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Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Industry Group

Agriculture & Food Production

Sophisticated counsel for every link in California's food production chain, from the field and the orchard to the packing house, the cold-storage facility, and the distribution warehouse.

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Who We Serve

Clients We Represent in Agriculture & Food Production

01

Growers & Orchard Operators

Counsel on land, labor, water, contracts, and disputes for the farming and orchard operations at the base of the food chain.

02

Dairies & Livestock Operations

Regulatory, environmental, employment, and commercial counsel tailored to dairy and livestock producers.

03

Farm Management Companies

Representation on operating agreements, leases, vendor contracts, and the disputes that arise in managing farm assets.

04

Packers, Processors & Cold Storage

Commercial, employment, and litigation counsel for the packing, processing, and cold-storage segment of food production.

05

AgTech Companies

Entity, contract, financing, and intellectual property counsel for agricultural technology businesses.

06

Agricultural Service Providers

Counsel for the service and supply businesses that support California growers and producers.

07

Equipment & Product Suppliers

Commercial-contract, creditors'-rights, and dispute counsel for suppliers to the agricultural sector.

Overview

How We Serve Our Clients

Wanger Jones Helsley has deep roots in California's agricultural economy. From its Fresno headquarters in the heart of the Central Valley, the firm counsels clients across every segment of food production, from growers and dairies to packers, processors, and the suppliers and service providers that support them.

Agricultural matters rarely stay in one practice area. The firm pairs its corporate, real estate, water, labor, and litigation attorneys so a grower facing a water dispute, a labor audit, and a supply contract can work with one firm rather than several. That breadth is well suited to the realities of California agriculture.

Whether a client is structuring a farm operation, financing equipment, defending an employment claim, or litigating a contract, the firm brings senior-attorney attention and an understanding of the Central Valley's agricultural economy built over decades of representing clients in the region.

Our Approach

What to Expect from WJH

— 01

Industry Knowledge

The firm understands the operational, regulatory, and commercial realities of this sector, so counsel is grounded in how the client's business actually works, not legal theory alone.

— 02

Full-Service

Transactional, regulatory, and litigation attorneys work side by side, so a client can handle deals, compliance, and disputes under one roof rather than across several firms.

— 03

Senior Attention

Experienced shareholders and of-counsel handle the substantive work, giving clients direct access to senior counsel rather than layers of delegation.

The Team

Attorneys Serving This Industry

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Marisa L. Balch, Of Counsel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Marisa L. Balch
Of Counsel
Fresno
Nicolas R. Cardella, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Nicolas R. Cardella
Shareholder
Fresno
Craig A. Carnes, Of Counsel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Craig A. Carnes
Of Counsel
Sacramento
Hunter C. Castro, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Hunter C. Castro
Shareholder
Fresno
Kathleen DeVaney, Of Counsel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Kathleen DeVaney
Of Counsel
Fresno
Robert E. Donlan, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Robert E. Donlan
Shareholder
Sacramento
Troy T. Ewell, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Troy T. Ewell
Shareholder
Fresno
Shawnda M. Grady, Of Counsel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Shawnda M. Grady
Of Counsel
Sacramento
Michael S. Helsley, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Michael S. Helsley
Shareholder
Fresno
Timothy Jones, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Timothy Jones
Shareholder
Fresno
John P. Kinsey, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
John P. Kinsey
Shareholder
Fresno
Scott D. Laird, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Scott D. Laird
Shareholder
Fresno
Ethan Mora, Of Counsel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Ethan Mora
Of Counsel
Fresno
Jeffrey B. Pape, Of Counsel, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Jeffrey B. Pape
Of Counsel
Fresno
Giulio A. Sanchez, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Giulio A. Sanchez
Shareholder
Fresno
Patrick D. Toole, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Patrick D. Toole
Shareholder
Fresno
Kurt F. Vote, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Kurt F. Vote
Shareholder
Fresno
Steven K. Vote, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Steven K. Vote
Shareholder
Fresno
Riley C. Walter, Shareholder, Wanger Jones Helsley PC
Riley C. Walter
Shareholder
Fresno
Track Record

Representative Matters

Wanger Jones Helsley's public-record matters, including cases argued before the California Courts of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court, are presented on the firm's Select Cases page with the applicable prior-results disclaimer.

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Frequently Asked Questions
What agricultural clients does Wanger Jones Helsley represent?
Wanger Jones Helsley represents clients across California's food production chain, including growers and orchard operators, dairies and livestock operations, farm management companies, packers, processors and cold storage, agricultural technology companies, service providers, and equipment and product suppliers. The firm tailors its counsel to each segment's legal and commercial realities.
What legal services does WJH provide to agricultural businesses?
Wanger Jones Helsley advises agricultural businesses on entity formation and governance, commercial contracts, real estate and leasing, water and environmental matters, labor and employment, financing, and litigation. The firm draws on multiple practice groups so a single agricultural client can address transactional, regulatory, and contested matters under one roof.
Does WJH handle agricultural water and land issues?
Yes. Wanger Jones Helsley counsels agricultural clients on water rights, land use, environmental compliance, and related disputes through its environmental, water, and land use practice, coordinated with its real estate and litigation attorneys. This is a core area for a Central Valley firm serving growers, dairies, and food producers.
Why do agricultural clients choose a Central Valley firm?
Wanger Jones Helsley is headquartered in Fresno, in the center of California's agricultural economy, and has represented clients across the food production chain for decades. That proximity and experience let the firm understand the operational, regulatory, and commercial pressures agricultural businesses face throughout the Central Valley and statewide.
Can WJH handle both agricultural transactions and disputes?
Yes. The firm's transactional and litigation attorneys work together, so an agricultural client can structure operations, negotiate contracts, and, when a matter becomes contested, move to litigation with the same firm. This full-service breadth suits the multi-front legal needs common in farming and food production.
Who at WJH handles agriculture and food production matters in Fresno?
Wanger Jones Helsley's agriculture and food production work is handled by shareholders and of-counsel attorneys, most based in the firm's Fresno office, including Kurt Vote, Patrick Toole, John Kinsey, and others, with additional counsel in Sacramento. The firm directs each client to the attorney whose experience best fits the matter.
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Agriculture & Food Production matter?

The firm's team is ready to provide the experienced counsel your matter requires. Contact WJH to discuss your situation.

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