The attorneys of SGSB are leaders among many prestigious legal organizations in the California
family law community.

Our attorneys are highly sought-after lecturers and teachers for legal education seminars on family law issues. SGSB’s lawyers are frequently recognized for the donation of their talents, wisdom and time to the advancement of the family law practice.

Some of our recent activities, recognitions and speaking engagements are listed here:
August 2023 Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP congratulates Saul Gelbart for being recognized as the 2024 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law in the Orange County Area.
August 2023  Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP is pleased to announce that 6 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®:

 

  • Robert A. Benavente – Family Law
  • Michael Fisher – Family Law and Family Law Mediation
  • Saul Gelbart – Family Law
  • Douglas A. Hatherley – Family Law
  • Jason M. Schwartz – Family Law
  • Eleanor Ann Stegmeier – Family Law and Family Law Mediation

An additional 4 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:  

  • Brandon Kelsey – Family Law
  • George Peniche – Family Law
  • Eric Sather – Family Law
  • Samantha Weissman – Family Law
July 2023 Samantha Weissman and Eric Sather are selected to the 2023 Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars list.
May 2023 Samantha Weissman graduated from the National Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute (NFLTI) in Houston, Texas. NFLTI is the preeminent litigation skills course dedicated exclusively to family law. During this intensive eight-day program, attendees develop skills training in all aspects of family law litigation, from opening statement to closing argument. Attendees receive hands-on training and experience in developing the theme of the case, opening statements, evidence, custody evaluations and psychological testing, business valuations, technology in the courtroom, direct and cross examination of parties and experts, and closing arguments.
April 2023 Saul Gelbart attended the 2023 Annual Conference for The American College of Family Trial Lawyers. The four-day conference was held at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
March 2023 Robert Benavente was a co-presenter at the 2023 ACFLS Spring Seminar in Rancho Mirage presentation “Attributes of the Difficult to Litigate Business Appraisal,” which focused on the complexity of litigating business valuations in divorce cases in California courts. The seminar presented by the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists took place over a 3-day weekend in March with an audience of over 300 family law attorneys, forensic accountants, and judicial officers.
February 2023 Douglas Hatherley was a co-presenter for the webinar “2022 Appellate & Supreme Court Cases Every Family Law Attorney Must Know,” for the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section. More than 200 family law attorneys and judicial officers attended.
January 2023 Robert Benavente was a co-presenter on the panel “Audio-Visual Presentations in Hearings and Trial” at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Southern California Trial Advocacy Institute.
January 2023 Saul Gelbart was a co-presenter on the panel “How to Present a Case, Part One” at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Southern California Trial Advocacy Institute.
January 2023 Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, Jason Schwartz, Robert Benavente, Douglas Hatherley, and Michael Fisher are selected as Super Lawyers Southern California honorees. Attorneys Stegmeier and Gelbart have been included in the Super Lawyers Southern California list for 20 years. Ms. Stegmeier was also selected to the Top 50: 2023 Orange County Super Lawyers List.
January 2023 Eric Sather commences his term as Chair-Elect of the Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division.
October 2022 SGSB opens its Coronado location to serve its San Diego County family law clients. Our San Diego County office is a short walk from the Coronado Ferry Landing and easily accessible via the Coronado Bridge.
August 2022 Michael Fisher was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2023 Orange County “Lawyer of the Year” for Family Law Mediation.
August 2022 Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, Jason Schwartz, Robert Benavente, and Michael Fisher were included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
August 2022 George Peniche and Eric Sather were included in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.
July 2022 Douglas Hatherley was a co-presenter for the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section, seminar “You Can’t Make Me Go!” What’s a Lawyer to Do?  The seminar addressed the challenges attorneys, mental health professionals, and judicial officers face in cases where children resist contact with a parent and offered solutions for restoring the parent-child relationship.
July 2022 Samantha Weissman and Eric Sather are selected to the 2022 Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars list.
June 2022 Samantha Weissman and Eric Sather attended the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) Institute for Family Law Associates in Chicago, Illinois.
May 2022 George Peniche and Brandon Kelsey graduated from the National Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute (NFLTI) in Houston, Texas. NFLTI is the preeminent litigation skills course dedicated exclusively to family law. During this intensive eight-day program, attendees develop skills training in all aspects of family law litigation, from opening statement to closing argument. Attendees receive hands-on training and experience in developing the theme of the case, opening statements, evidence, custody evaluations and psychological testing, business valuations, technology in the courtroom, direct and cross examination of parties and experts, and closing arguments.
April 2022 Douglas Hatherley’s article: “Anka’s Aweigh! Navigating the Uncharted Disclosure Waters of Confidential Child Custody Evaluation Reports” was published in the April issue of the Orange County Bar Association Family Law Section Newsletter.
March 2022 Eleanor Stegmeier received the 2022 Family Law Person of the Year Award from the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).

