The summer of 2022 was full of exciting events. The firm successfully reorganized through Chapter 11 a local business that is a single source supplier of technology that assists our warships and infantry with real time location information and other technal applications. On the play side, "coach" Marshall Bluestone led the Rincon Valley Jr. Division All-Stars to the California State Chapmpionship Tournament losing in the Championship game to take second place in the State. Marshall's son Cooper and Jacob's son Cal both played on the team.
In 2019, we all looked to the upcoming "2020" as the year that would provide us all "clear vision."
Boy, were we ever wrong!
Weathering all of the changes that beset small businesses, we have proudly continued our top-notch legal representation (albeit from a safe distance!) and will continue to do so. In the midst of the year's changes, Bonnie Hamilton announced her retirement from the practice, to spend time with her family and take a break (for the first time since she was 9 years old) from being employed.
To our wonderful clients and colleagues: We miss seeing you. We love speaking with you, and Zoom (a product with which we were nearly all ignorant of a mere four months ago) is great, but it is no replacement for looking you in the eye, telling you that things will be OK. Your legal matters are going to be delayed. Opposing parties, counsel and yes, maybe even the judge or mediator hearing your case, are raw with emotion, angst and uncertainty. It is a frustrating time. We are committed to doing everything we can to provide even a small amount of calm to these stormy waters.
Another year in our fabulous downtown office has come and gone. It is hard to believe that Marshall Bluestone and I have been taking the elevator up to this office for over 25 years together. When I started working for the firm of Senneff Kelly Kimelman & Beach, P.C. as a law clerk during my second year at USF School of Law, Marshall came over as a lateral associate hire. Now, with our partner Anthony Zunino, for the very first time in our long history we have a prominent family law practitioner to round out our practice areas.
Do you ever find yourself going through the motions of the day—coffee, court appearance, lunch, client conference, coffee, board meeting, dinner, sleep—without ever consciously considering your surroundings?
I ask the question, because I have had the occasional experience of “waking up” in the middle of the day, en route to some meeting or another, with that feeling that I have been sleepwalking through my day. And I am pretty sure that I’m not the only one who’s experienced this.
We are so pleased to announce the new name of our partnership! Beginning September 1, our firm name is BLUESTONE ZUNINO & HAMILTON, LLP. Formerly Senneff Freeman & Bluestone, our partnership continues to offer the excellent and efficient services which earned us your "Gold Medal" winning praise last year. Marshall Bluestone and Bonnie Hamilton (formerly Bonnie Freeman) are continuing the partnership after the retirement of our dear friend Mike Senneff who served the community for over 50 years. We bring in a new partner, Anthony Zunino, who specializes in family law.
Our firm celebrates its 17th year! At the same time, we were recognized as Gold Medal winner of the "Best of" for the Northbay Biz' annual "Best of Northbay Businesses" and we thank you for your recognition of our outstanding legal services. We do not generally toot our own horn, so the recognition from our community and clients is appreciated! Thank you, Sonoma County!!
The Sonoma County Bar Association's annual picnic was held on September 9th, and the revenge match between Team Justified (winners of the 2015 Smackdown "Friendly Match to the Death") and Bonnie's Bombers proved to be a hard-fought affair.
On May 19, 2016, Bonnie Freeman participated in Part 2 of a panel discussion for Sonoma County Women in Law entitled, "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt--Confidence Wins" in which she, along with Traci Carrillo and Valorie Bader discussed the unique problems and benefits of being women in the litigation field. The seminar was well attended, in a community where women have traditionally excelled far beyond the statistical norms.
By 5:30 p.m. on September 4, 2015, I was tired, dusty, hungry and thirsty. Having spent the previous two hours in the hot sun rallying my team Bonnie’s Bombers to come within one run of a tie score with Marshall Bluestone’s team Justified, I feared that the food at the SCBA picnic would be as depleted as my electrolytes.
Our office is closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 p.m.
emilee@bfolegal.com (please note: we do not accept email solicitations for new clients. All prospective clients must call the office and speak to a representative)
