Higgs Fletcher & Mack

What Higgs Fletcher & Mack does

Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP is a privately held, full-service law firm headquartered in the Columbia Center in downtown San Diego. Founded in 1939 by Dutch Higgs and Ferd Fletcher, it is the oldest continuously operating law firm in San Diego and currently employs 72 attorneys organized across 23 practice areas and 19 client industries. The firm was reorganized as a limited liability partnership in 1996 and, following the 1999 merger with McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees & Sharkey, became the sixth-largest firm in San Diego County. Service offerings span litigation (business, construction, products liability, tort and insurance, professional liability, appeals), transactional and regulatory work (corporate and securities, real estate, tax, environmental, health care, hospitality and retail, transportation, nonprofit), and personal legal services (family law, trusts and estates, criminal defense). Newer practice groups include Privacy & Information Security (2015), Gig Economy (December 2023), and White-Collar Crime & Regulatory Enforcement Defense (December 2025).

The firm operates on a professional services revenue model, generating fees through hourly billing, flat-fee arrangements, and contingency work depending on matter type; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Client acquisition relies on direct engagement, attorney referrals, industry reputation, and tier-one rankings (U.S. News Best Law Firms 2025 and 2026; 28 attorneys in Best Lawyers in America 2025; 15 Super Lawyers in 2024). The firm serves both enterprise clients — including regional healthcare systems, financial institutions, research institutes, and hospitality operators — and individual clients in family, estate, and criminal matters. Global reach is delivered through membership in ALFA International, a network of 140+ independent law firms.

Leadership transitioned in 2023 when Managing Partner Steven J. Cologne (2016–2023) was succeeded by Jim Peterson, with Wendy Watson joining as Executive Director. The firm has no parent company, no institutional or private equity investors, and no disclosed M&A activity; growth is funded through partnership capital and reinvested earnings. Two lateral attorney cohorts joined in 2025 and two associates were promoted to partner effective January 2026, signaling continued internal scaling of capacity across practice groups.

Name

Higgs Fletcher & Mack

Legal name

Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP

Website

https://higgslaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Higgs Fletcher & Mack LLP is San Diego's oldest full-service law firm (founded 1939), with 72 attorneys across 23 practice areas serving enterprise and individual clients locally, nationally, and globally through ALFA International network membership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

Keywords

• Legal advisory services
• Business litigation counsel
• Corporate securities law
• Estate planning services
• Employment law representation

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services: Full-service law firm providing comprehensive legal services across 23 practice areas. Revenue generated through professional services fees charged to clients for legal counsel, litigation, transactional work, and advisory services. Typical law firm billing includes hourly rates, flat fees for specific services, and contingency arrangements where applicable.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Higgs Fletcher & Mack is a full-service law firm providing legal counsel across 23 practice areas including appellate, bankruptcy, business litigation, construction, corporate and securities, criminal defense, employment, environmental, family law, healthcare, hospitality and retail, intellectual property, privacy, products liability, professional liability, real estate, tax, tort and insurance, transportation, trusts and estates, and white-collar crime defense. The firm serves both organizational clients (small companies through Fortune 500 corporations) and individual clients with multidisciplinary advisory, transactional, and litigation services from its San Diego headquarters.

