For the first time in over six decades, two women will be at the helm of midsize Northern California litigation firm Farella Braun + Martel. Partners Karen Kimmey and Holly Sutton were named co-chairs and co-managing partners of the firm, succeeding former managing partner Brian Donnelly, who will return to private practice.

Farella made the news public on Wednesday but the promotions were announced internally last fall, Sutton told The Recorder. “We've been transitioning into the role for a few months now and it's been overwhelmingly positive,” Sutton said of the response to her and Kimmey’s new jobs.