Mediator Resume

Civil lawyer for 19 years and California Superior Court judge for 21 years. Served as judge in unlimited jurisdiction civil court. Broad experience presiding over civil litigation and trials, including commercial and contractual disputes, class actions, employment, environmental, real estate, real property, trade secrets, legal malpractice, and civil rights. Extensive experience conducting writ trials involving governmental agencies, including in the areas of employment, professional licensing and privileges, environmental, healthcare, land use, and constitutional law. Specialized experience in ruling on provisional remedies, including TROs, writs of attachment, appointment of provisional directors and appointment of receivers.

Independent Mediator, Arbitrator, Referee

Retired Judge, Mediator, Arbitrator and Referee

Independent Arbitrator/Mediator, 2023-Present; Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2002-2023; Justice, Pro Tempore, 2nd District Court of Appeal, 2015; Assistant City Attorney, City of Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, 1999-2002; Staff Counsel/Deputy Director, City of Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission, 1997-1999; Senior Land Use Attorney/Deputy City Attorney, Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office, 1985-1997; Associate, Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, 1983-1985.

Worked as a civil lawyer for 19 years. Started as a business litigator at a large firm, then entered the public sector. Worked as a civil litigator specializing in municipal law, and as an advisor on land use and environmental disputes for a municipality. Worked for the City of Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission as principal draftsperson for the revised City charter. Appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court in 2002. Initially presided over a criminal court, conducting more than 20 felony jury trials. Assigned to a civil unlimited jurisdiction court in 2008. In that role, managed civil litigation from complaint through resolution. Conducted jury and court trials including in the areas of trade secrets, employment, contract disputes, real property, real estate, legal malpractice, and commercial disputes. Managed dozens of class actions, and conducted a class action court trial. Was affirmed by the California Supreme Court in a decision involving class action attorney's fees. Assigned to specialized writs and receivers department in 2015. Conducted more than 200 writ trials involving challenges to actions by governmental agencies, including in the areas of public employment, professional licensing and privileges, CEQA, environmental law, healthcare, land use, constitutional challenges to legislation, and challenges to initiatives and other election matters. The assignment also included ruling on requests for provisional remedies for over 30 civil courts. Ruled almost daily on requests for emergency relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, appointment of receivers and provisional directors, writs of attachment and writs of possession. Underlying subject matter varied, including corporate, partnership and joint venture disputes, real property boundary, trespass, foreclosure and easement disputes, trade secret litigation, and contract and lease disputes. More than a dozen published affirmances from Court of Appeal. Taught for more than six years for the Administrative Office of the Court that provides education for California judges statewide. Taught on a yearly basis week-long Civil Overview course required for judges new to the Civil bench, and Advanced Civil Overview course for experienced civil judges. Taught extensively for Los Angeles Superior Court judicial education program, served as chair of the Civil education subcommittee. Adjunct professor at University of Southern California Law School, teaching trial advocacy for six years.

Have worked as a mediator since October 2023. Have successfully mediated employment, contractual, environmental, constitutional, and corporate disputes.

Issues Handled as Mediator: Shareholder Disputes Breach of Contract Employment Disputes Environmental Disputes Public Agency Disputes Constitutional Challenges to Public Agency Action

Mediation style depends on the nature of the dispute and the parties involved. Listening skills are paramount as well as an ability to discern the needs of each party. Based on experience as a judge for 21 years, can offer evaluative feedback when requested by the parties and when it will facilitate settlement.

Familiar with conducting remote conferences and hearings over Zoom, Bluejeans, and TEAMS.

University of Illinois (BA, Psychology, with honors, Bronze Tablet Scholar - 1979); University of Southern California Law Center (JD, Order of the Coif, Law Review Editorial Board - 1983).

Admitted to the Bar: California (1983), Federal Central District of California, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.

California Judges Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association - sections on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Environmental, Litigation, Real Property, Remedies, State and Local Government Beverly Hills Bar Association California Lawyers Association - sections on Environmental law, Public law

Recent Speaking Engagements: 4/6/2024 Women in Trial Travel Summit - Tips from the Bench; Motion Practice 4/19/2024 Los Angeles County Bar Association Environmental Symposium - CEQA and Housing 5/4/2024 Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association - Trade Secrets 10/17/2024 California League of Cities Annual Conference - Improving Civility 11/8/2024 UCLA Annual CEQA Update - keynote speaker 11/18/2024 California Lawyers Association Public Law Section - Administrative Writs and Mandamus 2/20/2025 Los Angeles County City Attorneys' Association - Improving Civility

Los Angeles County

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $14,000.00 Study Rate: $1,400.00/hr Cancellation: $7,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 45 Days Comment: No charge for travel time. Will charge actual hotel and transportation expenses.

English

United States of America

Los Angeles, California