Product overview

Higgs Fletcher & Mack is a full-service law firm offering comprehensive legal services through 23 distinct practice areas organized as a unified portfolio. The firm's practice areas include Appeals & Writs, Bankruptcy, Business Litigation, Construction Law, Corporate & Securities Law, Criminal Law, Employment Law, Environmental Law, Family Law, Gig Economy, Health Care Law, Hospitality & Retail, Intellectual Property Law, Nonprofit Organizations, Privacy & Information Security, Products Liability Law, Professional Liability, Real Estate Law, Tax Law, Tort & Insurance Law, Transportation Law, Trusts & Estates, and White-Collar Crime & Regulatory Enforcement Defense. The firm serves clients locally, nationally, and globally from its San Diego headquarters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Appeals & Writs Full-service civil writs and appeals practice in all California State and Federal courts of appeal, including strategic consultation, appellate settlement conferences, brief writing, and oral argument, for clients needing post-trial and appellate advocacy.
• Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Reorganization Handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcies for businesses and individuals, providing guidance through financial restructuring and reorganization matters for parties seeking optimal financial outcomes.
• Business Litigation Represents clients in commercial and contract litigation, securities matters, and intellectual property litigation including patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases, for businesses facing complex commercial disputes.
• Construction Law Provides legal counsel to public and private owners, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, and insurance carriers on construction claims, contracts, and disputes across project delivery.
• Corporate & Securities Law Assists with entity selection, formation, business and tax planning, private placements of securities, and compliance with state and federal regulations for businesses and investors.
• Criminal Law Focuses on white-collar and business crimes defense, including tax evasion, money laundering, embezzlement, and business fraud allegations for individuals and companies facing criminal exposure.
• Employment Law Labor & Employment Practice Group advising California employers on state and federal employment laws, including employment litigation, harassment, discrimination, and wage/hour compliance matters.
• Environmental Law Handles environmental and land use challenges, complex environmental litigation, and regulatory compliance under CERCLA, CEQA, and other environmental statutes.
• Family Law Represents individual clients in marital dissolution, child custody, property division, adoption, paternity claims, and mediation matters.
• Gig Economy Practice Group Provides legal counsel to app-based companies facilitating connections between users and service providers, addressing labor, immigration, tort, and business litigation needs specific to the gig economy.
• Health Care Law Provides counsel to healthcare providers including physicians, hospitals, and surgery centers on business, transactional, employment, litigation, and regulatory compliance matters specific to the healthcare industry.
• Hospitality & Retail Provides legal services to hospitality and retail companies including craft breweries, hotels, restaurants, and tourist destinations on corporate, employment, real estate, and intellectual property matters.
• Intellectual Property Law Handles patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters including registration, enforcement, and litigation for clients with IP assets.
• Nonprofit Organizations Provides counsel to nonprofit organizations on risk mitigation and operational effectiveness across governance and regulatory matters.
• Privacy & Information Security Practice Group Provides privacy and security risk assessments, compliance audits, and employee education and training for organizations needing data protection compliance.
• White-Collar Crime & Regulatory Enforcement Defense Practice Group Provides defense services for white-collar crime and regulatory enforcement matters for individuals and corporations facing government investigations and prosecutions.
• Products Liability Law Handles products liability litigation matters for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers facing claims arising from product-related injuries or defects.
• Professional Liability Handles professional liability disputes for professionals facing malpractice or negligence claims.
• Real Estate Law Provides counsel on real estate transactions, litigation, and ongoing legal representation for builders, developers, and investors across property matters.
• Tax Law Handles tax-related legal matters including structuring and controversy representation for individuals and businesses facing tax issues.
• Tort & Insurance Law Handles tort and insurance-related legal matters including disputes, coverage analysis, and defense.
• Transportation Law Advises on transportation industry complexities including safety regulations, manufacturing considerations, and infrastructure issues.
• Trusts & Estates Handles trust and estate planning and litigation matters for individuals and families needing estate administration, planning, and contested matter representation.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ALFA InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHiggs Fletcher & Mack is a member of ALFA International (ALFAI), a premier global legal network with more than 140 independent law firm members worldwide. ALFAI member firms meet high standards and are respected by peers in both the legal and business community. Membership enables HFM to deliver effective legal solutions while drawing upon collective wisdom of worldwide network of trial and business counsel. Clients benefit from educational programming including seminars, webinars, and legal compendia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Jackson Lewis P.C. National employment-focused firm of similar size, frequently appearing alongside HFM in Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers rankings; comparable in scale though narrower in practice mix.

Direct peers

• Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP: San Francisco-headquartered full-service firm of similar size and broad multi-practice coverage, including notable litigation, employment, and healthcare practices comparable to HFM.
• Duane Morris LLP: National mid-size full-service firm with similar practice breadth and a comparable emphasis on litigation and middle-market corporate work, making it a close structural peer.
• Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP: San Diego-headquartered full-service mid-size law firm with comparable practice area breadth and a similar California regional footprint, making it the closest geographic and structural peer to HFM.
• Best Best & Krieger LLP: California-based mid-size full-service firm with municipal, real estate, and litigation practices serving public and private clients — closely comparable in scale and regional orientation.
• Snell & Wilmer LLP: Western U.S. regional full-service firm of comparable attorney count with diverse practice groups spanning corporate, litigation, and healthcare — directly comparable in scale and service mix.

Broad incumbents

• Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP: California-headquartered larger full-service firm with overlapping corporate, healthcare, real estate, and litigation practices serving similarly sophisticated clients.
• BakerHostetler LLP: Larger full-service firm with overlapping litigation, healthcare, IP, and privacy practices that compete with HFM across several practice areas.
• Foley & Lardner LLP: Larger national full-service firm with overlapping healthcare, IP, and litigation practices; serves similar client profiles from a broader geographic platform.
• Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP: National mid-to-large full-service firm with strong general liability, insurance, and litigation practices overlapping with HFM's Tort & Insurance and Professional Liability work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/higgsfletcher
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/134726
• Facebookfacebook.com/higgslaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Higgs Fletcher & Mack