Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel, Inc.

Mission Statement

Hoge Fenton strives to be the best law firm in the San Jose/ Tri-Valley region, providing the highest level of client service.

Guiding Principles

Hoge Fenton believes:

Service to our clients is our first priority. Our goal is to be a problem-solver for each client. Once we know our client's objective, we identify and explain the relevant legal alternatives and jointly develop a strategy. We give clients our best professional advice, reflecting our independent professional judgment on how to resolve the issue at hand.
We are committed to zealous advocacy for our clients, consistent with ethical and legal requirements. We recognize the value of clear communication of a client's position and the need for aggressive and immediate action, when necessary. We take pride in our professional reputation and our record of favorable results for our clients.
We have the expertise and skill to handle a wide range of legal work. We negotiate complicated transactions, resolve complex business disputes through negotiation, mediation and arbitration, and handle lawsuits through trial and appeal in all courts. The collective experience and diverse skills of the lawyers in our firm provide our clients with a substantial advantage in getting prompt, practical, and effective answers to their problems and top-notch results on their cases. We work collaboratively to leverage our legal resources for our client's benefit.
We believe that the practice of law is a profession, not just a business. We strive to meet the highest professional standards of integrity, ethics, and legal skill. We offer the highest level of service to our clients, while also using efficient and cost-effective staffing. We discuss costs and alternatives in advance of expenditures, encourage our clients to contact us with questions, and appreciate feed-back.
Our firm maintains a supportive work environment; provides employees a satisfying work experience; and ensures professional development through selective hiring and retention, ongoing education, and participation in community and professional activities.
Maximizing revenue in disregard of our principles is not and will not be our purpose. We fairly charge for our services and ask prompt payment, so as to maintain a strong financial base to support our practice, enable the hiring of talented attorneys and staff, and facilitate our public service activities and community involvement.

Commitment to Diversity

Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel has a strong commitment to diversity, both here at the firm and in the legal profession. We strive to recruit and retain a work force that welcomes and supports the interests of women, families, and people of any ethnicity or sexual orientation. Hoge Fenton strongly believes that the firm should reflect the communities in which it practices. Diversity is essential to the success of our firm.

Facts About Our Firm

Nearly one-third of the firm's ownership is female - double the average number in the 200 largest firms in the U.S. as of October 2006
Our Managing Director, Firm Administrator, and three of the firm's four Staff Managers are women
14% of our attorneys represent ethnic minorities, and 2% self-identify as gay/lesbian
Our attorneys are fluent in English, Cantonese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Kannada, Punjabi, Spanish, and Urdu
Our demographic numbers, particularly at the important partner level, continue to progress toward our goal of more accurately reflecting the makeup of our regional communities

Key Recruitment and Retention Initiatives

Our Managing Director serves as Subcommittee Chair for the Santa Clara County Bar Association's President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity
The firm is an official sponsor of the President's Blue Ribbon Commission on Diversity
One of our senior shareholders is the founder of the Bay Area Minority Clerkship Program
The firm has supported the Bay Area Minority Clerkship program every year for the past 16 years; law clerks who have participated in that program have received offers to join our firm
The firm actively participates in the Silicon Valley Diversity Job Fair, which brings together qualified applicants and hiring representatives from prominent law firms, corporations, and government legal departments in the Silicon Valley area

Diversity Leadership in our Communities

In addition to its internal commitment, Hoge Fenton regularly sponsors community organizations and programs supporting diversity in the legal community. Among others, our lawyers have been active members in or have sponsored:

Mexican Heritage Plaza - Centro Cultural de San Jose, California
La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County
Asian Law Alliance
Santa Clara County Bar Association - Women Lawyers Section
TiE - The Indus Entrepreneurs
Silicon Valley Campaign for Legal Services
Lincoln High School Mock Trial Team
East San Jose Community Law Center
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Legal Aid of San Mateo County
Pro Bono Project

History of Hoge Fenton

Hoge Fenton was established in 1952 by J. Hampton Hoge, Lewis Fenton, Bud Jones and John Appel. Historically renowned for our trial advocacy, several members of the firm have gone on to serve on the Superior Court, U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals benches, and as California State Bar President.

