Moser Firm Fosters USF Alumni Network
Kaye · Moser · Hierbaum LLP employees pictured from left to right: Susan Kaye, founding partner; Darrick Chase ’90; Janice Jentz 3L; Laurie Cronin '08; Barbara Moser ’90, founding partner; and Vanessa Hierbaum '96. Nov. 4, 2008 -- As a student at the University of San Francisco School of Law in the 1980s, Barbara Moser '90 knew she wanted to pursue a career in family law and so she set her sights on one of USF's most distinguished graduates to practice in the field: Max Gutierrez '59. Moser contacted Gutierrez, who was then a partner at Brobeck Phleger and Harrison, and began a networking relationship with him that eventually resulted in a job offer.
"Coming out of school, I had this fascination with working in the corporate world at a large firm and I knew Max hired many USF people," Moser said. "I was hired as a summer associate in 1989, and then was hired full time in 1990. Max was a wonderful mentor, I learned so much from him."
These days, Moser is following in his footsteps not only with a thriving family law practice, but also by hiring many USF graduates to work at her firm, Kaye · Moser · Hierbaum LLP.
"The alumni network continues to be an amazing part of the USF School of Law," she said. "Everybody who has come to me from USF has been very well trained and has had a very good attitude. It's a tribute to the school."
When Janice Jentz 3L met with Moser for an informational interview recently, Moser hired her on the spot for a summer associate position. Jentz continues to work at the firm as a legal intern.
"As soon as I walked through the doors of the office, I felt that Barbara had immediately invested in me," Jentz said. "I couldn't ask for a more nurturing and supportive environment to develop in as a young attorney. She has mentored me through the process of being an intern and allowed me to see first hand how detail-oriented, committed, and passionate one must be to produce high quality work and advocate for clients in such a deep and respectful manner."
Moser established the boutique law firm in 1995 with Susan Kaye, who she worked with at Brobeck. Moser made the difficult decision to leave Brobeck after five years in part because she had a toddler and a newborn at home and wanted a more flexible schedule.
"Susan and I had no idea what we were doing," she laughed. "We had two offices, two computers, and a secretary station with no secretary."
Many of her former clients followed and Moser quickly established herself as among the best divorce lawyers in the Bay Area. The firm is known for handling the most complex cases, and for dealing with complex issues such as stock option valuation and international jurisdictional issues. They have been involved in cases around the state involving top executives, professional athletes, and rock stars. The firm also does estate planning, probate and trust litigation, and trusts and estates work.
"We are known for zealously representing our clients, so sometimes other attorneys describe us as being aggressive," Moser said. "But we settle the vast majority of our cases, and on very good terms for our clients, precisely because of our zealous representation, our thoroughness, and our attention to detail.
Moser has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer three years in a row, and was the recipient of a Reader's Choice Award for San Francisco's Favorite Attorney by J., the Jewish news weekly of Northern California.
Moser and her partners today have the luxury of picking and choosing which cases to take and their firm boasts five attorneys, four of whom are USF graduates. Last year, Vanessa Hierbaum, a 1996 graduate of the USF School of Law, became a name partner at the firm. Other USF graduates working with Moser include Darrick Chase '90 and Laurie Cronin '08.
In 2006, Moser was named USF's John J. Meehan Fellow for her dedication to the professional development of USF law students. Jentz, Moser's legal intern, said she couldn't ask for a better mentor.
"In addition to her plethora of honors and accolades, she has extensive experience in the many aspects of family law, has a strong reputation of aggressively advocating for her clients, and is respected amongst her colleagues for having an uncommon commitment to maintaining integrity and putting the interests of her client before her own," Jentz said. "Her perspective would be of great value to anyone."
