Steven J. Mehlman, principal and founder of Mehlman Law Group, has been practicing law in California for over 30 years.  Mr. Mehlman has a record of successfully representing individuals and business clients in a wide variety of civil lawsuits in both the California state and federal courts, as well as arbitrations.  He drafts all types of contracts and transactional documents in in his practice areas of real estate and business, drawing on his litigation experience to avoid the types of problems that lead to court battles.

He earned an undergraduate degree with a double major in communications/public policy and political science from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1976; graduating with highest honors in political science, great distinction in general scholarship and Phi Beta Kappa. He received both a juris doctor and master's degree in public policy from the University of Michigan in 1980, graduating cum laude. Admitted to the State Bar of California in 1980, he is also admitted to practice in the federal district courts for Northern, Eastern and Central California (including the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals) and the D.C. Circuit and the 5th Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Mr. Mehlman began his law practice at Furth Fahrner, Bluemle & Mason in San Francisco handling complex litigation involving some of the largest cases in the country, including antitrust cases and securities fraud matters. He shifted his focus to real estate and small business while working at Matthew B. Weinberg Professional Corporation in San Francisco from 1983 to 1990 and at Grant & Sternberg in Walnut Creek from 1990 to 1995.  He was managing partner at Turner & Mehlman in Walnut Creek (1995-2002), and Mehlman TerBeek LLP (2002-2008), and continues his practice at Mehlman Law Group.

Mr. Mehlman believes strongly in community service.  He currently serves on the Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce Education Committee and coaches tennis for Special Olympics of Northern California.  He also is the debate and speech coach for Las Lomas High School and the attorney advisor for the high school mock trial team. He served on the Contra Costa Planning Commission (2001-2006), the City of Walnut Creek Planning Commission (1989-1996), the Board of Directors and Land Committee for Save Mount Diablo, a non-profit land trust (1994-2006), the City of Walnut Creek Transportation Commission (1984-1989) and the Contra Costa Transit Authority Citizens Advisory Committee (1985-1989). With his experience in city and county planning and the law, Mr. Mehlman has developed substantial expertise in land use, from both legal and practical perspectives.

Mr. Mehlman is on the teaching staff of the paralegal program for California State University, Easy Bay, where he has taught legal research and writing.