Stephan A. Barber is a Partner and the Director of the Litigation Department at JRG. With almost 50 years of practicing law, Stephan is recognized as one of central California’s premier trial attorneys having earned the country’s highest independent lawyer rating of ‘AV’ from Martindale-Hubbell for 29 consecutive years. Stephan’s practice includes:

• all areas of civil litigation/trial work, (including commercial, employment, real estate and personal injury),
• mediation of disputes (both as a mediator and attorney for a party),
• negotiation and drafting of commercial and personal business contracts,
• employment and labor law,
• real and personal property law,
• trusts and wills disputes and litigation,
• products liability and warranty,
• insurance law and coverage,
• toxic torts litigation,
• construction contract and defect litigation,
• commercial contracts/Uniform Commercial Code,
• appellate practice (6 published court of appeal decisions),
• alarm/security and fire protection systems.

Stephan excels in complex trial litigation having tried approximately 200 jury, bench, and arbitration cases throughout California and in the Federal District Courts. He has participated in hundreds of mandatory 

settlement conferences and mediations and successfully obtained excellent settlement results, without trial. When a trial is required, Stephan’s tenacious attitude and preparation on behalf of his clients usually achieves a good result for the client. Stephan prides himself in his attention to detail and preparation believing, “I will never be outlawyered by the other side.”

Stephan represents many individuals, corporations and businesses in manufacturing, agriculture, electronics, security, fire protection, hotels/resorts, construction, retail, property and casualty, including the County of Santa Clara, County of San Benito, Honeywell International Inc., Tyco Fire and Building Products, Grinnell Fire Protection, Sun Chemical Corporation, INX International Ink Co., Santa Clara Swim Club, Los Angeles World Airports, and several insurance companies.

For many years, Stephan was a judge pro tempore for the Santa Clara County Superior Court and presided over dozens of settlement conferences and judicial arbitrations. He has also served as an expert witness in insurance matters and been a guest speaker at numerous seminars and presentations.. Before joining JRG, Stephan was a senior partner in the national firm of Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley (RMKB). Stephan earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) and his Juris Doctor degree in 1976 from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He was the Articles Editor of the Pacific Law Journal in 1975-1976.

Stephan is married and has two adult children, as well as two grandchildren.

Education

• B.A. (Economics), University of California at Santa Barbara, CA, 1972
• J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, CA, 1976

Practice Areas

• Alarm and security systems
• Business litigation
• Civil litigation
• Construction contract and defect
• Contract/UCC
• Employment and labor law
• Indemnification contracts
• Insurance Coverage
• Fire protection systems
• Real and personal property
• Products liability and warranty
• Public entity
• Toxic torts/cancer litigation
• Defense of Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and California Unruh Act Claims
• Defense of Class Action Litigation
• Defense of Transmission of Infectious Diseases Claims
• Trusts and Wills Disputes and Litigation

Initiatives & Accomplishments

• American Jurisprudence Award Winner for real property in 1974
• Articles Editor of the Pacific Law Journal in 1975-1976
• “AV” Rating from Martindale-Hubbell from 1996-present
• Guest Speaker at numerous seminars and presentations
• AV Preeminent Attorney (2013 – 2020)
• AV Preeminent Icon (2014, 2015)
• Bar Register of Preeminent Attorneys – Listed Lawyer (2014 – 2018)
• Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Law Firms, 2014
• Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyers in Litigation, 2015
• AV 20^th Anniversary in 2014
• America’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 1% (2016 - 2020)
• AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition (2017 – 2020)
• PRR AV Preeminent 2018 Lawyers.com
• AV 25^th Anniversary in 2019
• AV Preeminent Lawyers.com (2019 , 2020)

Bar & Court Admissions

• California, 1976
• All Federal District Courts of California
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Monterey County Bar Association
• Santa Clara County Bar Association

Publications

• “The California Public Records Act: The Public’s Right to Access to Government Information” Pacific Law Journal, 1976
• “How to Discuss Terms and Conditions Prior to Commercial Transactions” Smart Business, 2012

Civic Involvement

• Member of the Monterey and Santa Clara County Bar Associations
• Member of the California State Bar
• Member of the Traynor Society
• Member of the National Registry of Who’s Who
• Youth Baseball Coach and Board Member