General Information
Year founded:
1990
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP, founded in San Francisco in 1990, focuses its practice on complex litigation. RBGG partners have been consistently recognized as some of the top trial and appellate lawyers in California.
RBGG was named to National Law Journal’s Elite Trial Lawyers List for 2018. The firm’s appellate practice has been ranked in the First Tier of all firms nationally in the “Best Law Firms” list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® since 2017. In addition RBGG is ranked in the First Tier in San Francisco in Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Employment Law- Individuals, and Civil Rights. The firm is also ranked highly in San Francisco for Criminal Defense – White Collar
RBGG counsels and represents clients across the nation and handles disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts throughout California and nationwide. Our trial, appellate, and U.S. Supreme Court practice emphasizes eight primary areas:
- Complex commercial litigation in areas including antitrust, unfair competition, contracts, legal malpractice, trade secrets, intellectual property and partnership disputes.
- Lawyer-to-lawyer assistance in matters including attorneys’ fees and partnership structures.Trial and appellate practice including many matters in which we are retained following trial as appellate counsel.
- White collar criminal defense and government enforcement, including criminal antitrust, securities, healthcare fraud, and criminal environmental matters.
- Constitutional and civil rights cases both for damages on behalf of individual clients and to remedy large scale systemic rights violations.
- Class actions in civil rights, employment, antitrust and consumer protection.
- Workplace disputes in cases of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retirement benefits, non-competition agreements and wage and hour enforcement.
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) both as providers of neutral services and as advocates representing clients through ADR processes.
RBGG regularly handles high profile cases that move and shape public policy. The firm has, for example, prevailed repeatedly in major class actions against the State of California regarding constitutional rights, health care, disability rights, and mental health care for prisoners in the state, including the historic prison overcrowding decision, Brown v. Plata, 131 S.Ct. 1910 (2011).
RBGG also stands out for the quality of its associates and senior attorneys. They have substantial litigation experience and all graduated from top law schools -- eight clerked for federal judges and nine were named "Rising Stars" in the 2020 Northern California Super Lawyer list.
Our cases involve the most complex and sophisticated of issues. Each of us strives to be a client-centered lawyer, emphasizing personal service and responsiveness to a client’s overall business or personal interests. We make sure every client understands the risks, benefits, options and costs of litigation. In every case, our goal is to assure that the client’s interest is always foremost and protected.
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Rankings
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 4 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsNational Rankings
Tier 1
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Metro Rankings
San Francisco
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Tier 1 for Civil Rights Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Employment Law - Individuals
Select Clients
- Asian, Inc.
- Credo Mobile
- Educational Data Systems Inc.
- ELSI, Inc.
- Info Vantage, LLC
- Lab Vision Corp.
- Landmark Screens LLC
- Los Angeles Retired Fire and Police Association
- PeriCor Therapeutics, Inc.
- Resmex Group
- Retired Employees Association of Orange County
- SpatiaLight, Inc.
- Sterling Park L.P.
- The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
- TransUnion
Highlighted Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Civil Rights Law
I have been working with Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for a few years and have been consistently impressed with their actions rooted in equity. They are extremely responsive, organized and are not afraid to go to bat for those in need. Their approach is human-first, and they are experts at what they do. They are always extremely professional and bring a sense of kindness and compassion to their work. Five stars across the board!
Civil Rights Law
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is our go-to firm for civil rights cases in California and is second to none.
Civil Rights Law
Every encounter I had with the staff at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld was remarkable. Their attention to detail was never questioned. Their preparation of my case was second to none. Their preparation and performance at dozens of depositions forced the State of California to settle my case prior to trial. I will forever be grateful to Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for caring about my case. I will forever be grateful to Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for working countless hours to uncover the injustices at one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country. I will forever be grateful to Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for their dedication and sincere care for me and my partner. I will forever be grateful that Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld's work on my case has set precedent and will assist other employees who encounter delays and mistreatment during the workers' compensation process and in litigation against the State of California. Brava Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld. Brava to the second "G" in Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld - Gay Grunfeld!
