If you are a mother who is getting a divorce, do NOT hire this firm. After working with them for a year, they encouraged me to relinquish all child support and more. They did not advocate for me. They were very unresponsive to emails and failed to file or send paperwork on time. Unfortunately, my experience showed that these attorneys do not have one's children's best interest at heart. Read more read more

I feel so lucky that I found Deborah. Her reviews on Yelp inspired me to reach out. I am so glad I did! She helped me understand the process of divorce. She gave me an excellent recommendation for a mediator. I utilized Deborah for advice and to help me with paperwork during the mediation. My situation is a little bit tricky, but she helped me think it through. Thanks to her support, our process was fairly painless and we ended on good terms. Divorce is so overwhelming, Deborah helped me take it one step at a time. I am so grateful. read more

Original review was "flagged" and removed, although consistent with other negative reviews. Assuming it was due to a complaint filed by the firm. That says it all. Associate and Senior attorneys were dismissive, condescending and failed to file documents appropriately, costing valuable time and money. Accountability is important. Go elsewhere. read more

After my previous attorney became unresponsive at a critical moment during my divorce, hiring Alexandra Easley was a tremendous relief. She's a highly efficient professional and quickly managed the financial paperwork within just a couple of days. She was extremely responsive to all of my emails and showed great patient, which was very comforting during my highest stress level and most traumatic moment. Additionally, she assisted me in drafting and revising a restraining order stipulation agreement related to revenge p*rn which was the primary reason for filling for divorce. I highly recommend working with her! You'll be in great hands. Thank you very much, Alexandra. read more

They were very quick to call and offer the service, however, my case is being moved to San Mateo, and the group mainly works in Alameda. THanks for the follow -up read more

If you need a divorce attorney, hire Deborah Dubroff. My divorce was a difficult time for my entire family, not unlike the death of a loved one. I was very fortunate to have an old family friend, a lawyer, refer me to Deborah Dubroff . The first time I met Deborah, I knew I was in good hands and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. My first impression of Deborah was that she was knowledgeable, a hard worker, ethical, respectful, professional, patient, nonjudgmental and empathic. During our first meeting Deborah went thru the entire process, told me how to make the best use of our time, kept me focused, reassured me that I was not going to lose custody of my children and that things were going to be ok. My impression has not changed. After our initial meeting Deborah requested information and forms to be filed out, which I sent her, appeared in court as required and throughout the divorce process provided me timely updates until my cases conclusion. I am eternally grateful to Deborah for getting me thru those dark days. Roger Freeman read more

Divorce is never easy. Even more difficult - being taken to court 6 years after your divorce to fight for your children. Rebecca Lovell was my attorney for this case, and a simple Yelp review cannot begin to describe what a godsend she was. While our first meeting was on Zoom, I knew right away that she had a passion for helping people and doing the right thing. When I described my situation, she wasn't afraid to let me know she was on my team and ready to fight. Rebecca handled this case with the utmost amount of professionalism, even when opposing counsel was rather difficult. Nothing was ever "too much" for her - countless emails, stacks of subpoenas, paperwork, phone calls - she always responded in a timely manner and with such enthusiasm, that I knew I was in good hands. Special shout out here to Doria (paralegal) who also had to deal with my emails, questions, and filings. She too was awesome at keeping me in the loop, communicating clearly, and keeping me updated on what was going back and forth to court. Rebecca is a seeker of the truth, and will dig deep, fighting for what is right. She is professionally frank, clear and concise, and would let me know when it was time to buckle down and get things done. She is practical, always thinking long term, and made me realize that just because I wasn't happy with my situation at the moment, doesn't mean it will be this way forever. Since wrapping up in February, my children, their mother and I now have a better relationship due to Rebecca's suggestion of family therapy. We have all grown from this experience, and look forward to a positive future. read more

I hired a senior lawyer from this firm to help with my divorce. I had a pretty complicated asset separation. While she was generally available and seemed to know what she was doing, she continually kept me unprepared. At one point she told me that I needed to stop thinking strategically about this, despite mutliple assets with considerable value. In the most egregious example, she told me to "not prepare anything" going into a mediation and, during the mediation, she and the mediator suggested a certain division that was completely offbase and set very unfavorable expectations. This was something that we could have been completely prepared for. Instead I had to completely start over with another attorney and the tens of thousands of dollars i spent on her was flushed down the drain. Such a regret... read more

