Bruce A. Clemens, Esq.
Mediator, Family Law Settlement Specialist & Early Stage Dialogue Facilitator ​
Bruce Clemens co-founded the Beverly Hills family law firm of Jaffe and Clemens in 1977 and served as a managing partner for 42 years. He now serves as a full-time neutral exclusively at ARC as a Family Law Settlement Specialist and as a Early Stage Dialogue Facilitator. A Certified Specialist in Family Law since 1980, Mr. Clemens has handled more than 700 complex marital dissolutions with an aggregate net worth in excess of $35 billion. He settled 95% of his cases and was a first chair trial attorney in the 5% that did not settle. Mr. Clemens has been consistently recognized by national publications as one of the best family law attorneys in California. He has taught more than 40 family law courses and is a prolific lecturer, author and panelist on family law topics. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Clemens was a computer systems analyst at the Goddard Space Flight Center for the Apollo 8/11 First Man on the Moon project.
Practice Areas
- Family Law
Conflict Resolution Experience
Mr. Clemens uses a unique, multi-disciplinary approach in dispute resolution. This is based upon his formal training in family law dispute resolution, matrimonial mediation, collaborative law, litigation techniques, negotiation forces and techniques, the interrelationship between psychological issues and legal issues, and the interrelationship between economic needs and non-economic needs in the same mediation. Mr. Clemens developed these skills and applied them in his 45 years of family law litigation and mediation. He now brings what he learned and implemented from each of the 700 matters he handled into his current mediation services as a neutral at ARC. Mr. Clemens’ approach is to facilitate settlement in a one-day session whenever practical.
Organizations & Achievements
- Certified Specialist in Family Law, California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California (1980-present)
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; certified in Matrimonial Mediation since 1999
- Former member, executive committees of the Family Sections of the Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills bar associations
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America since 1997; selected as 2010 Family Law Lawyer of the Year for Los Angeles
- Listed in Los Angeles Lawyer in the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers in all practice areas
- Listed in Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (1994-present), AV rated
- LevittQuinn Stand for Justice Honoree
- Zephyr M. Ramsey Award from the Harriett Buahi Center for Family Law
- Teacher of family law courses for California CEB, USC Law Center, UCLA School of Law, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and other professional organizations
- Author of numerous articles on a range of family law topics, including division and taxation of retirement benefits, drafting and litigating prenuptial and marital settlement agreements
Education & Training
- J.D., UCLA School of Law, Moot Court Honors, 1974
- Master of Science, computer science, Stanford University, 1971
- B.A., mathematics with High Honors, Michigan State University - The Honors College, 1967
- 45 years of attending continuing education courses in multiple fields
- 40 years of teaching, writing and speaking
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Testimonials From People We’ve Helped
Very professional place to mediate a legal matter. Many places to have a private conversation, comfortable surroundings
Linda L Mitchell
Honorable Mary Thornton House mediated over our impossible case. I never thought this could get resolved, as we were stuck on both sides for almost 4 years. Honorable Mary Thornton House listened to both sides and was able to communicate in a way that both sides understood. She was tenacious, diligent and had attention to details with the accounting and figures presented. We went back and forth into the night. But, she was able to calmly able to get a resolution on both sides. The honorable judge said that in ruling a case in court. You have an instant friend and a permanent enemy. In this case, I received a fair resolution. Grateful, that I did not have to go to court. Glad that our case got resolved. I highly recommend honorable Mary Thornton House