Richard J. Idell was the founder of The Idell Firm and practiced under that firm name for 32 years in San Francisco and later in Sonoma and St. Helena. As of January 1, 2019, Richard merged his practice with the premier wine firm, Dickenson, Peatman and Fogarty. With offices in the wine country of Sonoma and Napa, Richard Idell is uniquely situated to provide counsel for the intersection of live entertainment and the wine industry. Richard first started representing Bill Graham and his company, Bill Graham Presents, in 1987 and since that time has developed a premier national entertainment practice counseling presenters and promoters of music festivals, a variety of music and theater venues, special events and other live entertainment presentations. In addition, as a grape grower and vintner in Sonoma County for over ten years, Mr. Idell has a significant practice in counseling wineries, vineyard owners, developers of winery and vineyard projects as well as the general wine industry on real estate, land use, and other legal and branding issues, including issues at the intersection of the wine industry and live events.
As the paradigm for selling wine direct to consumer continues to grow and develop, winery events and promotion of wine through media and social media have become all the more important and thus Richard’s practice is at the intersection of wine and entertainment. Richard has both a transactional and trial practice having handled myriad litigation matters for clients, including significant trial practice in intellectual property. Richard is also a recognized mediator and arbitrator and continues to accept engagements for those alternative dispute resolution assignments.