Quality Trumps Quantity at a Los Olivos Based Law Office

With the debut of Hollister & Brace’s satellite law office in Los Olivos, Valley residents needing legal services from a large firm can rest assured knowing their commute is now only a hop, skip and short drive away.

Located directly across from The Corner Coffee Shop on San Marcos Road in Los Olivos, Hollister & Brace’s two-level, plush carpeted modern building is refreshing to walk into. Attorneys Steven Evans Kirby and John B. Galvin said they shopped the idea of establishing a second, smaller office in the Valley to their large firm.

“We had talked about it for some years,” Kirby said. “The idea stemmed from the reality that the Santa Ynez Valley as well as the entire North County community was growing and becoming sophisticated and needed our support.”

Galvin agrees with Kirby’s sentiments about the new location.

“Even though it’s a small community, People have the same needs as in big cities,” he said.

Though the Los Olivos office opened in October 2006, the parent office was founded in 1966 by Santa Barbara attorneys J. James Hollister, III and William A. Brace. The firm’s areas of representation include Business and Tax, Natural Resources, Litigation and Estate Planning.

“We handle just about everything except Criminal and Bankruptcy law,” said Galvin, “and were only half an hour drive away from Santa Barbara, so we always have backup.”

Kirby’s areas of expertise are Land Use, Natural Resources and Realty and Galvin’s are Estate and Business Planning as well as Business Transactions. He is also a certified public accountant.

Both, who have been Valley residents since 2004, say transitioning into the Valley lifestyle was as easy as pie.

“Why it took all but 10 minutes to get used to the move,” Kirby said. “There wasn’t any resistance to us opening a second office. The people were warm and welcoming.”

Kirby and Galvin have many things in common but the one thing that sticks out is their love and appreciation of Valley life.

“The first time I came over that hill and saw the Santa Ynez Valley, I fell in love with it,” Kirby said. “Because it reminded me so much of the way (my hometown) Lafayette (Calif.) used to be.”

After earning an undergraduate degree in Political Science from The University of Oregon and a law degree from San Francisco State University, Kirby worked for O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles.

“I loved the work but hated living in such a large metropolitan area,” he said. “We decided we wanted to raise our children in a nicer environment and we moved to Santa Barbara and never looked back.”

Galvin moved from Reno, Nevada and received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration/Accounting from the University of Reno and law degree from Santa Clara University. “My favorite thing about the Valley is that it is a small town and a great place to raise a family.” Galvin said.

Kirby and Galvin fit right into the horse riding community. Kirby owns a quarter horse named Rusty and two mules, Elvis and Annie. He is also a member of the legendary riding community Rancheros Vistadores as well as the Frontier Boys. Kirby’s mule Elvis is in a class of his own and is very well known in the Valley.

“He’s a total clown,” Kirby said about Elvis. “He’s known for kissing other horses and cattle through fences or eating a sandwich when your back’s turned.”

Galvin also owns three horses and said he occasionally rides and leaves the rest to his wife and daughter.

“My wife and daughter are working on adding chickens too,” Galvin said, smiling. “They have all kinds of plans for them that I don’t know about.”

He is also a founding director of the Los Olivos School District Foundation. Though the office is unsure about just how many clients it’s acquired since October, Kirby says the volume is much greater than anticipated.

“We’re really excited about this opportunity,” Kirby said. “We think we can provide valuable assistance.”