Potter Padilla & Pfau: A Pasadena Legacy Along Route 66

As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026, Potter Padilla & Pfau reflects on a rare kind of continuity: sixty years in the same office along one of America's most historic corridors.

Originally founded in 1960 as Potter & Creim, the firm has served Pasadena and surrounding communities for more than six decades. While the legal landscape and the city around it have changed dramatically, its presence on Colorado Boulevard has remained constant.

In 1966, Bertram L. Potter and his wife, Vilma, purchased a building on Colorado Boulevard and moved the practice into what would become its permanent home. At the time, Route 66 was still a major cross-country artery, carrying travelers and commerce directly through Pasadena's historic corridor. The decision anchored the firm into a stretch of road that already carried generations of American movement and change.

Serving Pasadena on Route 66 since 1966, the practice evolved steadily over time. Leadership eventually passed from Bertram L. Potter to his sons, Joshua and Paul Potter, who carried the firm into its next generation. Over time, subsequent partners contributed to the firm's evolution, ultimately leading to the present-day firm, Potter Padilla & Pfau, now led by Rebecca Padilla and Wendy Pfau.

Pasadena itself has transformed across the years, but the rhythm of life along this corridor has remained familiar. Businesses have come and gone, technology has reshaped communication, and the legal profession has evolved in nearly every way. Through it all, the firm has remained in place, serving individuals and families across generations.

For many residents, the office has become a quiet constant in a changing city. While rooted in Pasadena, the firm has also served clients throughout California and beyond, helping individuals and families navigate some of life's most difficult moments. Trust in that setting is not built quickly. It develops slowly, through consistency, communication, and the ability to guide people through uncertainty with steadiness over time.

Route 66 became an American icon because it represented movement, opportunity, and the idea that progress often happens one mile at a time. It connected people to new places and possibilities when the path ahead was uncertain.

Many of the individuals who come to the firm face their own difficult journeys. A disability can disrupt every part of life, and the Social Security Disability process can feel overwhelming when health and financial pressures converge. For decades, Potter Padilla & Pfau has helped clients understand their options and pursue the benefits they need, providing clarity and steady guidance at each stage of the process.

That continuity has shaped the firm's work in Pasadena for generations.