March 2022 Robert Benavente served as co-dean at the 2022 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Southern California Chapter, Trial Advocacy Institute.

March 2022 Saul Gelbart and Michael Fisher were panelists for the presentation:  “Tracing A-Y: Identifying & Overcoming Problems in Complex Tracing,” at the 2022 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Southern California Chapter, Trial Advocacy Institute.

March 2022 Eric Sather commenced his second term as Board Member of the Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division. Mr. Sather serves as Business Development co-chair, initiating commercial and professional seminars for young lawyers in Orange County. In 2021, Mr. Sather served as Affiliates and Sections Liaison, coordinating events and collaborating with other sections and affiliate bar associations of the Orange County Bar Association.
February 2022 Douglas Hatherley is selected to serve as Co-Editor of the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section Newsletter.
January 2022 Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, Jason Schwartz, Robert Benavente, Douglas Hatherley, and Michael Fisher are selected as Super Lawyers Southern California honorees.
January 2022 Douglas Hatherley is installed as Executive Committee Board Member of the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section.
November 2021 Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP was ranked in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list for Family Law – Regional Tier 1.
November 2021 SGSB partners and AAML Fellows, Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, and Robert Benavente, attended the 2021 AAML Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois.

July 2021 SGSB welcomes Attorney Samantha L. Weissman to the firm. Ms. Weissman’s practice has been devoted to family law issues since her admission to the bar. Her proficiency in family law is evident in her published articles on important family law issues and her recognition in Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.
July 2021 SGSB welcomes Attorney Brandon P. Kelsey to the firm. Mr. Kelsey is experienced in all types of family law matters, from simple support actions to complex high net worth marital estates.
June 2021 Robert A. Benavente presented on the topic of cross-examination of forensic accountants at the two-part seminar: “Income Available for Support: It’s Not What You Think,” organized by the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (ACFLS).

May 2021 Saul Gelbart and Robert A. Benavente lectured at the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Southern California Chapter’s 2021 Trial Basics Seminar on the topics of Order of Proof and Witnesses, Cross Examination of Lay Witnesses, AV Presentations, and Closing Argument.

April 2021 Saul Gelbart attended the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers (ACFTL).

January 2021 Eric Sather is installed as Board Member of the Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division. Mr. Sather serves as Affiliates and Sections Liaison, coordinating events and collaborating with other sections and affiliate bar associations of the Orange County Bar Association.
January 2021 Robert Benavente was a panelist for the presentation “Litigating Premarital Agreements, Post-2020 UPA Amendments” at the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Southern California Chapter’s 29th Annual Trial Advocacy Institute.

January 2021 Douglas A. Hatherley is elevated to equity Partner with SGSB.

Orange County Divorce Attorney Douglas A. Hatherley

November 2020 SGSB is honored to be included in the elite group of firms ranked in the 2020 U.S. News and World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” once again!

April 2020 SGSB listed in Top 23 of Irvine Divorce Lawyers

Best Divorce Lawyers in Irvine

 

 

