Over Four Decades Of Dedicated Client Service

Robert J. Sheppard – Mediator And Arbitrator

Photo of Robert J. Sheppard
Location:
San Francisco, California
Phone:
415-296-0900 (Ext. 23)
Fax:
415-296-0999
Email:
Robert J. Sheppard

 

Mediation And Arbitration Services From Bob Sheppard

Bob Sheppard is acknowledged throughout Northern California as an accomplished Mediator who settles the seemingly unsettle-able case or dispute.

Since the early 1980s, Bob Sheppard served as a Settlement Conference Judge, resolving over 500 lawsuits in the San Francisco Superior Court between litigants (achieving a record of more than 95% successful settlements).

Since the early 1990s, Bob Sheppard began serving as a Private Mediator and has successfully settled over 2,100 lawsuits/disputes/cases (achieving greater than a 98% successful settlement record).

Since 2007, Bob Sheppard has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors of The Mediation Society — a professional association of experienced mediators in Northern California, and in 2012 and 2013 served as President of The Mediation Society.

He is a member of The Real Estate Neutrals — a select group of experienced Real Estate Mediators in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Robert Sheppard also serves as a Private Arbitrator on binding arbitration cases, and has been specially appointed Discovery Magistrate and Referee to resolve discovery disputes between litigants and their respective attorneys.

Robert Sheppard serves as a Neutral Arbitrator in cases involving medical malpractice claims against Kaiser Permanente Hospital.

In 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and again in 2023, for the 18th consecutive year, Bob was voted “Super Lawyer of Northern California” for his skills and successes in conducting mediations and alternative dispute resolution and for his work in the field of real estate law and disputes. This distinction is reserved for a select few lawyer-mediators.


Bob Sheppard’s Mission Statement As A Mediator

“There are problem makers and problem solvers. My commitment is to make all disputants and their lawyers problem solvers, and collectively create an end-game plan to resolve the burning core issues of a dispute. My goal is to close the deal, utilizing some proven strategies to break the impasse. And, I’m not afraid to try new ideas or outside-the-box techniques to get past impediments to settle.”


“I think you are a fantastic mediator. You did an amazing job mediating the settlement of this factually and legally complicated case with difficult insurance coverage issues, compounded by a great deal of animosity between the parties. And, the two prior mediations (with a retired judge and another seasoned mediator) had failed. Your tenacity and ability to quickly understand the legal, insurance coverage and interpersonal dynamics, and to keep the negotiations on track, allowed the case to settle after twelve hours of negotiations. I can’t thank you enough.”

Ann Rankin, Veteran HOA Attorney

“A dynamic mediator who gets the job done, extremely knowledgeable in the area of real estate and landlord/tenant law, tremendous people skills, enthusiasm and incisive analytical ability.”

Stephen Goldstein, Senior Partner
San Francisco Law Firm G3MH,
Former President of The Mediation Society

“Thank you for your outstanding efforts to bring this case to a successful conclusion. This case was a tangled web of legal issues and very complex problems. Your persistence in moving the parties toward settlement was the key to getting this matter resolved.”

Walter Schneider, Partner
Hanson Bridgett Law Firm, San Francisco


What Is Unique About Bob Sheppard’s Approach To Mediation?

Bob Sheppard is tenacious and creative in getting a case to settle. He has settled several thousand cases as a litigator, lawyer-advocate, Settlement Conference Judge in court and as a neutral professional mediator.

Bob learned the art to settle cases as an attorney/litigator over more than four decades, serving as both a litigator, settling thousands of cases out of court, and as a trial attorney fighting thousands of contested court cases over the last 40-plus years.

Bob has a distinguished settlement record, both as a respected Temporary Judge/Settlement Judge in the San Francisco Superior Court since 1982 and as a private professional mediator settling over 1,800 lawsuits, disputes and cases.

With over four decades of experience, Bob has come to understand the personal and emotional needs of parties in a conflict. He is keenly aware of the practical side of disputes, including the burdens, costs and risks of litigation, and is not afraid to share these crucial factors with the litigants/disputants, and their lawyers, at the appropriate time in a mediation.

