Brad A. Bening, Esq.

San Francisco

Business, Real Estate, Construction, Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith, Personal Injury, Complex Multi-Party Matters as Special Master and Referee

Brad Bening has been a trusted neutral for more than 25 years, bringing decades of litigation experience and practical insight to his mediation practice. He began his legal career in 1982 at Hoge Fenton, where he quickly distinguished himself and was elected shareholder within six years.

In 1991, Brad co-founded the firm Willoughby, Stuart, Bening & Cook, where he built a reputation as a skilled trial lawyer and strategic problem-solver. Over the course of three decades, the firm developed a strong presence in Northern California before ultimately merging with a larger firm in 2021. Around that time, Brad transitioned fully into alternative dispute resolution, joining ADR Services, Inc. after several years of balancing an active litigation practice with his growing work as a neutral.

Brad's transition to ADR was a natural progression. To date, he has received more than 100 appointments as a Special Master or Referee and has successfully handled more than 2,500 mediations across a wide range of complex civil disputes.

Known for his direct, candid approach, Brad focuses on helping parties move efficiently toward resolution. Attorneys value his willingness to speak openly about the strengths and weaknesses of a case and his commitment to keeping negotiations productive and forward-moving. His mediations are highly practical and solution-oriented.

Brad also emphasizes preparedness and efficiency in the settlement process. Whenever possible, he comes to mediation with a draft settlement agreement ready for counsel to review and revise, allowing the parties to finalize terms and memorialize their resolution on the day of mediation. This approach helps ensure that once an agreement is reached, it can be documented promptly and with clarity, providing closure for all involved.

Bbening@adrservices.com
415-772-0900
bradbening.com