Mediator Resume

Former Complex litigation judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, handling mass torts, multiparty construction disputes, class actions, and cases involving insurance coverage, professional negligence, and complex business disputes. Co-chair intellectual property practice, Pillsbury Winthrop LLP, with 23 years experience in federal and state court jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. Expertise in the financial, real estate, healthcare, entertainment, and cannabis industries. Full time neutral and AAA panelist since 2022.

Arbitrator, Mediator, Referee, Special Master

Independent Arbitrator/Mediator/Special Master/Referee; 2023 - present; Judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court (Complex Litigation, Civil Independent Calendar Court, Assistant Presiding Judge Civil, Writs & Receivers), 2002 - 2022; Judicial Council, Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) Committee, 2018 - 2022; Equity Partner, Co-Chair Intellectual Property Practice, Pillsbury Winthrop (now Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman), 1986 - 2002; Associate, Lillick & McHose, 1979 - 1986.

Practicing lawyer 23 years. Lead counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in numerous state and federal court jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations. California Superior Court judge 20 years: seven years in complex litigation (multiparty cases including construction defect and contract disputes and mass torts), two in writs and receivers (preliminary injunctions and writs of mandate for CEQA, Coastal Act, Water Boards, Title Nine etc.), two as Assistant Supervising Judge Civil, six in general jurisdiction civil court, and five months on assignment in the Court of Appeal (several published opinions). Extensive experience in commercial litigation, mediations and arbitrations (breaches of contract, fraud, securities, real estate), class actions, mass torts, product liability, personal injury/sexual assault, privacy/cyber security, real estate, construction/construction defect, intellectual property (copyright, trademark, trade secrets, publicity rights), environmental, professional liability, and defamation. Expertise in insurance coverage adjudicating class actions and complex multi-tier coverage disputes (e.g., environmental damage, product liability, healthcare (individual and provider disputes), and life insurance; also class actions involving the legality of rates. Experience and understanding of the banking, construction), entertainment, Cannabis, healthcare, manufacturing, media, entertainment, and services industries. Presided over, mediated or arbitrated numerous Cannabis cases including business disputes and disputes with public agencies. Litigated, presided over, mediated or arbitrated hundreds of employment disputes including class actions, PAGA, FEHA and wrongful termination cases.

Duke University School of Law (JD, with Honors-1979); University of Cambridge (England) (M. Phil., Fulbright Scholar-1975); Duke University (AB, summa cum laude, with Distinction in English-1974, Phi Beta Cappa). Graduate Fellow, Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, 1976-1977.

Admitted to the Bar: California (1979).

Association of Business Trial Lawyers; Member, Judicial Council CACI Committee 2018-2022.

"The Constant Gardener" (Daily Journal Profile, August 1, 2025) "To Zoom or not to Zoom? That’s the question" (Daily Journal, May 1, 2024) Panelist, The Rutter Group, Arbitration Video (January 2026)

Southern California

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $18,000.00 Study Rate: $1,800.00/hr Cancellation: $18,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 45 Days Comment:

English; Spanish

United States of America

Los Angeles, California