198 Bonifacio Place, Monterey

373-0486, www.parravanowitten.com

Atticus Finch, the attorney in Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, inspired Jeannette Witten to become an attorney by holding high moral standards and staying true to his values. Flash forward to find Witten as a shareholder in the Monterey law firm Parravano Witten PC. Witten specializes in business law, particularly commercial transactions, corporate governance and intellectual property. She says growing up in a family that owned numerous small businesses made her aware from an early age of the worries and concerns that come with entrepreneurship. “My job is to make sure my clients have a strong legal foundation and every opportunity for success and growth,” she says. “I bank on their success and the long term relationship of continuing legal needs as they grow—not a quick buck.” She does a variety of pro bono work, writes a wine law blog, runs marathons and is actively involved in her community. For example, she’s on the board of the Court Appointed Special Advocates, a nonprofit that helps kids who have to go to court.