Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel, Inc., a leading Northern California business law firm, today announced that Philip L. Hammer, one of the Bay Area’s preeminent family law experts, has joined the firm. Based in the San Jose office, Hammer will continue to specialize in family law and will lead and mentor a team of lawyers specializing in high asset and particularly complicated family law matters. 

Hammer has decades of experience handling large and complex family law matters, both in pretrial negotiations and at the trial and appellate court levels.  He is a graduate of both the University of California at Berkeley and Stanford University, and has earned the designation of Certified Specialist in Family Law from the State Bar of California. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

In addition to a long and distinguished career as a litigator, Hammer has strong ties to the San Jose area and is passionate about service to the community. He was instrumental in founding the Lincoln High School Foundation in 1992, and still serves on its board today. Hammer, along with Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel partner James E. Towery, founded the Silicon Valley Campaign for Legal Services, and he remains on its board. He also is a longtime member of the board of San Jose Repertory Theatre. 

Hammer was elected to the school board of San Jose Unified School District for eight years and served two terms as its President, and is a senior fellow of American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley. He is married to former San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer (1990–1998) and together they are involved in numerous philanthropic and community endeavors.

“I am excited to be joining a firm with such a strong reputation in San Jose and throughout Northern California,” said Hammer. “I look forward to using my years of experience to provide our clients the best counsel possible in the complex and delicate areas of family law.”

Adds Kathy Meier, Managing Shareholder at the firm, “Phil is known throughout the valley as not only a legal expert in his field, but also as a dedicated member of the community. We look forward to Phil’s contributions building a family law department with the outstanding talent already here.”