Sullwold & Hughes is a business litigation firm located in San Francisco. Since its inception, the firm has specialized in representing broker-dealers, banks and other investment professionals in litigation with customers, competitors, and employees. The firm also has demonstrated expertise in representing enterprise software and online companies in litigation with customers, investors, and advisers.

Founded in 1995 by two former partners at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, the firm seeks to differentiate itself from other firms who have similar practice areas, particularly large firms, in three ways:

• Client orientation: We do not believe in "leverage," nor do we have any recent law-school graduates to train. Our clients can be sure that that they will get prompt and knowledgeable answers directly from the lawyer responsible for their matters. Each of our partners has had more than 25 years of litigation experience, which enables us to analyze a case and to evaluate possible outcomes quickly and reliably. We then devise and implement a strategy intended to enable the client to attain its objective (which may not always be total victory at any cost). We regard in-house counsel as key players in this process.
  
• Approach to litigation: We are not afraid to go to trial -- indeed, we enjoy it. And we believe that cases settle faster -- and at a better price -- when the other side knows that we are willing and able to take the matter to trial. Our two partners have tried cases to verdict or judgment in both federal and state court. In addition, we have tried more than 50 securities arbitrations to award. Because we know the procedural and evidentiary rules as well as the substantive law, we also are able to identify, and exploit, opportunities to use motion practice to dispose of the entire case or materially to reduce the client's exposure.
  
• Cost effectiveness: Our lower overhead enables us to charge lower hourly rates than "AmLaw 100" firms. In addition, we take a minimalist approach to staffing cases. One of our partners usually handles the matter himself; when necessary, we can call upon experienced of-counsel to provide assistance with motion practice and discovery. In addition, we do not regard disbursements as a profit center. We do not charge clients for "soft costs" such as word processing, local telephone, facsimile, or incidental copying.