Profile photo of Richard A. Kramer

Richard A. Kramer

Arbitrator Mediator Special Master
San Francisco, CA, United States

About

Richard A. Kramer served as a judge on the San Francisco Superior Court for 19 years, where he founded and presided over the Complex Litigation Department. During his tenure, he managed thousands of complex cases involving diverse legal issues. Since entering private practice in 2015, he has focused on resolving high-stakes disputes through mediation and arbitration, drawing on his extensive judicial background to facilitate settlements in complicated multi-party matters.

Practice Areas

Business & Commercial Civil Litigation Construction Corporate & Finance Employment & Labor Insurance Intellectual Property Personal Injury & Torts Real Estate & Property

Professional Experience

Neutral
JAMS
Judge
2015
San Francisco Superior Court
Founder and Presiding Judge
1996–2015
Complex Litigation Department
San Francisco Superior Court
Attorney/Partner
2001–2015
Steefel
Levitt & Weiss
1972–1996

Publications Leadership

  • Frequent speaker on complex litigation management for the California Judicial Council
  • Contributor to various legal publications regarding ADR strategies and complex case resolution
  • Lecturer for the Rutter Group on civil procedure and trial practice

Positioning Takeaways

A former complex litigation judge with nearly two decades of bench experience, he is uniquely qualified for multi-party disputes and intricate commercial matters requiring sophisticated case management.

License & Certifications

  • State Bar of California

Education

J.D.
University of Southern California Gould School of Law
1972
B.A.
University of Southern California
1969

Distinction

Founder of the San Francisco Superior Court's Complex Litigation Department.

Reputation

He is widely regarded by legal professionals for his deep understanding of complex procedural issues and his persistent, fair-minded approach to settlement negotiations.