John R. Browne III “Jack”

 

Passion. Experience. Integrity.

I provide cost effective and efficient representation of my clients. Sometimes this can be done by simply counseling people as to how to best proceed to solve a legal problem or to comply with an applicable law or regulation. Sometimes situations can be resolved by preparing agreements or other papers.

I don't send a letter when a phone call will do, and I don't file a motion when a letter will do.

  • AV Rated

    For over 30 years I have earned and maintained an "AV" rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory. This means that in ongoing confidential peer reviews, lawyers and judges in the San Francisco Bay Area legal community have given me the highest ratings available for professional competence, and also for high adherence to ethical standards.

  • Licenced to Practice in:

    United States Supreme Court/Washington, D.C.


    United States Court of Claims/Washington, D.C.


    9th Circuit Court of Appeals/San Francisco

    
U.S. District Court, N.D.CA/San Francisco


    3rd Circuit Court of Appeals/Cincinnati, Ohio
    6th Circuit Court of Appeals, Denver, CO

    U.S. District Court, N.D. IN/Ft. Wayne, IN

  • Referral-based Practice

    My law practice comes from personal referrals from satisfied clients and from lawyers who are familiar with my work and results. My clients come almost entirely from referrals, and not from advertising.

  • Personal Affiliations

    Past International President of the worldwide International Brotherhood of Magicians

    Cercle de l'Union / Past President (1990-1991)

    Member of: The Magic Circle in London; The Magic Castle in Hollywood; The Society of American Magicians; The Oakland Magic Circle; I.B.M. Ring No. 25 in England; and FFFF in Batavia, New York.

    San Francisco Traditional Jazz Foundation/Board Secretary and Director (2000-2020)

    American Lung Association of San Francisco/Past President and 9-year Board Member

  • Legal Affiliations

    Law Clerk for Petty, Andrews, Olson & Tufts, 650 California Street (1966)
    Associate Attorney for Field, DeGoff & Rieman, 745 Market Street (1966-1969)
    Sole Practice, 210 Post Street (1969-1976)
    Partner in Browne & Kahn, 300 Montgomery Street (1976-1988)
    Director and Shareholder in Holmes, Rochester & Lea, APC, 44 Montgomery Street (1988-1994)
    Head of Real Estate, Business & Trust Department of Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi, 2 Embarcadero Center and 39 Drumm Street (1994-2003)
    Sole Director and Shareholder, Law Offices of John R. Browne III, a Professional Corporation, 50 California Street (2003-Present)
    Member, California State Bar and the Indiana State Bar Associations

If a dispute has already occurred or a claim has been presented, I will first attempt to achieve a favorable out of court solution for a client. Sometimes this can be done directly, other times through a lawyer for an opposing party. Other times alternative dispute resolution (ADR) procedures such as third-party mediation or arbitration are in a client's best interest.

If litigation is unavoidable, I am committed to litigate aggressively and swiftly, using all the tools at my disposal. I believe in fighting hard for my clients, but doing so fairly and ethically, extending every reasonable courtesy to opposing counsel whenever possible. Occasionally it is necessary to take a firm stand against an unreasonable opposing lawyer.