I recommend Deborah Dubroff and her team with the highest enthusiasm and confidence. One year ago, I found myself feeling deeply overwhelmed and unprepared in my mediated divorce that involved the complicated separation of assets between two professionals. The Dubroff staff quickly responded to my initial call and arranged a meeting with Deborah in the same week. Deborah was very quick to catch up on my situation, even though the mediation had been proceeding for many months. She helped me identify areas of concern in the separation documents and empowered me to negotiate much better terms for myself, without the need to move to a litigated divorce. Deborah provided me with examples of "typical" divorces and how certain assets are handled, as well as explanations of some of the complex legal concepts that I did not understand - something that our mediator did not offer. Deborah's style is warm, professional and respectful. I greatly appreciated that she did not condescend in her explanations and that she used our time extremely efficiently. The Dubroff team even performed the preparation of all our court documents when our mediator said that she wasn't eager to offer that service (!). Bringing Deborah onboard was the best thing that happened during my divorce and she was worth every reasonable cent that I paid. I dare say that she made a difficult, daunting process feel alright in the end. read more

Three years ago I found myself in a high conflict divorce/custody situation and needed a family law attorney. I will forever be grateful that I had the good fortune of finding Deborah Dubroff. She led me through the most difficult experience of my life, always ten steps ahead, anticipating possible outcomes, and expertly guiding me on the correct path for the best outcome for me and my kids. She is extremely strategic, intelligent, unafraid, experienced, ethical, honest, and communicative. She helped prepare me for mediation and court so that I stayed focused on what mattered most, despite any mudslinging I encountered. I sat in court with her on more than one occasion and she was always prepared, on task, strategic, and laser focused. Deborah is a straight shooter and never offered me false hopes and prepared me for all possible outcomes. Despite the odds, she respected my desired outcome, and applied all of her skills and expertise to help make it happen. Deborah was consistent and reliable, and always responded to my emails and calls in a timely manner and made herself available to me regardless of whatever other cases she was on. High conflict divorce and custody battles are not for the faint of heart. When I was scared or stressed, she was a steady and strong presence keeping me on path, on task, and always focused on what was best for my kids. She referred me for consultation to a variety of other professionals when she thought I and my case would benefit from their additional expertise. She encouraged me to create my circle of support, while she remained focused on my legal matters. Deborah Dubroff is fierce in the best possible way. If you need a strong, strategic, and unfailing advocate by your side, she is the person you want. read more

Deborah is a beautiful attorney that has represented me and my husband in a vicious fight to get legal and physical custody over our daughter who is 6 years old. It was a journey consisting of over 3 court hearings on two separate case numbers. To be absolutely clear and transparent, Deborah is a machine that fights on your side, she is strong, clear and very experienced, I love the fact that she would use the time during delays in court rooms to email other clients and would not charge us for the time otherwise wasted waiting. She is very honest and professional. Deborah - you are one in a million!!! read more

This review has been a long overdue. I never thought I would have a need for any type of attorney, let alone a Divorce Attorney. Deborah took over my long festering case and made things happen. She knew how to push me to get the information she needed and she was terrific at articulating were we stand and determining the most effective method of ending this nightmare. She put together a settlement proposal that was more than fair, with discussion and documentation that accurately and fairly presented my position on each issue. Positions that were arrived at after discussions with Deborah along the lines of....If you ask for this, she'll want that....If you go for it this way, the judge will see that you are being fair...etc. She guided me with her experience and knowledge to help her arrive at a proposal that would most ensure a settlement. To everyone's surprise (Judge included) the settlement was not accepted and we set a court date. (In a Yelp review of another divorce attorney by a family member of my ex, they complain of how this was his biggest mistake.) So we prepared for court, but for Deborah, it was more than that. It was an offensive. She researched the judge (who was rather new), she researched the opposing attorney, his law firm, his habits, my ex, her questionable financial dealings, her education, her profession...I think she may have even interviewed her auto mechanic. She gave me a large list of documentation she would need, which got a lot larger after we received the discovery document from the opposing party. I mean a whole case of copy paper, plus a few reams worth of mostly ridiculous documentation demanded by the evil ex's team! Deborah and her staff put all this information together in a multitude of binders with indexes, references, highlights, photos with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one. No strike that last one...but you know what I mean! The organization was top-notch, in fact it was so good the judge actually thanked her in open court for her fine work and that of her staff. Her documentation was the primer for the court case. Not just for us, but opposing counsel put his crap away in favor of the "Deborah's Binders" as they came to be referred. Well, the case dragged on and Deborah's Sabbatical came along. When she told me I felt like I was kicked in the stomach, the same feeling I had when I heard "I want a divorce." But Deborah had a solution to this as well. She hooked me up with a colleague that was already up to speed on my case. She told me that this attorney was better than her in trial, which turned out to be true. Tracey Wapnick is very impressive. (Look for separate Yelp review) She has an incredible memory, articulate, and very very smart. Exactly like Deborah. It ended up that I had the best tag-team any poor bastard going through a divorce could wish for. If I had to do this again, this is exactly the way I would contract it. Deborah is the best. She's back, rested and refreshed. If you are perusing reviews, like I was, looking for the right attorney...you just found her. She's smart, a great and accurate communicator, extremely organized, honest, fair and yeah, a little pushy when needed. Exactly what I needed! read more