Hoge Fenton has a long and strong tradition of commitment to our local communities. Our members serve on a number of local nonprofit boards and provide pro bono legal service to those in need. The firm has a similar commitment to the legal community and, over the years, we have been recognized for such leadership and dedication. Hoge Fenton is home to a past president, one section chair, and one committee chair of the State Bar of California. Three of our attorneys have served as presidents and one serves on the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clara County Bar Association; two serve on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Alameda County Bar Association; and another serves on the Board of the Alameda County Law Library Foundation. Six Hoge Fenton alumni now serve on the Bench: two on the Santa Clara County Superior Court; one on the Monterey County Superior Court; one on the U.S. Court of Appeals; and two on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Hoge Fenton in the Community

We have a strong tradition of commitment to pro bono legal work and community service. All lawyers in the firm are encouraged to participate in pro bono legal work, and to be good corporate citizens.

East San Jose Community Law Center (ESJCLC) - Many lawyers from Hoge Fenton have partnered with ESJCLC in providing direct legal services to the disadvantaged. For example, Hoge Fenton attorney Rob Coelho tried a case as co-counsel for an ESJCLC client, and obtained a favorable verdict in an employment law case. Hoge Fenton attorney Steve McCray volunteered to work in the small business clinic of ESJCLC. Jim Towery has served as co-counsel with ESJCLC in a case alleging fraud by a used car dealer against a Spanish-speaking client, winning a judgment in Superior Court that is now on appeal.
Silicon Valley Campaign for Legal Services (SVCLS) - Hoge Fenton has played a leading role in this important community-wide fund raising consortium, that has raised over one million dollars in the past three years, for the benefit of seven legal services organizations in our community. This effort helps provide direct funding to organizations that provide legal services in such basic areas as housing, health benefits, domestic violence, and immigration rights. Hoge Fenton attorney Jim Towery was the co-founder and first President of the Campaign, and remains an active board member. As a firm, Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel has fully participated in the first four annual campaigns of SVCLS.
Lincoln High School Mock Trial Team - Hoge Fenton attorneys have been coaching the Lincoln team for over 15 years, helping Lincoln achieve eight county championships, and state championships in 2001 and 2002. Lincoln High School finished fifth in the nation in 2001, and fourth in the nation in 2002. Hoge Fenton attorney Colleen Kelley is the principal attorney coach for Lincoln this year
Silicon Valley and Tri-Valley Community Service - A hallmark of Hoge Fenton is its dedication to community service. Many Hoge Fenton attorneys have served, and continue to serve, as leaders of community and professional organizations. In Silicon Valley, Hoge Fenton attorneys have been leaders of such groups as the San Jose Repertory Theater, Symphony Silicon Valley, the San Jose Museum of Art, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Second Harvest Food Bank, the Peninsula Open Space Trust, the Diabetes Society, the Valley Medical Center Foundation, Guadalupe River Park and Gardens, and many others.
In the Tri-Valley community, HFJA lawyers have served or do serve as leaders of the Pleasanton School Board, the ValleyCare Health System Board, the Tri-Valley Business Council, and the Tri-Valley Advisory Board of Junior Achievement of the Bay Area.
Leadership in the Legal Community - Over the years, members of our firm have been recognized for their commitment to the legal community. Hoge Fenton is home to a past president of the State Bar of California, and three former presidents of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. One of our attorneys serves on the Board of Trustees of the Santa Clara County Bar Association; two serve on the Board of Directors of the Eastern Alameda County Bar Association; and another serves on the Board of the Alameda County Law Library Foundation. Seven Hoge Fenton alumni now serve on the Bench: two on the Santa Clara County Superior Court; two on the Monterey County Superior Court; one on the California Court of Appeals, Fourth District; and two on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.