50th Anniversary

Goldfarb & Lipman was founded in 1971 primarily as general counsel for the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Oakland. Since then, serving California public agencies has remained one of our core practice areas. The other core area of our practice is the representation of nonprofit clients working to accomplish positive community impact through affordable housing and community economic development.

As seen in our mission statement, we find meaning and purpose in our clients’ commitment to create equitable and empowered communities. We understand that every project affects real people and communities with real needs. We never view client work as “just another deal to get done.” That philosophy serves as our guiding principle for everything we do.

Our firm’s first 50 years has been marked by deliberate growth and progress. In 1971, the firm had fewer than five attorneys. In 2021, the firm is comprised of thirty-one attorneys and twenty supporting professional staff. We became a majority women-owned business in 2005 and are proud to be certified as a women-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Twenty-five percent of our partners are women of color, and more than a third of our attorneys are people of color. While these numbers are significant, equally important is our steadfast commitment to contributing to a culture of belonging, equity, and inclusion — both within our firm and outside of it.

While the last two years have been an especially challenging time with the continuing pandemic, we continue to be a consistent partner to our clients as they build inclusive and affordable communities to house residents and foster economic stability. We look forward to the next 50 years.