John R. O'Brien

John is the firm's senior partner and senior business partner. He specializes in real estate, corporate and business law. He counsels and assists clients in planning, structuring, documenting and executing their real estate, corporate, contract and other business transactions. He also counsels and assists clients in maintaining the legal health of their businesses on an ongoing basis. John stresses the importance of preventative law by properly planning, structuring, documenting and carrying out transactions to avoid legal problems. He has also mediated numerous disputes between business owners and found solutions to avoid costly litigation and/or loss of their businesses.

John also has substantial experience in non-profit law, estate planning, probate and trust administration. He is an Arbitrator for the Sonoma County Superior Court and also mediates complex real estate and business matters.

John was born in Omaha, Nebraska where he attended Creighton University (B.A. Economics). He graduated from U.C. Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in the top 5% of his class and was admitted to the Order of the Coif (top 10% of law school graduates in country) and the Thurston Society (scholastic honor society at Hastings). He was a member and published author for the Hastings Law Journal. John then served four years as a lawyer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, following which he joined the San Francisco firm of Bancroft, Avery & McAlister before he and his family moved to Santa Rosa in 1975. John became a partner in Santa Rosa's then oldest firm, Spridgen, Barrett, Achor, Luckhardt, Anderson, James & Zeigler in 1978. In 1981 he left to start his own firm which developed into O'Brien Watters & Davis, LLP.

John and his wife have three daughters and two grandchildren. John devotes a substantial amount of his time to his community. He has been involved as a director and chairman of numerous non-profit organizations and has developed an outstanding reputation as legal counsel to many non-profits in addition to his leadership positions.

Among others, John is past president of the Community Foundation Sonoma County and American Cancer Society (Sonoma County) and was Chairman of the Board of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation and the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce. He is well known for his accomplishments in the Human Race (a fundraising event of the Volunteer Center) and has been top individual fundraiser in the event for many years. John has also held several leadership positions in his church. John has received the Spirit of Santa Rosa Award and has been featured on television and in numerous newspaper articles for his dedication to the community.

John provides excellent service and personal attention to his clients and is never too busy to listen and help.