I'll keep this short. Deborah is my ex-wife's lawyer. She was very effective. Make of that what you will. read more

Well what can I say - Deborah saved a big part of my life. I came to Deborah broken down, unsure in future and my family was broken as my ex did not let me see my dear daughter after finding out that I'm getting married. This was a huge impact on my life, ex has also started the process of suing me for more child support, I came to the first court date unprepared and without representation, it was a mistake. When I started to understand that my chances in winning anything are very low I started searching hard, I searched everywhere I could including Yelp, came to different appointments with different family attorneys but none of them I felt a connection with until I met Deborah!!!! From moment one I got the feeling that Deborah means business, she talked to me as equals and established the rule of truth from the first sentence, she said that I will not have you as a client if I ever find out that the information you are giving me is not true, she said that she cares about her reputation and does not ever want to be put in a position where there are gaps in coverage in this case. I gave Deborah everything I had, she helped me every step of the way and now a year later I have been a very happy camper seeing my lovely daughter on my terms without discrimination from the ex. It's a great feeling having someone very knowledgeable with a ton of experience. I have never felt more protected in front of the judge like I do with Deborah. No, she is not cheap but as they say, you always get what you pay for and with Deborah I got my family back and there is nothing in the world that can mean more to me. Deborah, thank you for being such an angel and thank you for making us happy!!! read more

Where do I begin to rave about Deborah? She was amazing during a terribly difficult time in my life. She is uber-organized, exceedingly thorough, and so helpful! If you are in need of family law services, I highly recommend Deborah. She presented information clearly, helped me understand my options, and worked on my case with the same level of attention as if it was her personal life situation. I appreciated that she didn't sugar-coat any information and gave me the entire picture of what could be expected. I knew at every step of the way that she was on my side, in my corner. She is everything you want in a family law attorney! read more

I cannot recommend Deborah Dubroff enough. She is professional, articulate, knowledgable, assertive, and undeniably bright. She navigated me through an extremely trying divorce, one that began with the potential of mediation and turned into a high-conflict custody battle. She handled all of its phases brilliantly. She truly has her clients' best interests at heart. In so many ways she took care to protect my financial bottom line, advising me which elements of my case were worth spending attorney time on--and which weren't. Her knowledge of and experience with family law meant she knew what to fight for, where I was likely to prevail, and where I was not. She answered all of my questions clearly and thoughtfully throughout the process. She is a clever negotiator. She is well-respected by her colleagues, including judicial officiants. And in court she just shines. Ms. Dubroff's tone throughout all our communication was professional and yet supportive. This lawyer cares. My divorce was the most difficult period of my life, but I now have a settlement that represents the best outcome for all parties, my child included. If you are going through this painful process, my heart goes out to you. And, I've got to tell you, Ms. Dubroff is an amazing ally. read more

