Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP (BF&F) began at a dinner party in the summer of 1997, when Karl Bozicevic, Bret Field, Carol Francis, and Pamela Sherwood gathered at Pam’s home to contemplate their next professional move. Bret, Carol, and Pam were quite early in their careers; Bret as a patent attorney, Pam as a patent agent, and Carol as a patent agent and third year law student. Though only about five years in, they each had their own clients and a growing practice. The senior leader of the group, Karl, had a large portfolio of clients, had been a partner at three other firms, and had more than 15 years of experience.

The question on the table: “Do we stay at the current firm? Do we join another firm? Or do we start our own?”

Joining an established law firm promised stability and more certainty. But part of the certainty was that, for the most part, the constraints they faced would remain. Going a different route would create an opportunity to build a business into what they wanted: client-centric life science patent law firm that provides viable career paths for agents as well as attorneys, and invests in professional growth of all employees at every position.

After a discussion of the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, the shape of a future with another firm versus one of their own making, (and a few glasses of wine) the group decided: “Let’s take a risk. Let’s place a wager on our own success.”

 Like many a startup, the early days of the firm saw the founders sharing desks or occupying a tiny space somewhat larger than a broom closet. Through patience, hard work, focus, and perseverance, BF&F’s client list grew, successes mounted, and soon that broom closet was a distant memory.

Now, more than 25 years later, Bozicevic, Field & Francis, LLP, has: 

• served a steadily growing client base ranging from academic institutions to start-ups to Fortune 500 companies;

• increased its areas of expertise in life sciences;

• expanded to multiple offices with attorneys and patent agents located across California and the country; 

• doubled its partnership, which now includes Eddie Baba, Rudy Ng and Brian Davy; and 

• cultivated an impressive professional team of administrative staff, technical advisors, patent agents and attorneys—many of whom have grown their careers within BF&F for well over a decade.

That risk taken has led to the reward of a firm the founders envisioned—and better, bigger, and bolder than even imagined. As BF&F looks forward to the next 25 years and beyond, we take a moment to acknowledge and congratulate all those who’ve made the firm’s success possible: our administrative staff, our agents and attorneys, and most importantly, our clients.