Employment Law - Individuals
Hello, I hired Gay C. Grunfeld to represent me in an Employment Law matter. She is well known for her expertise and amazing out of the box approach to help her clients deal with challenging work issues. She was amazingly helpful and went well above my expectations in both her availability, time, and knowledge to strategize the best outcome for me. I have used various legal council for my various business matters and she is leaps and bounds above the rest of my legal council I have used in terms of expertise, knowledge, time, resourcefulness, etc. I truly look forward to interacting with her in all future employment issues! She will be a major asset representing a BEST LAWYER in your periodical.
Keith Hwang
Civil Rights Law
I am convinced that there is not another civil rights law firm that is more caring, knowledgeable, and professional as Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld. They are everything you would want to experience from this kind of law firm, especially when you or your loved one is suffering from having their civil rights violated.
My daughter, who is deaf and severely disabled, was not being provided a sign language interpreter while in the hospital. Since she has spent over 200 days in the hospital and had over 70 surgical procedures in her 15 year of life, not having access to her language for part of that time is huge. Ernest Galvan and team were first introduced to us by the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). From that introduction, Ernest Galvan and team became my daughter's advocates to implore the offending hospital to change its ways and provide my daughter access to her language, as required by law. Without Ernest Galvan and team, we felt powerless to fight against the big hospital system. Not only did my daughter receive all that she was entitled under law; but Ernest Galvan and the NAD, as part of the settlement, re-wrote the hospital's guidelines to help prevent this from happening to another deaf patient. There is no higher recommendation that I can give than this one for Ernest Galvan and the legal team at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld.
Robert Egan,
Owner
– RJE Consulting, LLC
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Jeff Bornstein is one of the finest white collar lawyers on the West Coast.
Douglas Young
– Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Employment Law - Individuals
Partner Mr. Van Swearingen of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is a brilliant attorney, capable of absorbing new information and facts rapidly to apply and form a robust litigation strategy, and mediation alternatives. Founding Partner Mr. Sanford Jay Rosen is deft, shrewd and judicious. Managing Partner Ms. Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld is highly esteemed, gracious, and exceedingly skilled in complex litigation.
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld ("RBGG") brings their extraordinary legal minds and resources to every client case as necessary. I have worked with many legal firms and attorneys in business over the years, and consider RBGG to be amongst the very best in the legal profession.
Anthony Hamer
Civil Rights Law
Ernest of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld came to our rescue when our daughter who is deaf was not being provided interpretation services by our local children's hospital; and they have continued to support us when our local children's hospital has been slow to adhere to our settlement agreement, through periods of staff turnover and COVID. Ernest and his staff are the absolute best. They deserve the highest of praise.
Robert Egan,
Owner
– RJE Consulting, LLC
Employment Law - Individuals
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld took on my case when others would not and won it. They got the best possible outcome on a very difficult situation. They have been extremely responsive and provided advice every step of the way.
Employment Law - Individuals
Gay Grunfeld, who handled my case as the senior attorney, was exceptionally responsive and attentive to every aspect of it, at all times. I have had a good experience working with other lawyers, but the depth and care of RBGG's work is on a different level. These qualities are well reflected by RBGG's reputation in the legal arena. Based on conversations with other employment lawyers, Gay Grunfeld's expertise and attention to detail is so highly regarded that it is practically viewed as "the last word" on a case. As a result, when they decide to take a case, it signals to the counterparty that the client's position has merit. RBGG's style of engaging both with me, as the client, and the other side was marked by the greatest possible professionalism. I was never "sold" on an overly optimistic view of my case, and yet felt fully supported personally and legally. Their communications with my employer were courteous, based on a thorough and objective understanding of the situation. It helped maintain an atmosphere where a positive resolution remained possible. In an inherently difficult matter, Gay Grunfeld and Jenny Yelin made decisive progress that led to a settlement fully in my favor. RBGG serves clients with maximum integrity and surely meets the very highest standards of the legal profession.
Christian Roessler
Civil Rights Law
Partner Mr. Van Swearingen of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is a brilliant attorney, capable of absorbing new information and facts rapidly to apply and form a robust litigation strategy and mediation alternatives. Founding Partner Mr. Sanford Jay Rosen is deft, shrewd, and judicious. Managing Partner Ms. Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld is highly esteemed, gracious, and exceedingly skilled in complex litigation. Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld ("RBGG") brings their extraordinary legal minds and resources to every client case as necessary. I have worked with many legal firms and attorneys in business over the years and consider RBGG to be amongst the very best in the legal profession.
