing client base.

In 2004, Meyers Nave became one of the first law firms in the nation to name a minority woman as Managing Principal. Jayne Williams led the firm through a period of significant growth and geographic expansion, including new offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

In 2020, Meyers Nave merged with Brown Law Group, a woman- and minority-owned employment law firm founded by Janice Brown. Based in San Diego and serving major national employers for over two decades, the merger significantly expanded the firm’s employment law capabilities and statewide reach.

In 2025, Meyers Nave merged with The Sohagi Law Group, a highly respected California environmental and land use law firm founded by Margaret Sohagi, one of the state’s most accomplished land use attorneys. These strategic combinations marked the firm’s continued evolution from its public agency roots to a broader practice serving a wide range of clients across sectors.

Today, Meyers Nave is a mid-sized California firm representing businesses, government entities, non-profit organizations, and public-private partnerships across the state. Our growth reflects a long-term strategic plan grounded in client service, legal excellence, and deep knowledge of California law. We invest time in understanding our clients’ operations, goals, and challenges, using our more than 40 years of experience to deliver tailored, practical legal solutions.

The firm’s leadership continues to build on the vision of its founders—expanding into new markets, deepening capabilities, and remaining focused on the complex, high-stakes legal matters that define our clients’ most important work. From our offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego, Meyers Nave attorneys are honored to counsel clients on their most complex, high-profile, and mission-critical legal challenges.