Steven A. Mindel, CFLS*

Managing Partner Family Law

Steven A. Mindel, Certified Family Law Specialist* and FMBK Managing Partner, divides his time between practicing Family Law and operating one of Southern California’s largest family law firms.  Since opening its doors in 1996, FMBK has grown to include over 20 attorneys, 3 office locations and over 40 employees. When he is not occupied with FMBK’s operations, he is busy applying his 35+ years of family law experience to attend to the legal needs of his valued clients.

Steve graduated college Magna Cum Laude from UCLA in 1981 and received his Juris Doctorate degree from USC Gould School of Law in 1985. Steve continues to be an avid member of his Alumni Associations and volunteers whenever possible. However, because he values the importance of giving opportunities to law students all across the country and at all different schools,  Steve created The FMBK summer program to give selected rising 3Ls the opportunity to gain experience in family law.

Steve has been named a Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine every year since 2004, he has made the Southern California’s Top 100 lawyers list every year since 2007, and for the past 3 years he has been selected to the Top 10 list.  In addition to being featured on the cover of the Super Lawyers insert in the 2009 issue of Los Angeles Magazine, he was featured in an article titled, “The Man Who Would De-Fang Divorce,” in the 2009 Super Lawyers Magazine. Steve was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers® 2010 – 2022 and has an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell.

Steve is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Southern California Chapter and the International Academy of Family Lawyers. He is the Immediate Past Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Section Executive Committee and currently sits on the Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center Advisory Council. He was appointed and served a two year term on the California State Bar Family Law Section Executive Committee (“FLEXCOM”). He also served as an Advisor to FLEXCOM for four additional years.

 

Bar Admissions

  • California
  • United States Supreme Court

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
    • Southern California Chapter
  • Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
    • USA/Canadian Chapter
  • Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA)
    • Family Law Section
      • Immediate Past Chair, 2021-2022
      • Executive Committee (FLEXCOM), 2012-present
      • Past Chair, “Liaison for E-Filing” Committee, 2016-2018
      • Past Chair, “Membership Outreach” Committee, 2015-2018
      • Past Chair, “Continuing Legal Education” Committee
      • Past Chair,  “State and Local Bar Liaison” Committee
      • “Annual Family Law Symposium 2013″ Committee
      • “LACBA Foundation Liaison” Committee
      • “Veterans & Active Military Pro Bono Project” Committee
  • Member, Beverly Hills Bar Association (BHBA)
    • Current Chair, BHBA Managing Partners Forum
  • Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center
    • Advisory Council
    • Leadership Council
  • California State Bar Family Law Section Executive Committee (FLEXCOM)
    • Appointed and served two-year term
    • Advisor
    • Past Editor, FLEXCOM E-Newsletter, 2004-2008
  • University Synagogue
    • Past President, Board of Trustees, 2006-2008
    • 2015 Heroes Among Us Honoree
  • Union of Reform Judaism
    • Co-Chair, URJ Greater LA Community Team 

Honors, Awards & Accomplishments

  • Super Lawyers
    • Named a Top 10 Lawyer by LA Magazine, 2020-Present
    • Named a Top 100 Lawyer by LA Magazine, 2007-Present
    • Named  a Super Lawyer by LA Magazine, 2004-Pressent
    • Featured on cover of Super Lawyers insert LA Magazine, 2009
    • Featured in an article titled, “The Man Who Would De-Fang Divorce,” in the 2009 Super Lawyers Magazine
  • ALM’s “Top Rated Lawyers” list which features lawyers who have achieved an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards
  • AV preeminent rating with Martindale Hubbell
  • The Best Lawyers, 2010 -2022
  • Levitt & Quinn Family Law Center
    • Recipient of the Ethel Levitt Humanitarian Award, 2017
  • Los Angeles Free Clinic
    • Received two special recognition awards for his volunteerism while serving on the Governing Board of Directors
  • He is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do
  • Lifetime Eagle Boy Scout

Community Involvement

Published Work

  • Huffington Post “The Blog- Divorce” column
    • Frequent Contributer
  • Author of “Cooking For Our Friends,” a cookbook that includes step-by-step instructions on cooking meals for parties of more than 40 people.
  • Answered numerous divorce Questions & Answers in Divorce Magazine online

Lectures

  • “Don’t Push Print Into the Margins” for Super Lawyers Webcast and Live Program
  • Panel One – “Our Side of the Street” for ACFLS and Levitt & Quinn MCLE Program
  • “Cross-Over Challenges: Family Law & Probate” for Los Angeles County Bar Association Aviva K. Bobb Advanced PVP Attorney Training Symposium
  • “First Client Interview” for CEB’S inaugural “Basics Conference”
  • “Premarital Agreements” and ” How to Keep Your Law Firm From Becoming a Not For Profit Organization” for White, Zuckerman, Warsavsky, Luna, Wolf & Hunt
  • “The Intersection of Post Marital Agreements and Estate Planning” for the Legal Education Institute
  • “Marketing 101 for Attorneys” for the Beverly Hills Bar Association Barristers
  • “Preparing for Child Custody Evaluations” for Divorce Magazine

 

*Certified Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization