Hanson Bridgett Re-Elects Kristina Lawson to Third Term as Managing Partner
Lawson expanded the firm into San Diego and Fresno, while serving as President of the Medical Board of California and Chair of the Bay Area Council
SAN FRANCISCO – September 9, 2026 – Hanson Bridgett LLP announced that Kristina Lawson has been re-elected as Managing Partner of Hanson Bridgett. Lawson expanded the firm’s presence across California while she, and the firm, became more active in California’s business, civic, and public policy communities during her tenure.
Lawson has been a champion for California. The former Mayor of Walnut Creek not only serves as Managing Partner of the firm, but also previously served as President of the Medical Board of California and as Chair of the Bay Area Council, one of the state’s leading business and civic organizations. She has built Hanson Bridgett within the state and brought its attorneys closer to the clients, industries, and communities affected by California’s distinctive and complex business and regulatory environment.
Hanson Bridgett opened offices in San Diego in December 2025 and Fresno in April 2026, extending the firm’s presence into two key California markets. The San Diego office expands the firm’s reach in Southern California and positions it closer to clients across the region’s dynamic health care, technology, real estate, and business sectors. The Fresno office deepens the firm’s presence in the Central Valley, a major center for agriculture and food production as well as healthcare, real estate, and other growing industries. Both offices have seen headcount growth since opening, with additional hires expected soon as the firm continues to attract talent statewide.
Lawson became the first woman to lead Hanson Bridgett when she was elected in January 2020, officially moving into the role in January 2021 after a year as Managing Partner-Elect. She was re-elected in 2024 to a second three-year term. This most recent election took place Sept. 2 and means Lawson will serve until 2030.
“A lot of middle-market firms are hedging right now,” said Lawson. “We’re doing the opposite. California is where the country’s hardest legal questions get asked first — in health care, housing and land use, employment, the environment, technology, energy, and public governance — and Hanson Bridgett has spent its entire history building a firm capable of answering them.”
She added, “Our trial lawyers, deal lawyers, employment counsel, environmental and real estate teams, and public agency advisors are exceptional, and they are genuinely committed to the communities we serve. That’s what we mean by California’s law firm: statewide roots, wide-ranging impact. Our clients come from across the country and around the world, and what they have in common is California — they build, invest, govern, and hire here, from the border with Mexico to the steps of the Capitol. Leading this firm is the privilege of my career, and with my partners’ confidence, we intend to keep building. We’re just getting started.”
Using 2019 as a pre-pandemic baseline to provide a representative view of the firm’s growth — and encompassing the period leading into and through her tenure — Hanson Bridgett has increased annual revenue nearly 40% from $114 million to $157.5 million, with revenue for 2026 projected to exceed $165 million. The firm also expanded from five offices to eight, completing a statewide footprint with no additional debt.
The firm has continued that growth while maintaining its longstanding B Corp certification, earning a #2 overall ranking for inclusion in the 2027 Vault Rankings, and winning five consecutive NLADA Beacon of Justice Awards, reflecting its commitment to advancing diversity and equity in the legal profession while balancing business performance with accountability to its people, communities, and broader social impact.
About Hanson Bridgett
Hanson Bridgett LLP is an Am Law 200 law firm with more than 200 attorneys and offices across California. Rooted in California and well-versed in its complex legal landscape, the firm proudly serves clients nationwide. The firm is structured to support businesses, public agencies, nonprofits, and individuals spanning industries including: construction, corporate and risk management, government and transportation, employer services, health and senior care, wealth management, and real estate and environment. As the first law firm certified as a B Corp, Hanson Bridgett is deeply committed to public service, sustainability, and advancing the communities where we live and work – in California and beyond.
