Meyers Nave was formed in 1986 by Steven Meyers, Elizabeth Silver and Michael Riback. Driven by a strong belief in public service, the firm’s early focus was on representing Northern California public agencies, particularly as the City Attorney to municipalities and as General Counsel to special districts. These roles demanded attorneys with deep legal acumen, practical insight, and strong public sector experience.
Soon after its founding, Michael Nave joined the firm, bringing extensive experience representing public entities in eminent domain matters. The firm also developed key strengths in land use and environmental law, labor and employment law, tort and police liability defense, and redevelopment law, among other areas.
Meyers Nave quickly built a reputation for delivering responsive, results-oriented legal services. At one point, the firm served as City Attorney to more municipalities in California than any other private law firm. Simultaneously, we expanded our representation of counties, transportation authorities, redevelopment agencies, and special districts on a broad range of legal matters beyond general counsel services. As client needs grew, so did the firm—adding associates, of counsel, paralegals, and professional staff to support a growing client base.
In 2004, Meyers Nave became one of the first law firms in the nation to name a minority woman as Managing Principal. Jayne Williams led the firm through a period of significant growth and geographic expansion, including new offices in Sacramento and Los Angeles.
In 2020, Meyers Nave merged with Brown Law Group, a woman- and minority-owned employment law firm founded by Janice Brown. Based in San Diego and serving major national employers for over two decades, the merger significantly expanded the firm’s employment law capabilities and statewide reach.
In 2025, Meyers Nave merged with The Sohagi Law Group, a highly respected California environmental and land use law firm founded by Margaret Sohagi, one of the state’s most accomplished land use attorneys. These strategic combinations marked the firm’s continued evolution from its public agency roots to a broader practice serving a wide range of clients across sectors.
Today, Meyers Nave is a mid-sized California firm representing businesses, public entities, nonprofit organizations, and public-private partnerships across the state. Our growth reflects a long-term strategic plan grounded in client service, legal excellence, and deep knowledge of California law. We invest time in understanding our clients’ operations, goals, and challenges, using our more than 30 years of experience to deliver tailored, practical legal solutions.
The firm’s leadership continues to build on the vision of its founders—expanding into new markets, deepening capabilities, and remaining focused on the complex, high-stakes legal matters that define our clients’ most important work. From our offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego, Meyers Nave attorneys are honored to counsel clients on their most complex issues, high-profile matters, and mission-critical legal challenges.