Eric Sternberger

Eric Sternberger, Esq.

Business & Commercial Mediator | Contract, Corporate, Partnership, Shareholder & Employment Disputes

San Rafael, Marin County, California | Serving the San Francisco Bay Area | California Attorney Since 1999 | Mediator Since 2008

Professional Overview

Eric Sternberger is a business and commercial mediator and attorney based in San Rafael, California. A partner at Ragghianti Freitas LLP and principal of Sternberger ADR Solutions, he brings more than 25 years of experience in corporate law, business transactions, and complex commercial litigation to the resolution of business and employment disputes. He has served as a mediator since 2008, including as a settlement conference panelist for the Marin County Superior Court.

His mediation practice focuses on contract disagreements, partnership and shareholder conflicts, corporate governance, breach of fiduciary duty, securities, commercial real estate, homeowners association, and workplace disputes. He also mediates matters involving business ownership and management deadlocks.

In addition to his dispute resolution practice, Eric acts as outside general counsel to corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships. His legal experience encompasses mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, buy-sell agreements, succession planning, secured financing, licensing, and commercial transactions.

This combination of transactional, litigation, and business advisory experience provides him with an understanding of both the legal issues underlying a dispute and the financial and operational considerations influencing its resolution.

Business & Commercial Mediation Experience

Eric's practice is particularly relevant to disputes involving business relationships, ownership interests, contractual obligations, and competing financial interests.

His experience includes corporate governance disagreements, shareholder rights, partnership conflicts, fiduciary duties, financing arrangements, and disputes arising from business transactions.

He has mediated matters involving shareholder relationships, stock issuance, alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, employment claims, financing disputes, and intellectual property issues.

His professional background includes advising businesses in technology, intellectual property, manufacturing, shipping, professional services, healthcare, real estate, wineries, and investment-related ventures. He has also coordinated international litigation proceedings.

Mediation Approach

Eric emphasizes thorough preparation, practical negotiation, and an understanding of the business realities behind legal disputes.

Preparation begins well before the session. Eric requests mediation briefs in advance and holds pre-mediation calls with counsel in every case. Whether to hold a joint session or exchange briefs is left to counsel. When possible, he prepares a draft settlement agreement in advance which can be built out during the course of the mediation, so the parties have can have a final executable settlement agreement upon resolution.

His approach is primarily evaluative, incorporating facilitative mediation techniques when they make sense, and his style is driven by the circumstances of the case and the needs of the participants.

Where it helps, he uses a collaborative discussion designed to identify interests, clarify business objectives, and establish opportunities for agreement. More often, he takes an evaluative approach to help parties assess legal risks, financial exposure, and the practical consequences of continued litigation.

His focus is on developing workable resolutions that recognize competing interests while identifying opportunities for mutual business benefit.

Mediation Practice Areas

• Business & Commercial Contracts: Contract interpretation, performance, licensing agreements, commercial obligations, and business-to-business disputes.
• Corporate Governance: Disagreements involving directors, officers, shareholders, LLC members, and business management.
• Partnership & Shareholder Disputes: Ownership interests, buy-sell agreements, stock issuance, fiduciary duties, and business relationship conflicts.
• Business Dissolution & Deadlock: Disputes involving management impasses, business succession, and competing ownership interests.
• Employment & Workplace: Wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, employment agreements, trade secrets, and employer-employee conflicts.
• Securities & Finance: Investment disputes, financing arrangements, shareholder rights, securities transactions, and related fiduciary obligations.
• Commercial Real Estate: Real estate transactions, financing, ownership, secured interests, and contractual disagreements.
• Homeowners Associations: Disputes among homeowners associations, their boards, and homeowners.
• Intellectual Property: Licensing, trademarks, copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and commercial IP disputes.
• Professional Liability: Disputes involving legal and accounting malpractice.
• Trusts, Estates & Probate: Selected matters involving fiduciary obligations, business interests, and property disputes.

Particularly Well Suited For

Eric's combination of corporate legal experience and dispute resolution work makes him particularly well suited for:

• Complex business and commercial contract disputes involving ongoing business relationships.
• Shareholder and partnership disagreements concerning ownership, control, or fiduciary obligations.
• Corporate and LLC management deadlocks requiring business-focused problem-solving.
• Disputes arising from mergers, acquisitions, financing arrangements, and joint ventures.
• Employment disputes involving executives, employers, employees, and independent contractors.
• Commercial matters requiring an understanding of financial risk, business operations, and practical settlement alternatives.
• Multi-issue disputes involving corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, or commercial real estate.

Scheduling & Format

Eric mediates in person in San Rafael, travels to the parties as needed, and also conducts mediations by Zoom.

Mediations are booked for a half day at minimum, and a full day is recommended. Fees are shared pro rata among the parties.

Professional Experience & Leadership

• Partner — Ragghianti Freitas LLP, San Rafael, California
• Principal — Sternberger ADR Solutions
• Settlement Conference Panelist — Marin County Superior Court (2008–present)
• Outside General Counsel — Corporations, LLCs, and partnerships
• Former Chair — California State Bar Committee on Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies (2007–2008)
• Former Director — Marin County Bar Association
• Former President — Richard M. Sangster American Inn of Court (2008–2009)
• Former Chair — Marin County Adult Criminal Justice Commission
• Advisory Board Member — Citizens Business Bank, North Bay Region (formerly Heritage Bank of Commerce and Presidio Bank)
• Recipient — California State Bar Wiley W. Manuel Award for pro bono legal service
• Former Member — CEB Business & Intellectual Property Law Advisory Committee
• Presenter — “Co-Ownership of Business after Divorce,” American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers CLE (2024), with Romy Taubman and Kenneth Pia

Geographic Focus: Marin County and the San Francisco Bay Area, including commercial disputes involving Northern California businesses.

Contact: 415.526.0108 | info@sternberger-adr.com | www.sternberger-adr.com