The Re ape-Ricket t Law Firm RR

BY JIM WALKER SCV Business Journal Staff

Founded in the Santa Clarita Valley in 1998 by James P. Reape, Esq. and David E. Rickett, Esq., the ReapeRickett Law Firm has grown to be Santa Clarita’s largest family law firm, and expanded into offices in Calabasas and Westlake Village.

“Our service area has dramatically increased, with our attorneys able to provide the same high-quality legal representation throughout California,” said shareholder Matthew Breddan, Esq., who joined the firm in 2013. Here Breddan enlightens us on the firm’s mission, methods, history and achievements, as well as its connections to the SCV community.

“Our mission is to provide family law legal services that are second-to-none,” Breddan said. “We conduct ourselves in accordance with the highest ethical standards and are committed to providing quality services. Each firm member takes special care to understand the unique and individual concerns of our clients. Our team approach to each case ensures efficient and timely responses to simple or complex issues. We empower our clients with knowledge and information, enabling them to make reasoned and results-oriented decisions.”

History and Shareholders

James Reape established his practice in Santa Clarita after several years of practicing law in Encino.

“After law school, around 1984, I relocated to Santa Clarita,” Reape said. “For several years, I worked outside of Santa Clarita, but in 1992, I established my firm in Valencia.

“David Rickett, having grown up and attended Saugus High, returned to Santa Clarita not long after he began practicing in 1995. I knew him as a lawyer in the community as he worked across the hall from my office.

“When he left that lawyer, I offered him an office in exchange for assisting me on cases. He then acquired a family law caseload, and we merged our practices to establish The Reape-Rickett Law Firm (in 1998).

“We both understood and recognized that many people chose to live in Santa Clarita for the community feel and as an ideal location to raise their family. However, so often when people were seeking legal services, they were forced to go outside of the valley to find an experienced attorney.

“David and I understood the court system, the struggles families face when dealing with a family law matter, and wanted to provide local representation and assistance.”

Reape added, “As dads, David and I were both very active in youth athletic leagues with our children. In the early years of our firm, I also served as chairman of the Los Angeles area for UNICEF, pro bono attorney for domestic violence clinics.

“David (who passed away in 2016) was a dedicated father, husband, member of his church and the Santa Clarita community. He was a pillar in our legal community as well, with a longstanding membership to the Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association. In addition to his steadfast representation for his clients, he also became Minor’s Council to represent and advocate for the best needs of children with high-conflict parents in divorce or paternity matters.

“His wife, Dee Rickett, was also a prominent figure in Santa Clarita. His loss was deeply felt not only by our firm, but by the entire family law community. David was a true leader, an exemplar of the honest and ethical practice of the law and we continue to honor his memory and legacy.”

Breddan established and successfully managed his own firm in the San Fernando Valley before joining Reape-Rickett in 2013. He currently resides in the