Civil Rights Law
Our team at RBGG is beyond compare. They are deeply knowledgeable, do not waste time, are highly sensitive and intuitive, produce excellent written and oral products, and are willing to go the extra mile. Some lawyers are just attorneys. The RBGG team are true and deeply trusted counselors. I'll take them in my foxhole any day! In fact, for our needs, I'd be hard pressed to take anyone else.
Matt Valliere
– Patient Rights Action Fund
Appellate Practice
When I first called RBGG, my call was immediately put through to Gay Grunfeld, a partner in the firm. She was sympathetic but also honest and realistic in her conversations with me. RBGG reviewed my case for appeal and made recommendations. The best decision I have made was to hire RBGG to handle my appeal. The professionalism was second to none. The letters and documents were thorough and researched. The oral arguments to the appellate court were superb. RBGG won my appeal with a unanimous, published opinion.
There was no question that RBGG would handle my case when it was sent back to the trial court. The whole staff were professional and brilliant. RBGG secured a fair and large settlement as a result of their hard work, dedication, perseverance and willingness to fight for justice. RGBB changed my life. RBGG saved my life. RBGG restored my hope in the legal system and made it possible for me to heal from the harassment and discrimination I encountered in my 20 years of law enforcement.
Jay Brome
Appellate Practice
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld enjoys a well-deserved reputation for excellence.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
My rating of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is based on my familiarity with Jeff Bornstein in the San Francisco Office. Jeff is a dedicated practitioner committed to obtaining the best results for his clients. He is able to adeptly parse through thorny issues and develop pragmatic strategies. He builds solid relationships with his co-counsel and works collaboratively in those situations as well.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Jeff Bornstein of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is incredibly smart and experienced in all aspects of white-collar. He brings creativity and passion to all of his representations and is always client focused.
Civil Rights Law
I was advised to work with Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for a complex Employment and Civil Rights Law case by experts I highly respect. I was well advised. RBGG took the time to deconstruct detailed subtle case facts that often strayed into arcane financial areas, and expertly distilled the information to the essential legal arguments. Partners Mr. Van Swearingen and Mr. Sanford Jay Rosen, with Associate Hugo Cabrera, were methodical, meticulous, and deft in intricate dealings with state and federal agencies, associate special counsels, and inspector generals that were associated with my case involving violations of equal employment opportunity and whistleblower laws, with subsequent employer retaliation. Partners Mr. Swearingen and Mr. Rosen were tremendous advocates for me, exceptionally analytical and astute, remarkably diligent and responsive. A client could not have better legal representation in Civil Rights Law in my judgment. Expensive but worth it.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is an excellent firm. Jeff Bornstein is a particular star with regard to White Collar and complex corporate investigations and parallel proceedings.
Commercial Litigation
This Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld law firm is simply amazing, one of a kind! They shepherded me through some five years of litigation with smarts and care, never losing the personal touch; it was a journey where I really felt all the many lawyers of this law firm were related to me, were on top of the facts of the many cases with which I had to contend, almost any time of the week and day. They also were flexible with my company and myself around payments, working with me on the stress of legal expenses and cashflow. I cannot speak highly enough of the astounding culture of competence and of maintaining the all-important human touch throughout litigation that Rosen, Bien, Galvan and Grunfeld have created, excellent in all ways!
Nader Shabahangi,
President and CEO
– Agesong
Commercial Litigation
The attorneys at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld are very bright, and quickly digest some complex commercial issues. The attorneys also are very organized, timely, and thoughtful.
Darien Loisell
– Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt
Appellate Practice
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld attorneys are consummate professionals , who are incredibly bright and have the best in class appellate practice. They displayed exceptional skill in writing persuasive briefs and in oral argument. This firm successfully represented us as appellants in both the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and the California State Supreme Court on unrelated matters. I provided 4 stars on cost-effectiveness because their rates are high, but they work efficiently, and we achieved a great ROI given the excellent results.
Adam Kates,
Vice President
– Classic Communities, Inc.
