Ben Hamburg | Mediator
Legal Experience
2004-present Principal, Hamburg Law and Mediation | Neutral mediation of business disputes. Prior to 2025, private practice of law specializing in business and real estate litigation matters
2016-2019 Holy Names University, Adjunct Professor of Business Law
2001-2004 Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Primecore Funding Group | Managed all legal affairs of publicly-held construction lender with $300 million portfolio and 1,400 shareholders, including litigation, bankruptcy matters, loan documentation and workouts, dispute resolution, securities compliance oversight, and advice to Board of Directors
1994-2000 Partner, Freeland Cooper LeHocky & Hamburg | Handled commercial litigation and dispute resolution involving real estate, loan workouts, employment, general business, and title insurance
1980-1993 Partner, Dinkelspiel Donovan & Reder | Commercial litigation and dispute resolution
1979-1980 Law Clerk, Law and Motion Department, San Francisco Superior Court | Clerk to the Hon. Ira A. Brown, Jr., Hon. Robert Dossee and other law and motion judges
Other Legal Experience and Affiliations
Judge Pro Tem, Contra Costa Superior Court
Mediator, United States District Court, Northern District of California
Mediator and Settlement Mentor, Contra Costa and Alameda Superior Courts, and San Francisco Bar Association
Arbitrator, San Francisco Superior Court
Memberships: The Mediation Society, California Mortgage Association, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, San Francisco Bar Association, State Bar Real Property and Litigation Sections, California Land Title Association
Admitted: California; Northern, Eastern, Central Districts of California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal; United States Supreme Court
Community Engagement
Chair and Member of Board of Directors, Center for Youth Development Through Law, 2008-2018
Chair and Member of Board of Directors, Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay, 2005-2012
Board of Directors, The Mediation Society, 2015-2016
Volunteer, Meals on Wheels and Berkeley Food Network
Education
University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. J.D. 1979
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. (With Honors), Phi Beta Kappa, 1975
Articles
"The Importance of A Mediator Who Knows How to Mediate (Or The Myth of 'Hon')," The Mediation Society, Mediator's Corner, August 2016
“The Definition of Success [in Mediation]," The Mediation Society, Mediator's Corner, February 2012
"Liquidated Damages Provisions in Real Estate Purchase Contracts,” California Real Property Journal, Spring 1998
“Loose Lips: Computer Generated Memos, Messages and Voicemails Can Come Back to Haunt You,” California Law Business, November 1998
“Defect Defense: Lenders That Act Within Traditional Roles Will Not Bear Burden of Faulty Construction” California Real Estate Journal, 1999