Mediator Resume

Specializes in complex commercial litigation, employee transition litigation, workplace investigations, and alternative dispute resolution across a range of industry sectors including financial services, cannabis/hemp, real estate, restaurant, and hospitality industries.

Buchalter, A Professional Corporation - Shareholder

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator

Shareholder, Buchalter, A Professional Corporation, 2022-Present, Partner, Messner Reeves LLP, 2012-2022; Partner, Evans Law LLC, 1997-2012; Associate, Cairns Dworkin & Chambers P.C., 1995-1997; Associate/Law Clerk, Pryor Carney & Johnson P.C., 1994-1995; Special Agent, Department of Defense - Defense Investigative Service, 1986-1994.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION EXPERIENCE Serves as a complex commercial litigation lawyer, with over 30 years of substantial trial experience. Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in various areas of law including contract and real estate disputes, business torts, intra-corporate, partnership disputes, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) matters. Representative disputes involved the restaurant and hospitality industry, the cannabis and hemp industry, the financial services industry, the commercial leasing sector, shareholder and/or partnership disputes, trade secret disputes, trademark disputes, tortious interference of contracts, defamation, breach of fiduciary duty, probate matters, receivership, and debt workouts. Participated as a lead trial attorney in a large-scale industrial hemp farming court case regarding civil theft, theft of trade secrets, conversion of intellectual property, and breach of contract. Participated as a lead trial attorney in a breach of contract court case involving cannabis processing machinery. Participated as an advocate in a large-scale industrial hemp farming arbitration involving breach of contract and fraud. Participated as a lead trial attorney in a court case involving a hemp farm, processing of the hemp, and a lien placed on the farm. EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION EXPERIENCE Represented employers and employees in litigation involving The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Title VII (race), 18 US Code Sec. 1832 (theft of trade secrets), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). Also litigated matters involving retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, breach of employment contracts, non-compete clauses, nondisclosure clauses, and wage & hour cases. Part of the litigation team for a national class-action employee classification dispute and a multidistrict case involving wage and hour claims. Litigated employment law cases within many private sectors, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Defense (DOD), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Colorado Civil Rights Division (CCRD), and various state and federal District Courts. WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS As an attorney, led a legal team for corporate fraud investigations within a Fortune 100 company, conducted security investigations for a non-profit sports association, and performed internal fraud investigations for a government entity. As a Special Agent with the Department of Defense conducted local and national complex security investigations on military and defense contractor personnel. Cooperated and interfaced with other federal agencies. Routinely interviewed and investigated high-ranking officers and executives. Prepared detailed confidential and classified investigative reports. Held Top Secret security clearance.

Representative mediation matters have included: Contract Disputes. Business Torts. Trade Secrets. Hemp farming, processing, marketing, distribution, and sale. Employment Discrimination and Retaliation. Defamation. Wage & Hour. False Claims Act. Qui Tam Defense. Professional negligence. Torts. Participated in all aspects of mediation in person and virtually.

Cannabis Processing and Distribution; Construction Improvements on a Residential Property; Commercial and Residential Leases; Conversion of Property.

I request and read confidential mediation statements before the mediation. On the day of mediation, I fully explain the mediation process and answer questions about the process. I conduct the mediation in an impartial and ethical manner by providing a balanced process in which each party is given the opportunity to be heard as they identify their interests and concerns, and evaluate options for resolution in a collaborative, non-adversarial manner. At the end of the day, I will assist the parties in documenting the outcome they chose.

Experience conducting virtual mediations with Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Strategically use Generative AI as appropriate. Extensive use and understanding of eDiscovery. Proficient with law firm time and billing systems.

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law (JD - 1994); University of Southern Colorado (now Colorado State University, Pueblo) (BS, Sociology, emphasis on Criminology - 1985).

Admitted to the Bar: Colorado (1995); U.S. District Court: District of Colorado (1995).

American Bar Association; Colorado Bar Association; Denver Bar Association; Downtown Denver Partnership; ExecConnect, Association for Corporate Growth.

Presenter, Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado, “Imagine The (Almost) Perfect Arbitration: Roadmap for Effective and Efficient Outcomes;" Panelist, The Institute of Internal Auditors; Panelist, American Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section; Panelist, College of Commercial Arbitrators; Panelist, Center for Legal Inclusiveness; Presenter, Colorado Bar Association Greater Colorado Task Force; Moderator, Colorado Bar Association Fireside Chat; Presenter, Colorado District Court Judges’ Association. Contributor, Colorado Courtroom Handbook for Civil Trials.

Denver, Colorado metropolitan area.

Hourly Rate: $600.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $600.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment:

English

United States of America

Denver, Colorado