Anna  Rudman Santos Photo
Anna Rudman Santos

Bio

Board Certified Family Law Specialist

Anna Rudman Santos is a Principal at Ross Family Law and a Certified Family Law Specialist, as designated by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She has practiced family law exclusively since 2016 and is committed to helping clients navigate transition points in their lives, combining empathy and understanding with clear, steady, and resolute advocacy. Anna’s work focuses on divorce proceedings, domestic partnership dissolution, domestic violence restraining orders, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, property division, and other related issues. Anna guides clients through all stages of the process—whether by consultation, negotiation, mediation, or in-court litigation—with a steady focus on empowering them to make informed, strategic decisions about their future.

Anna’s clients benefit from her extensive experience, her commitment to excellence, and her compassionate yet pragmatic approach. She is adept at helping individuals and families understand and navigate the complexities of the legal system while protecting their interests and achieving practical resolutions.

Before joining Ross Family Law, Anna practiced for four years at Fox & Bank LLP, where she represented clients in both mediation and litigation, including prevailing in multiple successful trials. Anna began her career as a family law attorney at Open Door Legal, an innovative nonprofit legal organization providing universal access to civil legal services in underserved San Francisco communities. There, she was recognized by the California State Assembly for her work protecting survivors of domestic violence. Anna has also represented children as a Guardian Ad Litem in Juvenile Court proceedings and handled matters under the Violence Against Women Act.

Anna represents clients in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, Marin, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Sonoma, Napa, San Joaquin, Solano, Santa Cruz, and Sacramento counties.

Practice Areas:

Certified Legal Specialties

  • California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization Certified Family Law Specialist

Bar Admissions 

  • California

Recognition

  • Honored by the California State Assembly for work protecting survivors of domestic violence
  • Selected as a Northern California Rising Star and rated by Super Lawyers every year since 2022
  • Contra Costa County Bar Association
  • Alameda County Bar Association
  • The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)
  • Association of Certified Family Law Specialists (ACFLS)
  • Alameda County Family Law Association (ACFLA)

Education

  • University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law
    • University of Memphis Law Review, editor
    • Winner of 2010 University of Memphis Law Review Case Comment Competition
    • Writing and oral advocacy awards
    • CALI award recipient for highest grade in Trial Advocacy and Child and Family Litigation Clinic
    • Irbin Bogatin Social Justice Award
    • Rodney K. Smith Award for Excellence in Public Service
    • Cecil C. Humphreys Fellowship Recipient
    • Summer law clerk for Hon. Diane K. Vescovo, Federal Magistrate Judge for Western District of Tennessee

Community Involvement

  • Volunteer Attorney, Alameda County Bar Association, Family Law Day of Court and Shriver Custody Clinic (2022 – present)
  • Volunteer Settlement Officer, Alameda County Superior Court (2024 – present)
  • Volunteer Attorney, Contra Costa County Bar Association, Double Pro Per Settlement Calendar (2023 – present)
  • Board Member, Open Door Legal (2023 – present)

Hobbies

Before transitioning to law, Anna began her career in the music industry in Nashville, Tennessee. In her down time, Anna loves traveling with her husband and daughter, learning to skateboard, knitting, training for half marathons she’s not sure she actually wants to run, and spending time with her rescue pit bull puppy—who is convinced she’s a lap dog, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.