life as well. What started as fun grew to be a lucrative side gig for Holtz and his band members who-with the help of an agenthave played weddings, company events, and other venues since 1997. He admits to being surprised and delighted by being paid to do what he loved, and in fact was able to put one of his three daughters into private school from the money earned as a working musician. More recently, culling from a decades old experience wherein he discovered his love of blues harmonica, he’s begun playing at Hennessey’s Tavern at 4th & G Streets for The Stoney B. Blues Band Jam on Monday Nights. (Holtz’s unusual stage name, Mudbone was bestowed upon him by Stoney B. himself ).
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Recognition Resonates Loudly
putting their trust in you, it is critical to listen and respond to clients, and put their interests first,” he summarizes. Yet it’s also rooted in Holtz’s natural predilection toward finding the work fascinating. He sheepishly admits that while most people would groan at taking, for example, an economist’s deposition, he finds the work interesting and stimulating. Moreover, he’s found that being able to work with “doctors, engineers, and software designers” fulfills his many diverse interests and his natural born love of learning and trying new things.
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To The Beat of His Own Drum Holtz’s inquisitive nature, coupled with his can-do approach to learning, extends far beyond the law. In fact, it extends to music, which plays no small part in his life away from the office. He taught himself bass guitar at the age of 40 and began to pursue success as a musician. As a member of the six person band Legal Tender, (of which half of the members are attorneys), Holtz earned a great deal of success in doing what he loved in his personal
For Holtz, obviously the greatest accomplishment of his career has come from being able to do what he loves, and being successful at those things he loves. But what makes the success all that much sweeter is the recognition that he’s received from his peers. Much like those first feelings of accomplishment years ago when he earned the AV Rating in California from Martindale Hubbell, he’s recently been honored with that same AV Rating in the State of Nevada. Moreover, every year since 2008, he’s been recognized as a Super Lawyer, in the field of “Business Litigation.” The organization of Law & Politics performs the polling, research and selection of Super Lawyers in a process designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Lawyers is a comprehensive and diverse guide to outstanding attorneys, representing a wide range of practice areas. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state or region are named Super Lawyers. Holtz is also listed in the 2012 Top Rated Lawyers, published by The American Lawyer Magazine. Holtz can’t seem to say enough how much it means to him to be recognized for his work by his peers, and counts himself very lucky to have the “great job of being a lawyer.” And while he’s thrilled with the success he’s had to date, he’s not comfortable with keeping things at the status quo. When asked about his plans for his professional future, he can’t keep the curiosity from showing through even when simply stating: “I look forward to continuing to do new things.” n
Contact: James F. Holtz Stutz Artiano Shinoff & Holtz 2488 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92106 Phone: (619) 232-3122 Fax: (619) 232-3264 jholtz@stutzartiano.com
Attorney Journal | Volume 109, 2012 7