Mediator Resume

Over 35 years practicing law with prior litigation experience as a senior trial attorney in both Los Angeles and New York. Full time neutral since 2009, handling arbitrations and mediations relying upon my trial background and passion for assisting parties to facilitate fair and effective resolutions of disputes.

Lori Sanford Law, PC

Arbitrator, Mediator

Independent Arbitrator and Mediator, Lori Sanford Law P.C., 2009-present; Administrator, Laser Leasing Company, LLC, 2006-present; Administrator, Sanford Medical Corporation, 2000-2016; Senior Trial Attorney, Kelly Hodukavich and Goldberg, in-house counsel Royal Sun Alliance Insurance Company, 1994-2000; Trial attorney and Associate, Law Office of Michael H. Manning and Associates, 1992-1994; Attorney and Law Clerk, Morton, Schlegel, Stone and Manning, 1990-1992.

Former insurance defense litigator and senior trial attorney handling cases for public entities, national companies and private individuals involving a wide range of civil matters. Switched to Plaintiff’s sides to litigate personal injury and business cases. Selected as a Top Lawyer in the arbitration and mediation category in Palm Springs Life Magazine annually 2017-present. Arbitration experience includes appointments to consumer and commercial arbitrations. Subject matter experience in the following areas: BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL: breach of contract, business ownership, buy sell agreements. FINANCIAL: financial services, management fee disputes, misappropriation of funds, breach of future revenue financing agreements. CONSUMER: retail sales installment agreements, lemon law, terms of use agreement, cryptocurrency, credit card agreements, solar, personal injury, privacy. HEALTHCARE: payor payee reimbursement, insurance billing claims, network provider agreements, equipment purchase, warranty contracts, business asset disposition, equipment rental contracts. CONSUMER RELATED EMPLOYMENT CASES: discrimination, wage and hour, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation. TORTS: UIM arbitrations, motor vehicle, slip and fall, medical malpractice, dog bite, product liability, property damage, premises liability, wrongful death. REAL ESTATE/HOA: failure to disclose, failure to make adequate repairs, HOA disputes, mold, nuisance, compliance with CCRs.

In 2009, the Riverside County Superior Court trained a panel of experienced trial attorneys to serve on court mediation panels by enrolling us in the Pepperdine University School of Law, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution 42-hour course "Mediating the Litigated Case" where we earned mediation certification. Since then, handled hundreds of mediations as a court mediator and privately over a wide array of topics, earning a "top 10" certificate of appreciation for handling court mediations. In 2020, joined AAA's mediation panel and serve on the lemon law mediation panel and fixed rate mediation panel. In 2020, trained by the California Association of Realtors to be on C.A.R. mediation panel to handle disputes arising under the California Residential Purchase Agreement and have mediated numerous cases involving failure to disclose, inadequate repairs, broker commission disputes and construction litigation. Privately, handled numerous cases involving HOA disputes involving homeowners failure to comply with CCR's, disputes between neighbors, and disputes between adjacent homeowner associations. On mediation panel for Resolute Systems, LLC handling personal injury mediations and cases involving home inspections.

Co-mediated and resolved wage and hour dispute between nurses and hospital.

What distinguishes one mediator from another is the skill set brought to the table and whether the neutral is effective in resolving disputes. People skills are critical. Ms. Sanford approaches every mediation determined to help people resolve their disputes fairly and economically.

Substantial experience conducting arbitration hearings and mediations on Zoom. Also willing to do hybrid hearings. Successfully completed Clearbrief Academy, May 2025.

La Sierra University, Zapara School of Business (MBA-2017); University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (JD-1991); University of California, San Diego (BA-1984). Pepperdine University School of Law, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution 42-hour "Mediating the Litigated Case" mediation course and mediation certificate (2009).

Admitted to the Bar: California (1991), Connecticut (1994) and New York (1995); U.S. District Court, Central District of California (1991), Eastern and Western Districts of New York (1995); U.S. Supreme Court (1995).

Warren Slaughter-Richard Roemer Inn of Court board of trustees (2025-present) and team leader (2023-present); Riverside County Superior Court mediation panel (2009-present): Riverside County Superior Court civil bench bar committee (2022-present); Riverside County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services panel (2009-present); Desert Bar Association past president (2022-2023), mediation chair (2017-2024), fee arbitration chair (2017-2020), trustee (2017-2024); administrator and panel member First Friday Volunteer Settlement Conference Program (2009-2024); Resolute Systems, LLC (2024-present); California Association of Realtors (2020-present); Consumer Attorneys of California; Association of Southern California Defense Counsel; California Lawyers Association.

"Providing Self-Represented Parties with an Outline for Pre-Mediation Statements" AAA Mediation Magazine, September 2025 and featured on Mediate.com on November 11, 2025; "Mediation: A Means for Resolving Trust & Estate Litigation and Civil Matters" podcast "Your Inheritance" July 14, 2023; "Best Practices for Arbitration Efficiency" presentation to the Desert Bar Association with AAA Vice President Aaron Gothelf, March 2023; Co-Interviewer of California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, Hall of Fame Awards, March 2023; "The First Friday Volunteer Settlement Conference Program and its Dedicated Volunteer Panel" Riverside Lawyer Magazine 2022 Article; "Conducting Remote Mediations," Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, ADR presentation, 2020; "ADR as the Pathway to Reducing Case Numbers," Riverside County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Service 2019 article.

Riverside and San Diego County.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $4,400.00 Study Rate: $550.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: 14 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Palm Desert, California