Mediator Resume

Experienced in litigation, claims resolution, and transactional work with more than 35 years of expertise in construction, insurance, real property, business and environmental matters.

Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP - Partner

Attorney; Mediator

Partner, Gibbs Giden Locher Turner Senet & Wittbrodt LLP, 1984 - Present; Regional Counsel, Lawyers Title Insurance Company, 1982 - 1984.

Represented private parties and public entities in insurance coverage disputes, complex construction disputes, environmental litigation, class action litigation, project planning and the construction of major public works, residential and commercial developments, high rise buildings, hospitals, stadiums, airports, prisons, police and fire stations, universities, colleges, schools, roadways, bridges, pipelines, refineries, power plants, solar power projects and waste treatment facilities. Handled liability and property insurance disputes related to fires, storms, floods, earthquakes, landslides, subsidence, environmental spills, ground water contamination, air pollution, PCB and ACM releases, and other casualty losses, builders risk and surety claims. Published numerous articles and has been a contributing author on a number of books on construction and insurance law. LEED accredited professional with a current specialty in Building Design and Construction (LEED AP BD+C). Former board member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the US Green Building Council. Former Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Menorah Housing Foundation, a non-profit senior housing developer. Former California real estate broker. Taught courses and seminars on insurance, construction and mediation for the Continuing Education of the Bar (University of California and California State Bar) as well as numerous other educational institutions. Have taught insurance and risk management to trade groups, public entities, insurance brokers, city attorneys, county counsel, and was an adjunct professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, teaching Insurance Law, Construction Law and Sustainable Development.

Served as counsel in over 200 mediations, primarily on large and complex construction, environmental and real property disputes. Have often represented private owners and public entities, also consistently represented a number of contractors, specialty contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals. Also represented both insureds and insurers in the mediation of insurance disputes. Early insurance coverage experience was working for an insurance defense firm in aviation, real property, and first party bad faith litigation. For two years, worked in house as regional claims counsel for a title insurer on claims, underwriting and escrow disputes. After joining Gibbs Giden, represented insurers on title, fidelity and surety claims. After becoming a partner, the majority of insurance practice involved representing property owners, public entities, contractors, design professionals, various businesses and manufactures as policy holders. Also worked as a consultant and expert on insurance claims for both defense and policy holder counsel.

The vast majority of lawsuits are resolved through mediation. If the parties and counsel are adept with the mediation process, there is often no need for formal discovery, depositions or years of litigation. In fact, protracted litigation is often detrimental to the dispute resolution process due to the accrual of attorneys’ fees, experts’ fee, costs and unnecessary stress on the parties. Moreover, parties often under-estimate the personnel costs, missed opportunities, and otherwise productive time consumed by litigation. Accordingly, early successful resolution of disputes can be a huge mutual benefit to all involved. To avoid the transaction costs of litigation through early mediation, the parties should be prepared to exchange key information prior to attending a mediation. The role of experienced counsel and a mediator in facilitating this mutual exchange of information is usually essential to the evaluation of claims and successful resolution of a dispute.

Familiar with the various online platforms (Zoom, Teams and Google Meetings) and am willing to conduct mediation sessions in person, remotely or in a blended format.

Loyola Law School (J.D. - 1978); University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., English - 1975).

Admitted to the Bar: California (1978); U.S. District Court: Central District of California (1979); U.S. Court of Appeals: Nineth Circuit (1979).

Member of the American Bar Association, Tort and Insurance Practice Section, and the ABA’s Forum on the Construction Industry. AV® Rated Preeminent™ by Martindale- Hubbell. Selected for inclusion in the “Southern California Super Lawyers” listing by Los Angeles Magazine. Recognized in the Legal 500, U.S. Real Estate and Construction section. LEED AP BD+C.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $3,000.00 Study Rate: $750.00/hr Cancellation: $1,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 3 Days Comment: Pro Bono to LA County Fire Victims through July of 2026.

English

United States of America

Los Angeles, California