UPDATE: 11/11/13 I have now been through the whole divorce process and have a MUCH different view of Deborah that I wanted to share. Deborah is clearly a talented family lawyer and one of the absolute best out there. There are many mediocre or worse family lawyers in Oakland/Alameda; Deborah is NOT one of them. I did have a communication issue with Deborah. She is reserved. I am not. I would have liked a lawyer who expressed more empathy in the situation. She didn't. In reality, I was a newly separated man who needed lots of emotional support, but in hindsight it wasn't really appropriate to expect it from my lawyer. I just didn't understand it at the time. The reason I had trouble working with Deborah is that she had had past dealings with someone on the other side, and that made ME distrustful of her (irrationally so). That queered our working relationship from my perspective, and it caused me to add friction into the situation which led to us parting ways. In hindsight, I should not have retained Deborah in the first place, as she had disclosed the conflict in the first meeting and I glossed over it and said I was "fine" with it. It turned out I was not. It was my lack of experience in being represented in divorce proceedings that caused the problem. Finally - the lawyer I referenced below with whom I had initial good conversations turned out to be a terrible lawyer who is, in my opinion, incompetent. So just because a divorce lawyer seems nice and empathetic in the initial meetings does not mean they will provide quality legal services when you actually need them. I'm sorry, Deborah, for writing such a negative review initially. It was unfair and I apologize. ******************************* I had a much different experience with Deborah than others reviewers. I found Deborah very hard to communicate with. She seemed to prefer clients who are docile and allow her to operate like a legal processing service. I never got useful strategic guidance from her even when I begged for it. We have now parted ways because I wanted an attorney who I could trust to give me both competent counsel and ideas about how to handle the case since I am, as most people are, new to divorce. i am already communicating better with my new attorney than i did with deborah. bottom line: ymmv. read more

Ms. Deborah Dubroff is amazing. In an extremely unpleasant and volatile situation, her advice and support was an anchor. Her advice is also immensely practical and realistic, so you don't waste money going down avenues that will likely deadend. However, if you want to possibly waste your money she won't stop you, simply advises against it. And if you do your research, you will see she is right. I deeply appreciate her candor and strength. Thank you, Deborah. read more

Divorce is never EVER easy. I am forever grateful to Deborah for her clarity, her expertise, her calm perspective, and her deep experience in matters such as these. She is a consummate professional, everything I needed she was there for, and then some. Every question, every idea I wanted to share or get some perspective on, she was patient and was a completely reliable guide for me. And, despite any personal challenges she may have had , they never entered at all into the work we did together. The divorce is final, I'm moving on, and the work Deborah did to make that possible was second to none. Don't get divorced. It sucks and it's emotional and it's painful. And expensive. But if you do, call Deborah. She'll walk you through the minefield, guiding you safely to the other side. And yes, there IS the other side.. read more

Rebecca Lovell helped us get through a tough custody/move away battle with poise. Rebecca constantly kept me abreast throughout every occurrence, ensuring I knew every possible outcome. She has deft skill, a warm style and remained professional and courteous with the opposing counsel at all times. Rebecca has immense talent and knowledge in the family law field. She has great insight into people's feelings and needs and was extremely resourceful in being able to offer options when various issues came up. Rebecca was very calculated and quick to research and respond, going above and beyond any and all of my expectations. She made me feel as if she was family and could feel the pain I was going through, yet helped me to keep my composure and stay on track. The whole office staff was a pleasure interacting with during some difficult times I has been going through. I can not thank them enough for being courteous, considerate and patient! I recommend Dubroff Family Law PC 100% and would highly suggest requesting to consult with Rebecca Lovell! read more

I went through a difficult divorce and custody issue. Long story short- Deborah has been a consummate professional and has helped me to resolve many issues that are divorce- and custody-related. She is definitely more focused on helping to resolve issues with long-term solutions rather than focusing on vindictive or short-term outcomes. I rate her 4 stars because the Family Court process is at best "unfortunate" for men, who typically seem to be biased against in that forum. That said, I feel like I'm in a better place than I would've been had I gone with an alternative. read more

A few words to describe Ms. Alexandra Easley; Professional, yet down to earth, authentic, a true confidant, diligent & unbelievably knowledgeable. She is remarkably sharp on all fronts and I don't say that lightly! Admittedly, I'm not always the easiest person to deal with, but Alexandra handled all the ups & downs that come with the process masterfully. She understands the nuances and how to maneuvers accordingly. She was my constant, my true north, through a very challenging time. Alexandra, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! I'm forever indebted to your patience & understanding. read more