Employment Law - Individuals
I worked with Gay C. Grunfeld from Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld due to her well known expertise in Employment Law. She was amazingly helpful and went above and beyond my expectations. Not only was her legal advice priceless, but also she is an amazingly kind person, as well. Her responsiveness and accessibility went well beyond my typical legal council interactions. We discussed legal topics at my request often at various hours of the day and she usually made time for me on the weekends. I look forward to interacting with her on all my future employment matters.
Keith Hwang
Civil Rights Law
I have known most of the partners of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld for years. One is my former Berkeley Law student. The firm has deep expertise in civil rights litigation and fee matters. They are astute and highly skilled litigators whose interest in fundamental fairness guides their work. The firm has a long-standing pro-bono culture, which I value.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Jeff Bornstein, with Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, is top shelf. Tremendous. Committed to his clients and is a real fighter.
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld has outstanding lawyers in every respect. Over the years it has been a privilege to work with Sandy Rosen, Michael Bien, Gay Grunfeld, and Jeff Bornstein. Most of my work, especially in the last 10 years, has been with Mr. Bornstein who is a superb attorney.
Douglas Young
– Farella Braun + Martel LLP
Commercial Litigation
I can only say that I had the most amazing experience with Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld's Work in Commercial Litigation. They were professional, human, worked with me around finances, helped me through emotional and technical difficulties while continually being on top of the case, truly a remarkable experience throughout the close to four years of litigation, exceptional!
Nader Shabahangi,
President and CEO
– Agesong
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Jeff Bornstein of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld is an outstanding lawyer with deep experience in complex cases.
Civil Rights Law
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld has almost single-handedly changed the California Department of Corrections' culture and practice of routinely denying inmates their constitutional rights. This is a remarkable achievement.
Employment Law - Individuals
I could not have had a more positive experience working with attorney Gay Grunfeld of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld. She is exceptional in every aspect, and I recommend her with the utmost enthusiasm.
Civil Rights Law
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld has the very best lawyers one could retain. Professional.
Commercial Litigation
We were extremely satisfied with service at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld. Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld was professional, prompt and efficient solving our case.
Mauricio Simbeck,
President
– U.S. Hispanic Ventures
Employment Law - Individuals
I would like to say that Ms. Gay Grunfeld and Ms. Margot Mendelson are outstanding attorneys. They kept on top of my case and represented me in the best possible light. They did extensive research and were on top of all information given to them. They always dealt with me very respectfully. The fees incurred were more than reasonable. I highly recommend Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, and if I ever need them again, I will go back for their services.
Marianne Kennan
Civil Rights Law
I cannot give any higher praise than what I am giving for Ernest Galvan, Aaron Fischer, and their team at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld. They are the epitome of professionalism. Their intelligence and experience were immediately evident as they quickly and effectively steered our case against a large children's hospital. RBG&G never wavered in their determination to secure the services that our daughter requires and is afforded under ADA. I cannot imagine a better and more caring group of advocates and friends. RBG&G came to our rescue.
Robert Egan,
Owner
– RJE Consulting, LLC
Commercial Litigation
I have had a wonderful experience with Sandy Rosen of Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld working on a complex malpractice action. I found him and his colleagues to be consummate professionals, insightful, cordial, and dedicated to client results in an extraordinarily attentive manner. Kudos to their good work!
Joe Teja
– Cooley LLP
Rankings
National Rankings
Tier 1
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Regional Rankings
San Francisco
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Tier 1 for Civil Rights Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Employment Law - Individuals
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Appellate Practice
- Civil Rights Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Litigation - Antitrust
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Litigation - Securities
- Trade Secrets Law
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP has 4 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in
America®.
By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings.
For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards.
Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Awards
Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
- RBGG was named to National Law Journal’s Elite Trial Lawyers List for 2018. The firm’s appellate practice has been ranked in the First Tier of all firms nationally in the “Best Law Firms” list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® since 2017.
Main Location
San Francisco,
CA
101 Mission Street, Sixth Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
415-433-6830
Call our San Francisco, CA location at 415-433-6830
Get Directions
Get directions to our San Francisco, CA location
Management and Personnel
Managing Partner
Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld