Stephen B. Ruben
Top rated Alternative Dispute Resolution attorney in San Francisco, California
Ruben Family Law Resolution Services
Practice Areas: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family Law; view more
Licensed in California since: 1992
Education: Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005, 2014 - 2025 Call today:
415-646-4449
Free Consultation Ruben Family Law Resolution Services
50 California Street15th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111 Visit website
Details
Stephen B. Ruben is the managing director of Ruben Family Law Resolution Services, P.C., nestled in the bustling heart of San Francisco, California. He focuses his practice on family law matters, offering a fresh approach through mediation, alternative dispute resolution and private judging. His services extend across a tapestry of counties, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin and Los Angeles.
What truly distinguishes Mr. Ruben in the Bay Area is his mastery of Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE). He stands alone as the only attorney in the region to provide this innovative service, making him the go-to guide for clients in search of an early, unbiased assessment of their intricate family law dilemmas. This approach frequently aids in sidestepping protracted and expensive court battles by offering a clear-eyed view of the case at the outset.
With legal wisdom woven over more than 40 years, Mr. Ruben has dedicated his career to navigating the complexities of family law. He adeptly manages intricate cases involving high net worth divorces, financial issues, and the often-turbulent waters of spousal and child support and custody disputes. Known for his proficiency in mediating highly contentious cases, he consistently secures favorable resolutions with a steadfast focus on his clients' best interests.
Mr. Ruben’s qualifications are impressive. He is a Certified Family Law Specialist, recognized by The State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization, and is an esteemed member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists. Beyond the walls of his practice, he actively engages with community and professional panels. He serves as a family law mediator for the Bar Association of San Francisco and takes on the role of chief arbitrator in attorney/client-fee disputes.
Since 1999, Mr. Ruben has also served as Judge Pro Tem for the Unified Family Court of San Francisco, bolstering his reputation as a fair and effective mediator and jurist. His extensive training and experience, combined with his commitment to amicable and efficient dispute resolution, solidify his remarkable stature in the legal arena.
Practice areas
Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family LawFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Arbitration, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Father's Rights, Juvenile Law, Marital Property, Mediation, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Name Change, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 80% Alternative Dispute Resolution
- 20% Family Law
First Admitted: 1973, Illinois
Professional Webpage: https://www.rubenlawfirm.com/attorney/stephen-b-ruben/
- 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
- 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
- Certified Family Law Specialist, State Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California, 2007
- 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
- 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
- Pepperdine School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, LL.M., Major: Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2021
- Bethany College, West Virginia, Honors: with honors
- 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
- "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
- 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
- FAMILY LAW BAR and FAMILY LAW BENCH as Judge Pro Tem
- Special Master and Settlement Judge
Office location for Stephen B. Ruben
50 California Street
15th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415-646-4449
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2005, 2014 - 2025
Certificates and credentials
Family Law
