The Recorder, Northern California's legal newspaper, breaks the news that mop-topped progressive pixie Matt Gonzalez is starting a law firm (subscription required) with his old Stanford Law School roommate and former SF public defender colleague, Whitney Leigh. The law firm of Gonzalez and Leigh, LLP will be opening its Pine Street offices on March 1. We're sure the name Gonzalez goes first purely on an alphabetical basis.

They're hoping to become the city's next high-level trial-oriented civil and criminal defense shop, like the prestigious local law firm Keker and Van Nest, started by former PD John Keker (and where Leigh used to work). Mr. Van Nest is all for it: "The one difference is that Gonzalez has been successful in politics, and John [who lost a supervisor election back in the 70s] hasn't." Ouch! Mr. Van Nest, you'll no doubt be seeing a sharp reduction in your share of the partnership profit distributions next week.