Clay Greene
Divorce Law - San Rafael, CA

As I've told my clients for many years, divorce is not so much an event as a process. In fact, divorce can very much be about growth, a chance to right whatever is wrong in your life. There is always lot of potential growth, and in that respect I see divorce as often a healthy thing.

It's akin to a successful chemotherapy treatment. Yes, it's painful and unpleasant. But if it heals you, it's a good thing. And if I sense that someone is really listening, I will tell them this: Divorce is often a spiritual event.

I've been here in the Bay Area for over 40 years now. I grew up in the South - there are places there you can spend your whole life, and not feel entirely welcome or part of the community. Here I never once felt like an outsider. Sure, things have changed here - life is faster, more "East Coast" than before - but it welcomes everyone. And I think that is unique.

I have some cases in San Francisco, but most originate in Marin now. I think there's a great constructive spirit among divorce lawyers here. There's a strong sense of collaboration, even among the traditional litigators. I'm on a first-name basis with most of them. It's rare I don't know the other attorney. We can get a lot done without a huge amount of stress, and that's basically because most of us have the same goals in mind: A fair and equitable result.

There is much more satisfaction for me in achieving a win-win settlement than demolishing someone at trial. I've never encouraged or sought to pursue a "War of The Roses" scenario in any divorce case. We see our share of knock-down drag-out cases, but there is always a way to a reasonable outcome.

Over the years, the one thing we've seen more and more of is bigger incomes. That's made cases more complex - we often have to go out and value complex corporate compensation packages, with restricted stock options and deferred compensation. Million-dollar salaries aren't that uncommon, even today.

Times are certainly tougher: I see people who once made $1 million annually, today struggle to make $100,000. And that adds an entirely new dimension - to expectations and outcomes.

I never set out to be a divorce lawyer. But it did suit me from the start, and I've always worked hard at it. I know my personal experiences have made me a better lawyer. For anyone who comes to see me, I say this right off: I've been there. I understand.

Clay Greene
"I know my personal experiences have made me a better lawyer. For anyone who comes to see me, I say this right off: I've been there. I understand. "
Phone: (415) 485-9290
Fax: (415) 419-5121
 
 
Education
Lincoln University, J.D. 1977
 
2019-12-12 12:10:08