Partner & Litigation Director
Locations
Salinas, Monterey
Specialties
Alarm, security, and fire protection systems
Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and California Unruh Act Claims
Appellate Practice (6 published court of appeal decisions)
Business litigation
Civil litigation/trial work – including commercial, employment, real estate, and personal injury
Class Action Construction contract and defect
Business and Commercial Contracts (negotiating and drafting)
Contracts
Contract/UCC
Employment and labor law
Fire protection systems
Indemnification contracts
Infectious Diseases Transmission Claims
Insurance Coverage
Mediation (both as a mediator and attorney for a party)
Products liability and warranty
Public entity
Real and personal property
Toxic torts/cancer litigation
Trusts and Wills Disputes and Litigation Uniform Commercial Code
Education
B.A. (Economics), University of California at Santa Barbara, CA, 1972
J.D., University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, CA, 1976
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
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 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.
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 20th 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 25th Anniversary in 2019
- AV Preeminent Lawyers.com (2019 , 2020)
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
Leadership
- 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