March 2020 Due to the current health crisis, our firm has closed our doors to outside traffic. Most of our attorneys are working remotely.
We are all still working, and we are available to assist you! To contact us you can:
1. Call (949) 337-4050 and leave a voice message (messages are picked up daily M-F).
2. Email the attorney or paralegal working on the relevant case. The address will be the person’s first initial and last name @sgsblaw.com.
3. Contact us through our website:  www.sgsblaw.com
4. Reach out to us on our Facebook page at “Stegmeier, Gelbart, Schwartz & Benavente, LLP”
Stay safe.
SGSB.
November 2019 ACFLS Orange County recognized Eleanor Stegmeier with the Excellence in Family Law Lifetime Achievement Award.
November 2019 SGSB is honored to be included in the elite group of firms ranked in the 2020 U.S. News and World Report – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms”
2020 Best Lawyers Best Law Firms badge
October 2019 The American College of Family Trial Lawyers selected Saul Gelbart to join this select group of 100 of the top family law trial lawyers from across the United States.
October 2019 SGSB congratulates Associate Attorney Douglas Hatherley on successfully obtaining his certification as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California and California Board of Legal Specialization!
September 2019 Saul Gelbart was a speaker at the San Diego County Family Law Bar Association’s Annual Seminar.
August 2019 Partners Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, Jason Schwartz, and Robert Benavente are named in the 2020 Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for the practice area of Family Law.
July 2019 Douglas Hatherley was selected to the Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars list for the 6th consecutive year. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. Being selected to Rising Stars is limited to a small number of attorneys in each state. As one of the few attorneys to garner the distinction of Rising Stars, Douglas Hatherley has earned the respect of peers as one of the top-rated attorneys in the nation.
June 2019 SGSB partners Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart and Robert Benavente attended the Southern California Chapter AAML 2019 Chapter Retreat in Washington, D.C.
June 2019 This year, SGSB was a Gold Sponsor of the Public Law Center Volunteers for Justice fundraising silent auction and dinner held at Hotel Irvine.
April 2019 Saul Gelbart, Robert Benavente, Jason Schwartz and Michael Fisher named OCBA Southern California Super Lawyers in 2019.
February 2019 SGSB partners and IAFL Fellows, Eleanor Stegmeier and Saul Gelbart, proudly represented SGSB in Melbourne, Australia for the 2019 IAFL Annual Meeting.
January 2019 Saul Gelbart served as Co-Dean of the 27th Annual Trial Institute of the AAML at Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.

January 2019
Congratulations to Jason Schwartz, who begins his term as Southern California Regional Director of ACFLS.
December 2018 Jason Schwartz delivered the introduction of the Honorable Michael J. Naughton (Ret.) when Judge Naughton was awarded the Outstanding Service to Family Law Award at the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists awards dinner in San Francisco.
November 2018 SGSB partners and AAML Fellows, Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, and Robert Benavente, attended the 2018 AAML National Convention held in Chicago, Illinois.
October 2018
Saul Gelbart lectured on “Breach of Fiduciary Duties” to the Orange County Bar Association.
September 2018 Saul Gelbart lectured on “Cross-Examination Techniques” to the San Diego Family Law Bar Association.
August 2018 Eleanor Stegmeier, Saul Gelbart, Jason Schwartz and  Robert Benavente named in the 25th Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for the practice area of Family Law.
July 2018 Douglas Hatherley is selected to the Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars list for the 5th consecutive year. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in California are named to Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
June 2018 Jason Schwartz lectured to the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, Orange County Chapter.
June 2018 SGSB once again is among the published sponsors of the Public Law Center, Access to Justice fundraising dinner held at Hotel Irvine. The event includes a silent auction and dinner.
May 2018 Jason Schwartz lectured to the Orange County Criminal Defense Attorneys Bar.
May 2018 Douglas Hatherley graduated from the National Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute (NFLTI) in Houston, Texas. NFLTI is the preeminent litigation skills course dedicated exclusively to family law. During this intensive eight-day program, attendees develop skills training in all aspects of family law litigation, from opening statement to closing argument. Attendees receive hands-on training and experience in developing the theme of the case, opening statements, evidence, custody evaluations and psychological testing, business valuations, technology in the courtroom, direct and cross examination of parties and experts, and closing arguments.
March 2018 Jason Schwartz served as trial coach for the Western State College of Law moot court team at the national law school moot court competition in Cincinnati, Ohio, in March, 2018. The team placed in the semi-finals.
March 2018 Eleanor Stegmeier and Michael Fisher lectured one “The Value of Mediation in the Family Law Arena and How the Mediator Can Assist the Family Law Practitioner” at the OCBA Family Law Section luncheon.
Spring
2018
Robert Benavente lectured on the topics of cross examination of expert and lay witnesses in the family law trial, and closing arguments, at the AAML Trial Basics Seminar and the ACFLS Trial Tech workshop.
February 2018 Douglas Hatherley attained the coveted AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell. AV Preeminent® is Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence for his legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
December 2017 Holiday fun! OCBA Family Law Section Holiday Party

and the SGSB Law Holiday Party. Our “family” has certainly grown!

October 2017 Douglas Hatherley passed the Legal Specialist Examination in Family Law.
July 2017 Douglas Hatherley is selected to the Super Lawyers Southern California Rising Stars list for the 4th consecutive year. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in California are named to Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
January 2017 Saul Gelbart is named “Family Law Person of the Year” by the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the highest honor they bestow on an individual.
October 2016 SGSB moves its Orange County office to the corner of Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard in Centerpointe Business Complex.
August 2016 Saul Gelbart is named Orange County Family Law Attorney of the Year by Best Lawyers, published by U.S. News & World Report.
June 2016 Each year in June, SGSB is among the published sponsors of the Public Law Center, Access to Justice fundraising dinner held at Hotel Irvine. The event includes a silent auction and dinner.
June 2016 Saul Gelbart serves as Chair of a committee organizing a three-day retreat presented by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers at the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, California. The retreat includes continuing legal education seminars each day followed by networking events each evening.

