Attorney Profiles

Please click here to read about Mr. Bening's mediation expertise and experience.

Mr. Bening is a founding partner of Willoughby, Stuart & Bening. He specializes in the areas of business litigation, insurance, real estate, construction, intellectual property, corporate and partnership disputes and professional liability. Mr. Bening has an active practice serving as a mediator, special master and arbitrator, and conducts between 75 to 100 mediations per year and has successfully mediated more than 500 matters.  Local courts frequently call on him to mediate or act as special master in cases which present unique or complex challenges to case management and resolution.

Prior to co-founding Willoughby, Stuart & Bening, Mr. Bening was with the law firm Hoge, Fenton, Jones & Appel, where he was a shareholder and specialized in complex insurance matters, business and construction for nearly a decade.

Mr. Bening has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America since 2006 and as a Northern California Super Lawyer since 2005. He was recently honored with a "Lifetime Commitment to the Theater" award presented by the San Jose Children's Musical Theatre.

Mr. Bening earned his law degree from the University of California, Davis but not before traveling the world for a year. He received his bachelor’s degree, with highest honors, from Chico State University. While in college and law school, Mr. Bening subsidized his education by working as a black jack baccarat dealer at Harrah's Casino in Lake Tahoe.

From an early age, Mr. Bening loved theater and was actively involved in drama in high school and the San Diego Civil Light Opera.  Mr. Bening has been on the Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose since 1994 where he has performed many productions as a mentor adult member of the cast. He and his late wife, Billiana, were previously honored with the dedication of the Bening Family Courtyard and Play Space, focused on their commitment to children and affordable housing.

Mr. Bening also serves on the boards of Community Housing Developers, a nonprofit affordable-housing developer; American Cancer Society; and Artsopolis, a website supporting local art groups. He is an avid mountain biker, skier, kayaker and swimmer.