Bob has a broad and distinguished background in real estate and asset management, landlord-tenant relations, bank and lender issues, appraisal issues, holding of title, deeds, contracts, governmental regulations, approvals for development/improvements, and the permit issuance process. He also has an extensive background in real estate development and Planning Department approvals, as well as a working knowledge of the construction and real estate brokerage industries. This enables him to focus on the practical issues of a real estate, construction, financial or business dispute.

Bob handles all varieties of mediation cases: real estate, landlord-tenant, contract disputes, insurance disputes, personal injury claims, employment disputes, investment disputes, inter and intra-family disputes, attorney-client disputes, will/trust contests, estate/probate disputes, disputes between neighbors, homeowners association (HOA) disputes, conflicts and claims between sellers and buyers of real estate, disputes with real estate agents, disputes between parties claiming conflicting interests in real estate, easement and boundary disputes, professional liability claims, medical and dental malpractice claims, and general business disputes.

Bob’s reasonable rates for mediation services have saved litigants thousands of dollars as opposed to the more costly (and less efficient) AAA, JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) and ADR Services, Inc., mediation service providers.

“Extremely skillful in facilitating the mediation process and in identifying and helping resolve the issues in dispute. I would highly recommend Mr. Sheppard as a mediator.”

B. Scott Levine, Attorney/Named Partner
GOODMAN & LEVINE LLP – Oakland

“Quite frankly, I never anticipated that the case I hired Bob Sheppard to mediate would settle. However thanks to Bob’s communication skills (both verbal and listening) as well as his quick grasp of the issues, the case did settle at mediation. Bob showed great patience with my client, and his knowledge of real estate and contract law inured to the benefit of his brokering the settlement.”

— Matthew Wertheim, Attorney


Mediating For Parties Without Lawyers (And with Lawyers)

Bob Sheppard proudly works on mediations for parties who don’t have lawyers. He is sensitive to such individuals’ needs for guidance from a professional, neutral Mediator, and to prevent such a party from being taken advantage of by a lawyer representing the other party.

Where both parties have lawyers, Bob Sheppard’s approach is to “let the lawyers be the advocates” and let the attorneys manage the mediation process, reserving the right to intervene to move the process along to resolution.


Location, Rates And Charges

Bob Sheppard conducts mediations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. His offices are in a downtown San Francisco office suite with a private conference room and separate private caucus rooms. Bob also offers evening and weekend sessions (on a limited basis).

His 2022 hourly rate is $600 for two party cases. Payment for the mediation services is required in advance of each session. The parties are free to allocate the fee obligation between themselves as they deem appropriate, but normally charges are borne equally by each side.

There are no administrative fees, set up fees or cancellation fees (unless there is a cancellation within one week of the scheduled mediation). Counsel and/or the parties are only charged for the actual time devoted to the matter.


How Do I Set Up A Mediation Session With Bob Sheppard?

To schedule a mediation session with Bob Sheppard, please contact our office staff at 415-296-0900, or send an send an email to the Mediation Scheduling Coordinator, Tiffany A. Crawford Flores, at [email protected], with a copy to [email protected].

We will need to know the names of all the parties, their contact information and a brief description of the type of dispute, as well as the names and contact information of the attorneys, if any.

If the parties are represented by counsel, either attorney may contact our staff to schedule the mediation.


Related Links

Martindale-Hubbell | Peer Review Rated | For Ethical Standards And Legal Ability
Photo of Robert J. Sheppard
Photo of Robert J. Sheppard
When Bob isn’t serving his clients or conducting mediations/arbitrations, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, bicycling, playing keyboards and sharing vocals in his amateur rhythm & blues/rock band.
The State Bar Of California | July 29th 1927
Rated By Super Lawyers | Robert J. Sheppard | SuperLawyers.com
4.5 Out Of 5 Stars | We Have 7 Reviews | Yelp
4 Out Of 5 Stars | We Have 37 Reviews | Yelp
Rated By Super Lawyers | Robert(Bob) Sheppard | 18 Years