FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * KAVANAUGH SCOTT F   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol First Foundation Inc. [FFWM] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Executive Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 18101 VON KARMAN, SUITE 700 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/03/2017 (Street) IRVINE, CA 92612 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 02/03/2017   M   3,090 (1) A (2) 795,114 (3) I by family trust Common Stock               70,000 (4) D

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

RSU

(2)

02/02/2018

02/03/2018

Common Stock

3,090 (1)

3,090 (1)

D

Option

$ 5 (5)

09/17/2010

09/16/2017

Common Stock

320,000 (5)

320,000 (5)

D

Option

$ 7.5 (5)

01/27/2012

01/26/2019

Common stock

40,000 (5)

40,000 (5)

D

Option

$ 7.5 (5)

10/25/2014

10/25/2021

Common Stock

160,000 (5)

160,000 (5)

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
KAVANAUGH SCOTT F 18101 VON KARMAN SUITE 700 IRVINE, CA 92612	X		Chief Executive Officer

Signatures

'/s/ John M Michel attorney in fact for Scott F. Kavanaugh'		02/03/2017
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	On January 18, 2017 First Foundation Inc.'s common stock split 2 for 1, resulting in the reporting person's ownership of twice as many RSUs as of such date
(2)	Restricted stock unit grant, no exercise price
(3)	On January 18, 2017 First Foundation Inc.'s common stock split 2 for 1, resulting in the reporting person's indirect ownership of 396,012 additional shares of common stock as of such date
(4)	On January 18, 2017 First Foundation Inc.'s common stock split 2 for 1, resulting in the reporting person's direct ownership of 35,000 additional shares of common stock as of such date
(5)	On January 18, 2017 First Foundation Inc.'s common stock split 2 for 1, resulting in the reporting person's ownership of twice as many options with an exercise price being reduced by 50% as of such date

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