Robert James Berton

Mr. Berton, a native Southern Californian, has been a trained mediator since 1997 and a practicing attorney in San Diego for nearly five decades. He has vast expertise in the areas of commercial and residential real estate purchase/sale transactions, leasing, land development, construction defect, estate planning, and probate and trust law. Since 1979, Mr. Berton has been peer rated by Martindale-Hubbell at AV, which is the highest rating possible.

Throughout his career, Mr. Berton has held a Certificate of Specialization from the California State Bar in Probate, Trust, and Estate Planning. Additionally, he has a long track record of successfully representing clients in mediation, arbitration, and civil court litigation.

In 1997 and 2007, Mr. Berton received Mediation Skills training from the National Conflict Resolution Center and has served as a Superior Court Arbitrator. He is also a former Mediator for the American Arbitration Association in Probate and Trust matters with an 80% resolution rate in cases conducted.

Mr. Berton received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1959. Subsequently he received his Juris Doctor in 1962 from UCLA School of Law. In 1963 he attended the University of Southern California (USC) School of Law for post graduate legal studies.

He was appointed by the Governor of California to serve on the California Law Revision Commission, and was elected its Chairman. He is a past President of the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, the Jewish Community Center of San Diego, and Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego. He is a widower with four adult children and six grandchildren.



Phi Alpha Delta. Law Clerk to the Appellate Department of the Los Angeles Superior Court, 1962-1963. Commissioner, California Law Revision Commission, 1980-1983; Chairman, 1982. Mediator, American Arbitration Association and National Conflict Resolution Center.