Eleanor Stegmeier and Robert Benavente are co-panelists on a legal education round table discussion during the AAML retreat at the Montage Laguna Beach.
April 2016 Robert Benavente is admitted into the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (“AAML”) making him one of the youngest attorneys in the Southern California Chapter of the AAML.

Saul Gelbart lectures at the AAML “Trial Basics Seminar” held at the Westin South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California.
October 2015 Jason Schwartz lectured to the Orange County Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Section on the topic “Crossover Issues in Trust & Estate Law and Family Law.”
September 2015 Saul Gelbart traveled to Taormina, Sicily to attend the annual meeting of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (“IAFL”).
September 2015 Eleanor Stegmeier is named a Super Lawyer as published in Los Angeles Magazine and Super Lawyers magazine for the 14th consecutive year.

Saul Gelbart is named a Super Lawyer as published in Los Angeles Magazine and Super Lawyers magazine for the 14th consecutive year.

Robert Benavente is named a Super Lawyer as published in Los Angeles Magazine and Super Lawyers magazine for the 3rd consecutive year.
July 2015 For the 20th consecutive year, Eleanor Stegmeier is named among “The Best Lawyers in America” in the practice area of Family Law.

Saul Gelbart is named in the 22nd Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for the practice area of Family Law.

Robert Benavente is named in the 22nd Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” for the practice area of Family Law.

Jason Schwartz is named in the 22nd Edition of “The Best Lawyers in America” in the practice area of Family Law.
July 2015 Jason Schwartz is elected to serve on the Board of Directors – as the Membership and Benefits Director – of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (“ACFLS”) board for 2016.
June 2015 Eleanor Stegmeier becomes a member of the Forensic and Business Evaluators subcommittee for the AAML Foundation and a member of the 2015 Grant Committee.

Ms. Stegmeier is elected to the Executive Board of the AAML, Southern California Chapter for 2016.

June 2015 Jason Schwartz travels to London, England as part of a 500-member delegation of attorneys from the American Bar Association to attend the re-dedication of the Magna Carta in a ceremony held on the document’s 800th anniversary. The ceremony, which includes distinguished guests such as the Prime Minister of England, Queen of England, Duke of Cambridge, Duke of Edinburgh, Archbishop of Canterbury, the Attorney General of the United States, and the United States’ Ambassador to England, is held in Runnymede, England.

As part of the event, Mr. Schwartz attends a private dinner for the ABA Delegates held at the House of Lords, England.

May 2015 Saul Gelbart and Jason Schwartz present their educational program entitled “Protecting the Separate Property Interest (Or, Would You Rather Go To The Dentist?)” for the First American Title Company Family Law Seminar.
April 2015 Saul Gelbart lectures at the two-day AAML “Trial Basics Seminar” held at the Westin South Coast Plaza and University of California, Irvine, School of Law.
April 2015 Robert Benavente presents his continuing legal education lecture entitled, “See the Mix-up: Practice Tips on Litigating Tracing Issues” for the White, Zuckerman, Warsovsky, Luna, and Hunt CLE program.
2014 Eleanor Stegmeier is inducted into the Western State University, College of Law Hall of Fame. This extraordinary accomplishment is conferred during a Black Tie Gala held at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
2014 Robert Benavente serves as the President of the Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section.
2014 Eleanor Stegmeier is named a Super Lawyer as published in Los Angeles Magazine, Orange Coast magazine, and Super Lawyers magazine for the thirteenth consecutive year.

Saul Gelbart is named a Super Lawyer as published in Los Angeles Magazine, Orange Coast magazine, and Super Lawyers magazine for the thirteenth consecutive year.

Robert Benavente is named a Super Lawyer as published in Los Angeles Magazine, Orange Coast magazine, and Super Lawyers magazine for the second consecutive year.
2014 SGSB attorney Jason Schwartz is a guest correspondent on “Money Matters With Dino” radio show. Mr. Schwartz offers his perspective on the topic “The Million Dollar Pre-nup.”
2014 Eleanor Stegmeier moderates the Attorney Fees and Sanctions legal education seminar presented by Judge Thomas Lewis, Assistant Supervising Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court and Judge Mark Millard of the Orange County Superior Court.