People who are divorcing are in a great deal of pain, and I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to be a divorce attorney. I remember asking her once why she liked family law and she said she liked bringing some sense of peace to people who are in turmoil. Not the answer I expected, but exactly what someone needs in an attorney when you're going through a life-changing event that will impact your financial, emotional, and spiritual well-being for years to come. I needed someone who was mindful of the fact that I loved the man I was divorcing at one time and didn't want to do him harm, but a part of me didn't want to lose everything I had simply to get my freedom. Deborah understands the human and the legal impacts of divorce. She helped make an awful process as best as it could be. While my family was urging me to wage World War III and my own voice was telling me to just give him whatever it took to get out, Deborah was a voice of reason. Together, we decided what was worth fighting for and what wasn't. When I didn't have the energy to fight, I felt like she fought for me but not with intent to harm or with malice. When we had court appearances, it was clear that she was well respected by the other attorneys in the room. This is more important than you might think when trying to negotiate a settlement. Additionally, I always felt like Deborah was mindful of legal expenses and did everything she could to make things as cost-effective as possible. When I wasn't right-minded, she was frank with me and I appreciated that. Beyond the human/humane parts of the divorce, Deborah is a strategist and she is brilliant. She pays attention to how judges and other attorneys respond to different scenarios and approaches. She formulates her approach based on what she knows about all the people who will be a part of the process. We had an issue that had very little legal precedent in California, and when we couldn't resolve it outside of court, she researched everything. She did everything in her power to make sure that we got in front of a judge who wouldn't immediately throw it out of court. While the judge was not happy that we were in court and he called both attorneys to his chambers to register his discontent, Deborah handled it gracefully. I always felt like Deborah gave my case thorough and complete attention--even though it may not have been the most lucrative case for her. She was always responsive, thoughtful, and thorough in her communication. Most importantly, she was a kind and calm source of compassion and a steadfast anchor during a time when everything I had methodically built my life to be felt like it was flying in the air--and where it would land, I had no idea. read more

During a very difficult period, Deborah and her team were a godsend. Strategic, patient, supportive and extremely knowledgeable, I was completely able to entrust Deborah to help me navigate my divorce. Her deep experience allowed her to quickly cut through the clutter so we could focus on what was important for me. This time was emotionally fraught and her ability to craft a clear and simple strategy that honed in on my needs and ultimate well-being was superlative. I could not have asked for more. Knowledge of the law is a given for one's lawyer. Deborah's big-picture, long-term perspective is a rarity and made all the difference. A few years out from the experience, I can say that our work together delivered excellent results. That she and her team are also kind and friendly is an added and much appreciated bonus. I'd definitely work with her again for any of my family law needs. read more

Deborah was recommended to me by a friend of mine who had benefitted greatly from her counsel. Going through mediation, I didn't need a full time attorney but rather someone to look at my situation and tell me what my rights were, what was worth fighting for and what wasn't. In our 2 hour session I found Deborah to be thoughtful, understanding, caring, funny and incredibly knowledgeable. She was straight forward without being pushy, honest without being mean or cold. I left her office feeling well armed to handle whatever came up in mediation. And I was. Thank you Deborah! read more

These guys were by my side for a year and a half, helping me through a truly contentious divorce. I am so grateful to them!!! They were literally life-savers.... Rebecca is smart, caring, responsive, and detail oriented and without her help I would have been lost. I was able to keep 50% custody of my children, get them in good schools, and was super happy with my financial settlement. They know the system inside and out and are familiar with the legal terrain of California and more specifically, the Bay Area. These guys are the real deal...no games...just good folks who do a damn good job! Thanks Guys!!!! You're the best! read more

Deborah is brilliant and kind. She went above and beyond for me during a very rough divorce. I have referred her to friends and continue to do so. It's hard to find a compassionate attorney who really knows her sh*t. But Deborah is both. read more

