It has been a great privilege to be an attorney practicing in San Mateo County over the last 40 years.  My wife Melinda is also an attorney, as well as our daughters Julia and Allison..  When I came to California from Wisconsin to attend law school I knew no one in California.  Now I have deep roots in the legal community in San Mateo County and our children have inherited the passion that Melinda and I share for the practice of law.  Like athletes, attorneys experience the joy of winning and the disappointment of losing.  Unlike athletes we are not engaged iin a sport for entertainment,.  Our performance as attorneys has real life consequences for our clients.  It is an awesome responsibility, but I have always enjoyed the challenge and, thankfully, I have more often than not asisted my clients in achieving successful outcomes. I cannot conceive of a more fulfilling and challenging career than praciticing law.