Philip L. Hammer limits his practice to family law.  He and his legal team focus on complex marital dissolutions requiring specialized experience, particularly those involving large assets and complex financial, business, child custody, and legal issues.  Mr. Hammer began his legal career as a staff attorney for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, D.C.  He then returned to his home town of San Jose, and for decades has enjoyed a reputation in the Bay Area as an expert in the handling of family law matters, both in pretrial negotiations and at the trial and appellate court levels.  He has earned the designation of Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Representative Matters

• Dissolution of marriage involving valuation of community interests in a series of venture capital funds where spouse received management fees before and after date of separation.
  
  
• Dissolution of marriage with a claim of goodwill in a large international accounting firm.
  
  
• Child custody case presenting claim by parent to return to native European country with children after separation.
  
  
• Claim of compensation by non-married partner for goodwill in beauty salon which grew in value during the partnership.
  
  
• Adoption of child born to one California domestic partner by the other.
  
  
• Setting aside of pre-marital agreement presented by spouse twenty minutes prior to start of wedding ceremony.
  
  
• Defense of charges under Domestic Violence Protection Act when client was arrested for placing unreasonable restrictions upon family members’ use of electricity.

Honors, Memberships and Professional Activities

• Certified Specialist in Family Law, State Bar of California
  
  
• Fellow of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; President of Northern California Chapter 1983-84
  
  
• Listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
  
  
• Listed in Best Lawyers in America and selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer each year since 1994
  
  
• Past Chair, Santa Clara County Bar Association, Family Law Section
  
  
• Recipient of Santa Clara County Bar Association’s two highest honors: the Justice Byrl R. Salsman Award for outstanding service to the legal profession, 1991;  and Professional Lawyer of the Year, 1998
  
  
• Chair, State Bar of California Conference of Delegates, 1984-85
  
  
• President, Santa Clara County Bar Association, 1979
  
  
• Adjunct Professor of Family Law at Santa Clara University Law School, 1993-97
  
  
• Frequent lecturer and panelist on family law subjects

Community Activities

Mr. Hammer has long and strong ties to the San Jose area.  He is passionate about service to the community, especially when it comes to public education, legal services for the poor, and the theater.  Mr. Hammer was instrumental in founding the Lincoln High School Foundation in 1992, and still serves on its board today.  He, along with Hoge Fenton partner James E. Towery, founded the Silicon Valley Campaign for Legal Services, and he remains on its board.  He also is a long time member of the board of San Jose Repertory Theatre.  Mr. Hammer was elected to the school board of San Jose Unified School District for eight years and served two terms as its President, and is a senior fellow of American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley.  Mr. Hammer is married to former (1990-98) San Jose Mayor Susan Hammer.

Admissions

Mr. Hammer is admitted to practice in all California State courts, the United States District Court for Mississippi and the Northern District of California, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

J.D., Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley

B.A., Stanford University

Licensed to practice
in California

AV® peer review rated
CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies

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