Mediator Resume

Experienced civil litigator of nearly 20 years both for plaintiffs and defendants handling all aspects of litigation through trial and decision. Primary focus in all areas of employment law as well as contractual disputes, fraud, estoppel, misrepresentation, assault, privacy rights, civil rights (discrimination), consumer rights, and general torts. Professor of law locally and nationally in torts and contracts for almost a decade as well as public speaker in seminars in all aspects of employment law, human resources, contracts, and privacy rights.

SmartMediate - Private Mediator

Attorney, Mediator, Law Professor

Mediator, SmartMediate, 2025-Present; Professor of Torts & Contracts, Southern California Institute of Law, 2018-Present; Attorney, Rothschild & Alwill APC, 2011-Present; Attorney, Law Office of Nicolas Vrataric, 2009-2011; Judicial Clerk, Federal Magistrate Victor Bianchini, 2006.

Nearly 20 years of civil litigation in all matters of employment, both in State and Federal court, litigating and defending matters concerning claims of wage & hour, FEHA, Unruh, Bane Act, workplace safety, wrongful construction termination, batteries, sexual batteries, and wage theft. Both inside and outside of the employment context, extensive experience in issues of defamation, privacy issues, unfair competition, trade secrets and proprietary information, and contractual disputes -- both with individuals and between businesses. Additional areas include matters of estoppel, fraud, false promise, misrepresentation, and blackballing claims. Extensive experience in company advising on litigation strategy and HR issues. For almost the last decade, taught law school courses in-person and online locally, nationally, and internationally -- specifically in Torts and Contracts, with occasional legal writing instruction. More recently, efforts have been directed at Alternative Dispute Resolution, mediating several times weekly privately and through the courts of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Tulare. Certified judge pro-tem in Kern County and Los Angeles County.

Volunteer through court-connected and community dispute resolution programs. Panelist and mediator with the Tulare Superior Court and Ventura Superior Court. Just under 100 civil litigation mediations completed in this time, largely in employment law, personal injury, property disputes, negligence, and rental matters.

Employment law, tort claims, contractual disputes between businesses and individuals, competition law, political speech, dog bites, accidents, slip and falls, negligence, defamation, fraud, misrepresentation, property disputes, federal and state government investigations, unfair business practices, consumer protection laws, privacy rights, and civil right discrimination.

The goal of a positive mediation is to have each side be heard, explain their positions, and move them toward resolution. Each side must play some of its hand to achieve resolution. Parties need to understand the risks of continued litigation but have the opportunity to be understood and express why they are struggling with this situation. Both parties ideally need to feel as though they have been able to gain from a mediation and have come away with some form of success, even if it is a less-than-optimal overall situation. Time is spent in both rooms and candid discussions are had to move the parties toward making decisions that will ultimately benefit them in the long run. If there are solutions to be had outside-the-box of normal exchanges, those should be explored. No rock should be left unturned if it could help move the parties forward. If resolution can be reached with a solution that expands the pie of what can be obtained for everyone, that is ideal. Sometimes mediation needs to be the first step in setting a pathway to what needs to be done to resolve the matter as the case develops; and, follow-up and continued discussions if resolution is not obtained the date of mediation will be initiated and pursued to take all steps toward resolving cases that can be settled.

Zoom and various platforms for remote mediation are acceptable and generally preferred. Teams, Meetings, and even FaceTime can be options if the parties prefer.

University of San Diego School of Law (J.D. - 2008); University of California, Irvine (B.A., Economics, minor in Latin - 2005). Pepperdine University, Straus Institute, "Mediating the Litigated Case" (2026).

Admitted to the Bar: California (2008); U.S. District Courts (2009).

California Employment Lawyers Association (2009-Present); ProVisers (2026); Southern California Mediators Association (2026); Santa Barbara Bar Association.

"Is It Time To Consider Making Courts Fully Remote?,” The Daily Journal, Mar. 2026. National Business Institute & Sterling Education: various human resource seminars on employment law, trade secrets, defamation, privacy rights, human resources, and competition law (2014-Present).

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: Not provided Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English; Spanish

United States of America

Santa Barbara, California