Deborah is a sharp strategist who can be tough as nails when needed as well as being a great collaborator. She provided excellent advice, made me aware of what my choices were and allowed me to manage the process. She did not mince her words when advising me which I found totally refreshing. She was able to hear my moaning and gave a compassionate ear for the minute that I needed it but also gave me the needed kick in the pants when I needed it as well. She kept the process on track. She helped me focus on my needs and came up with solutions that satisfied both parties. Even my ex commented about Deborah's expertise after our settlement meeting. I felt that she and I had our own collaborative and creative process, so it was great to work with someone who is very smart and open minded. While Deborah can be "all about business", she has a great sense of humor which was much appreciated through out. While we were able to negotiate a settlement out of court, I felt totally comfortable had we needed to go to court entrusting my case in Deborah's gifted hands. If you need representation you will be lucky to have Deborah in your corner!!! read more

To add to my previous review - - my case was settled, but I still had a few niggling issues - - Deborah took care of them immediately and quickly - - and I have a hunch she didn't charge me for as much time as it took her, because it was really reasonable. I just love her!!! read more

I accidentally, ended up with Deborah as a voluntary mediator, during a status conference In a nut shell, she was able to accomplish in a couple hrs, what my other mediator was not able to do in several months, and several thousands of dollars She explained the process, and cost of litigation, the possible outcome of each issue, explained things in a way that was sensitive to personal feelings, but with a sense of lets get to work and get it done I will always be grateful, and will highly encourage anyone going in to the stressful process of divorce, to work with her read more

I contacted Deborah Dubroff after reading the many favorable reviews from past clients, and am very pleased I had. Deborah is honest, fair, and realistic. Her knowledge and advice throughout the entire divorce process was outstanding. I always felt that Deborah had my back every step of the way. Thank you Deborah, I am forever grateful! read more

Alexandra handled a case of mine with speed and professionalism. After spending 4 years learning the Alameda county family law system I was extremely frustrated. I was expecting it to be fair, but that wasn't my experience for the majority of 4 years. In fact it was more of a black comedy! I have self-represented and had a different attorney in the past. I can't recommend Alexandra and Deborah Dubroff's office enough. Very smart, and knowledgeable with the Alameda county family law system. It is extremely important to get a lawyer that knows the system in your area. Alexandra was communicative, and realistic. I can't thank her enough, and warmly recommend her. My child has a better future as a result. Thank you! read more

Going through a divorce was a very difficult time for me. Deborah was very understanding, but didn't sugar coat anything. I needed the honesty and it helped me pull through to finalize the divorce. I appreciated how fair she was. Her services were invaluable. I would highly recommend her if you are in need of a divorce attorney. read more

Deborah is a fantastic lawyer. She is smart, thorough, and explains everything in "regular" language so it is easy to understand. She is a good listener, and then clearly goes over all the options for your case so you feel fully informed in making decisions. I felt I had a true ally in navigating through the complexities of my divorce. I can't tell you how much I appreciated Deborah's guidance through this tough period in my life. I would not hesitate to highly recommend her to anyone needing a family law attorney. read more

I met Deborah last year and got some great advice on my situation. She is fair, honest and upfront. I appreciated her advise about coming to the consultation prepared which cut down our time, and her tips and attention to detail were awesome. Thanks. read more

I recently went through a very painful divorce and thanks to Deborah, I find myself in a very different, much stronger place now. Even now, a year later, I often find myself applying the strategies that she used to hammer into me when dealing with my ex, like not getting sucked into the details and emotions, but keeping the big picture and my goals in mind, and trying to figure out how I can reach them. I often look back at the process and realize that I don't even remember the feelings that I was going through anymore, or that they don't matter anymore -- only the outcome counts and it has provided me with a basis to move on. I thank Deborah from the bottom of my heart for the support and guidance she has given me, and that was always there, even when I was too distressed and lost to see it. Deborah is very strategic and laser focused, she fights fiercely on your side yet remains respectful to the other party, no matter how much smoke and mirrors the opposing counsel produces. She kept me from going to war with my ex which I could never have afforded in the first place, and that might have likely caused me to lose everything that is important to me. Instead she kept stressing the importance of staying in mediation which was incredibly difficult for me at the time, and patiently guided me in learning communication techniques that were effective in reaching my goals yet keeping the peace. read more

Rebecca was wonderful to work with and did an excellent job representing me. She not only helped me get a quick and fair settlement, but helped me navigate difficult legal circumstances involving an ex whose business practices might otherwise have put me at significant personal and professional liability risk. I highly recommend Rebecca to anyone finding themselves in the unfortunate circumstance of needing a divorce attorney. read more

