Overview

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Katharine (Trina) Falace is a trusted legal strategist and seasoned business litigator known for delivering practical, business-minded solutions in high-stakes disputes. With extensive trial experience, she represents clients across diverse industries in complex commercial, real estate, and land use matters.

Trina represents clients in the wine and agricultural sectors, advising wineries, vineyard managers, and agricultural businesses on disputes involving easements, boundaries, contracts, and land use regulations. Her deep understanding of the industry allows her to blend courtroom advocacy with proactive counsel, helping clients navigate legal challenges while preserving vital business relationships.

Beyond litigation, Trina regularly counsels clients on conflict prevention and risk management, offering clear, actionable guidance to avoid costly disputes. Her transactional work includes drafting and negotiating winemaker agreements, vineyard management contracts, grape purchase deals, compliance issues, and water-sharing arrangements.

Known for her collaborative style and clear communication, Trina is a respected advisor for businesses seeking clarity, confidence, and results in a complex legal landscape.

Trina maintains an active presence in the Napa community through her service in a variety of leadership roles.

  • Successfully represented world famous Napa Valley winery in an action to enforce the winery’s easement rights. In a bifurcated trial, Ms. Falace obtained an order from the Napa County Superior Court quieting title in her client’s favor and allowing the winery to maintain its water pipeline. Subsequently, Ms. Falace obtained a unanimous jury verdict in the second phase of trial.
  • Represented Fortune 500 consumer products company in easement dispute and successfully negotiated favorable outcome for client.
  • Successfully represented legendary Napa Valley restaurant in contested trademark dispute.
  • Obtained a unanimous published decision on behalf of the landowner in an appeal to the California Court of Appeal, First District to reverse the trial court’s decision, allowing the client to maintain causes of action for nuisance and prescriptive easement and reversing attorney fee award.
  • Represented multiple family-owned wineries on the winery sale-side.
  • Obtained a unanimous jury verdict on behalf of contractor dismissing the plaintiff’s contentions and claims for willful misconduct, and awarding the client under his action for quantum meruit.
  • Obtained alternative writ of mandate directing the Superior Court to vacate its order denying client’s motion for summary judgment and to hear the motion for summary judgment on the merits.
  • Successfully represented multiple wineries in obtaining use permits through the County administrative process.
  • Obtained unanimous defense verdict on behalf of a Napa cardroom where plaintiff sought more than $31 million in compensatory damages, as well as punitive damages.

Admissions

  • California

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, J.D., 2002
    • Vice President of the Moot Court Honor Society
  • DePauw University, B.A., Theology and Political Science
    • Student Body President

  • President, Napa County Bar Association
  • Past President, Napa County Women Lawyers
  • Board of Directors, Connolly Ranch
  • Board of Directors, Queen of the Valley Hospital
  • Past Member, Inns of Court

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