Stephen B. Ruben
Top rated Alternative Dispute Resolution attorney in San Francisco, California
Practice Areas:
Alternative dispute resolution,
Family law,
Adoption,
Child support,
Custody & visitation,
Divorce,
Domestic violence,
Father's rights,
Mediation & collaborative law,
Same sex family law
Education Qualification:
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Practice Areas:
Alternative dispute resolution,
Family law,
Adoption,
Child support,
Custody & visitation,
Divorce,
Domestic violence,
Father's rights,
Mediation & collaborative law,
Same sex family law
50 California Street 15th FloorSan Francisco, California, 94104
First Admitted: 1973, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://www.rubenlawfirm.com/attorney/stephen-b-ruben/
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Member, Family Law Mediator’s Panel
- Hearing Attorney/Client Fee Disputes in Family Law for BASF, Chief Arbitrator
- Bar Association of San Francisco, Family Law Section, Member
- State Bar of California, Family Law Section, Executive Committee (FLEXCOM), 2007 to 2009
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- State Bar of California, 1992
- Association of California Certified Family Law Specialists, Member
- Senior Settlement Master, Unified Family Court of San Francisco
- Settlement Officer in the Civil Division - San Francisco Superior Court
- United States Supreme Court, 1981
- Executive Board Member and President Elect of Lawyers Club of San Francisco Inn of Court
- Member, State Bar of Illinois, 1973
- Member of State Bar of California, 1993
- Member of the AFCC - Association of Family Conciliation Courts and Program Presenter in Psychological/Legal aspect of high conflict custody disputes, relocation and child abduction
- Member of US State Department- Attorney network serving as legal counsel for international child abduction cases
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Successfully represented and prevailed in a case for the return of a child to the habitual residence, Denmark, in a Hague abduction proceeding. The case was appealed by the Mother who was the abductor and trial court decision was affirmed by both the Appellate Court and Supreme Court of California and the United States Supreme Court as the writ of certiorari was denied. The entire appeal process took more than two years, 2021
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Certified Family Law Specialist, State Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California, 2007
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Unified Family Court of San Francisco, Senior Settlement Master
- Chair, Delegation for the Conference of Delegates, Lawyers Club of San Francisco
- Past Member, Board of Governors, Lawyers Club of San Francisco
- Elkins Family Law Task Force, 2008
- President, Lawyers Club of San Francisco
- Board Member, Rotary Club of San Francisco, 2011
- Unified Family Court of San Francisco, Judge Pro Tem
- Family Law Mediator's Panel, Bar Association of San Francisco
- Member of a San Francisco jazz ensemble known as "Lush Lounge."
- Former Member, Board of the Stern Grove Musical Festival
- Member and Active Vocalist in the Kol-Emanu-el Choir of Temple Emanu-el of San Francisco
- Liaison to the State Bar Family Law Section
- Member, Rotary Club of San Francisco
- Chief Arbitrator, Hearing Attorney/Client Fee Disputes in Family Law for BASF
- Member of the Editorial Board of Lexis/Nexis California Family Law Monthly Journal
Honors/Awards:
- This award was granted to Stephen B. Ruben for his contribution as an attorney in the field of family as advocate, counsellor of law, scholar and pubic service giving back to the community serving as Judge Pro tem and Senior Settlement master in San Francisco Superior Court/ Unified Family Law Court and Judge Pro tem in Marin Superior Court/ Family Law Division as supervising Judge in bench/ bar settlement conferences., Lifetime Achievement award in Family Law as lawyer, scholar and Judge pro tem and Settlement Master, Illinois Institute of Technology- Chicago Kent College of Law, 2016
- San Francisco Super Lawyers in the Area of Family Law
Educational Background:
- Pepperdine School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, LL.M., Major: Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2021
- Bethany College, West Virginia, Honors: with honors
White Papers:
- As an experienced family law specialist and trained in family law collaboration, my article which won a National Award used to collaborative family law model as an alternative dispute resolution method to resolve complex corporate business transactions with an expressed agreement not to proceed with litigation. The Emergence of Collaborative as viable alternative dispute resolution model but with it associated ethical challenges and pitfalls should be integrated into Pepperdine Caruso School of Law’s current professional responsibility class for all JD students and integrated in Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution current mediation course offerings in civil and family law, Collaborative Family Model as a foundation for resolving Corporate Business transactions - Pepperdine School of Law/ Straus Institute, Legal Community, 2019
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- "Manimony," a term he coined to describe spousal support for men
- Frequent Lecturer, Child Custody Disputes, Move-Aways, Child and Spousal Support Modification and Termination and the Impact of Bankrupt Proceedings in a Pending Dissolution of Marriage, Continuing Education Programs, Family Law Section of the State Bar of California and the Bar Association of California
- Lexis/Nexis California Family Law Monthly Journal
- Parental alienation and its short and long term impact on parents who seek frequent and continuous contact with their children
- Set asides for marital settlement agreements
- The impact of death and estate planning instruments and pre and post marital agreements in effect during a pending dissolution proceeding
- Recommendations of the Elkins Family Law Task Force
- California Family Law News, Family Law Section of the State Bar of California
- Lecturer, Law Attorneys and is Devoted to Complex Family Law Litigation
- “Adult Children of Parental Alienation Syndrome", Family Law Section of the State Bar of California, California Family Law News published 2009
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- Better Business Bureau A+ rating, 2019
- American Institute of Family Law Attorney in San Francisco, 10 Best Attorney - Client Satisfaction, 2022
- Lawyers of Distinction Award - National Award in Family Law, 2022
Industry Groups:
- FAMILY LAW BAR and FAMILY LAW BENCH as Judge Pro Tem
- Special Master and Settlement Judge
Contact Stephen
All the below fields are required