My divorce experience is well is behind me now...I am writing this review to protect other couples and parents to fell in Deborah's trap! My first impression of Deborah after meeting and talking to her is that she is experimented, knowledgeable and confident yet very approachable. I hired her immediately thinking she will be a perfect fit for what I was looking for in a lawyer...experimented and strong but not over aggressive to avoid escalating the already exciting conflicts between my ex and I during the divorce process and most importantly keeping my kid safety and interest my main focus and priority. Well Deborah is all but that !!!!! The only "knowledge" I received from her is that she is the "expert" on drilling a hole in her client's pocket, her "focus" was dragging the process, requesting all kind of costly procedures and aiming for court rather than settlement (again hoping to get more money...and I am talking thousands rather than hundreds). Deborah's lack of availability when needed was extremely frustrating and disrespectful for both parties and her response/excuse for that "I have deadlines or more urgent cases"!!! The worst part in my dealings with Deborah is that she dropped my case (and I am sure many others) like a used sock in the middle of my divorce process. She knew and was planning since day one for a "long sabbatical leave" but only announced to me less than a month before she closes her office. I was forced not only to find another attorney ASAP but also endure the financial burden of the transfer and also extra fees for many legal procedures that Deborah filed "wrong" ... soooo amateurish from someone who claims they are the best at what they do and refers to the younger lawyers as "rookies"! Looking back now I am glad Deborah didn't continue representing me. I end up hiring an amazing attorney who was able to fix all Deborah's legal mistakes and finalize my Divorce in less time and for a fraction of the cost. All I want to say to Deborah : Please go back to your sabbatical leave. read more

I went to Deborah based on the reviews from YELP...I think it is a very useful service to see what others think of an individual before seeking their services. First, the consultation was expected to be about an hour...at $275 an hour. She was upfront about cost at the beginning. She provided a 10 minute free consult prior to going to the paid consult. She spent an hour and a half with me and after reviewing the case extensively told me that the case was "a mess' already and there was basically nothing to be done. At this point all she could do was advise me on hopefully having to pay the least amount of child support possible. She went over the form and gave me the worse and best case scenerio. $385 later, I'm not sure the advise helped much. I ended up paying a lot in child support to my ex husband. I must say that she is honest and informed me that it would not be worth the expense for her to go to court because there was not much more she could do for me..... Probably if I could have afforded it, I should have retained her from the beginning and maybe things would not have gone this way for me, but that did not happen. She did help me with the forms, asking me to fax over the form for her review...she made sure to tell me that she usually charges for that service (althought I had just paid $385 for the cons) and when I tried to clear up one thing I did not understand on the form afterwards...her advise was to "just do the best you can" basically ending her assistance to me. I understand that she must get paid for her services..so I left it at that. read more

Deborah Dubroff Is what I believe a divorce attorney should be like. One of the first things she had me do was to make a list of my wants and my fears. On my first visit we went over those, she explained California law as far as my wants and she quelled my fears. she kept it realistic and didn't fan the flames. She talks in terms of trying to mediate out and keeping your costs down. Yet if need be she will fight like hell for you! Deborah is Super organized. She was the attorney who kept my divorce on track.Unfortunately my Ex turned into a man who was determined to punish me through the California courts. Shame on him. In my situation my ex vowed to drag it out as long as possible and force me to spend as much as he possibly could. I'm sure he instructed his attorney to do nothing or the minimum he had to. Thus forcing my costs up and keeping his at a minimum. Deborah and I were aware of this and acted accordingly. Hate to disappoint him, but I hired Deborah who is conscious of what my fees were adding up to. By the way Deborah was worth every cent. Deborah was always there to protect me and my interests as much as possible. Keep in mind, you need to be part of a team, she can only help if you are providing documents that back up the facts, she isn't a mind reader. nor is the judge. She always told me what to expect and gave me basic guidelines as to how California divorce law works, what the law says, and what latitude a judge has. Observing her and how organized she was helped me get my divorce documents organized and allowed me to be able to present them to her in a clear and organized way. Therefore enabling her to represent me in the best way possible. When ever we went to court Deborah was On Time, super organized , had a plan of action and ready to go. I have recommended her to 2 aquaintences already and will continue to recommend her in the future. read more