Steven Leskin – Divorce Attorney

Steven Leskin — Oregon Divorce Attorney and Mediator

Steven Leskin is a Portland, Oregon divorce attorney and mediator who has practiced law in Oregon since 1992. During more than three decades of family law practice, he has represented people facing the legal, financial, and personal challenges that come with divorce.

Over the years, Steven came to believe that traditional divorce litigation is often not the best way for couples to end a marriage.

Court proceedings can be expensive, time-consuming, stressful, and adversarial. When spouses have children, businesses, retirement accounts, homes, or other shared financial interests, prolonged conflict can make an already difficult transition even harder. And for parents, the relationship does not necessarily end with the divorce—they may need to continue working together for many years.

Steven began developing a different approach: a divorce process designed to resolve disagreements constructively, efficiently, and privately, without unnecessary court conflict.

Creating One Day Divorce Mediation

That approach led Steven to create One Day Divorce Mediation, a structured Oregon divorce mediation process that combines mediation with binding arbitration when necessary.

The goal is straightforward: give both spouses a meaningful opportunity to reach their own agreements while providing a defined process for resolving issues they cannot settle themselves.

By establishing a clear schedule and a fixed-fee structure, the process is designed to reduce two major uncertainties associated with traditional divorce litigation: how long the divorce will take and how much it will cost.

In many cases, spouses are able to resolve significant differences cooperatively and move forward without the hostility and expense that can accompany courtroom litigation.

More Than One Way to Divorce

After speaking with hundreds of people considering divorce, Steven recognized that couples need different levels of legal assistance.

Some couples need mediation because they agree that the marriage should end but disagree about property division, parenting arrangements, support, or other issues.

Others have already reached agreement and simply want an experienced Oregon divorce attorney to prepare the paperwork and guide the case through the legal system.

Still others want an affordable, guided process that allows them to complete much of an uncontested divorce themselves while having professional direction along the way.

Oregon Divorce Mediation Services was developed to provide options for each of these situations.

The firm now offers:

• One Day Divorce Mediation for couples who need assistance resolving disputed divorce issues.
• Smooth Sailing Uncontested Divorce for couples who have reached agreement and want the legal process completed efficiently.
• Digital Divorce Navigation for couples who want a guided, cost-conscious approach to completing their own divorce.

A Better Alternative to Divorce Court

Steven’s philosophy is that divorce should not automatically become a legal battle.

When circumstances permit, couples should have an opportunity to resolve their divorce privately, pragmatically, and with as little unnecessary conflict as possible.

That philosophy is the foundation of Oregon Divorce Mediation Services: providing Oregon couples with practical alternatives to traditional divorce litigation so they can resolve the legal issues, protect what matters to them, and move forward with their lives.

Attorney Profile

I have spent twenty-four years as a trial attorney in Oregon specializing in tort and professional malpractice litigation, federal administrative law, and domestic relations. I am an experienced trial attorney with hundreds of mediations, arbitrations, and administrative hearings. Long-time municipal judge and two-term Assistant Disciplinary Counsel. I am experienced in all areas of law practice management and technology.

Legal Career

Attorney at Law / Law Firm (October 2020 – December, 2021)

• Litigated all aspects of divorce and custody cases from drafting petition through post judgment matters • Mentor young attorneys, publish firm advance sheet reviews, develop internal custody and discovery process for firm, review and edit pleading and correspondence templates for firm use; conduct internal CLE’s

Attorney at Law / Steven Leskin, P.C., Portland Oregon (1992-2015)

• Founded and managed personal injury and civil litigation law firm in Oregon.
• Litigated tort, family law and criminal cases in state court, appeared before federal agencies. • Verdicts include $10,000,000 verdict against husband and Portland Police Officer for shooting wife, wrongful death claims and multiple verdicts in mid -$100,000, with hundreds of settlements negotiated. • Social security disability representative handling hundreds of claims from initial filing to appeals process. • Dozens of court trials in domestic relations cases, including multiple claims where my clients received “the long half” of marital estate.
• Successfully litigated commercial and contract disputes for small and mid-sized corporations. • Very experienced in alternative dispute forums, including arbitrations and mediations.

Municipal Judge / Cities of North Plains and Banks, Oregon (2003-2008)

• Conducted arraignments, trials and sentencing of municipal and state code violations. • Implemented new sentencing procedures, made court procedures efficient.
• Created program to allow defendants to pay judgment through community service.