Mediator Resume

Certified Family Law Specialist with more than 34 years of California family law experience focused on mediation and negotiated resolution of complex divorce matters. Founder of a 20+ year boutique family law firm emphasizing out-of-court resolution and durable settlements. Practice includes high-net-worth marital estates, business valuation disputes, deferred compensation, support analysis, parenting disputes, and tracing claims. Known for structured, settlement-focused processes that reduce conflict, cost, and emotional strain. Frequently retained through referrals from attorneys, psychologists, and other professionals.

Zonder Family Law Group, A Professional Corporation - Founder and President

Attorney; Mediator; Collaborative Divorce Professional

Founder and President, Zonder Family Law Group, A Professional Corporation, 2003-Present; Associate Attorney, Law Offices of Neal Hersh, 1999-2003; Associate Attorney, Trope & Trope, 1996-1999.

More than 34 years of California family law experience involving mediation, litigation, negotiated settlement, collaborative divorce, and complex dispute resolution. Founder and president of a boutique California family law firm dedicated primarily to out-of-court resolution of divorce and family disputes. Practice includes sophisticated financial and emotionally sensitive matters involving high-asset marital estates, business interests, executive compensation, separate property tracing, reimbursement claims, support analysis, and nuanced parenting disputes. Regularly works with professionals in medicine, pharma, engineering, technology, entertainment, education, law, and business ownership. Extensive courtroom and litigation background developed through early training at elite Los Angeles family law firms including Trope & Trope and Neal Hersh handling celebrity and high-net-worth matters. Litigation experience informs mediation strategy through practical understanding of litigation risk, evidentiary issues, and judicial outcomes. Frequent collaboration with forensic accountants, vocational experts, financial professionals, divorce coaches, and mental health professionals to develop comprehensive and durable settlement frameworks. Widely respected for exceptional settlement outcomes and the ability to resolve financially and emotionally complex disputes efficiently and constructively. Service as a volunteer settlement officer for courts throughout Southern California reflects a reputation for practical problem solving, settlement creativity, and strategic leadership in difficult cases. Former President of Collaborative Practice California (CP Cal) and experienced Collaborative Divorce trainer. Completed legal studies following early admission to Accelerated Entry Program at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, prior to relocation to Los Angeles.

Mediates divorce, financial, custody, parenting, and support disputes involving moderate-to-high conflict dynamics and complex financial structures. Experience includes both attorney-represented and self-represented parties. Mediation practice focuses on high-net-worth and financially sophisticated matters involving business valuation disputes, deferred compensation, executive income structures, reimbursement claims, support calculations, parenting plans, and negotiated global settlement frameworks. Known for maintaining calm authority during emotionally charged disputes while reducing positional bargaining and helping parties evaluate practical and future-focused settlement options. Mediation approach emphasizes structure, preparation, financial transparency, informed decision-making, and durable agreements designed to minimize future conflict. Widely respected for exceptional settlement outcomes and the ability to resolve financially and emotionally complex disputes efficiently and constructively. Experience as a volunteer settlement officer for courts throughout Southern California reflects a reputation for practical problem solving, settlement creativity, and strategic leadership in difficult cases. Served as a volunteer Pro Tem Judge handling family law matters in several Southern California county courts. Frequently integrates neutral experts, including forensic accountants, vocational experts, financial professionals, divorce coaches, and parenting professionals into the mediation process when multidisciplinary analysis is beneficial. Completed more than 120 hours of mediation and collaborative divorce training through Pepperdine University Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Mosten Mediation, AIM, and advanced Collaborative Divorce training programs.

*High-net-worth divorce settlements *Community and separate property disputes *Business valuation and cash flow disputes *Marital standard of living (MSOL) analysis *Deferred compensation and equity compensation issues *Spousal and child support disputes *Parenting plans and custody scheduling *Reimbursement and tracing claims *Professional practice valuation disputes *Settlement structuring and phased buyouts *Collaborative divorce matters *Pre- and post-judgment settlement negotiations *Complex family law matters involving physicians, scientists, engineers, technology professionals, attorneys, educators, business owners, and entertainment industry professionals

Structured, facilitative mediation style informed by substantial litigation and settlement experience. Focus on maintaining productive dialogue, reducing escalation, and helping parties move beyond positional bargaining toward practical and implementable resolutions. Approach combines calm authority with a supportive and efficient process designed to reduce emotional strain while preserving momentum toward settlement. Comfortable utilizing both joint sessions and private caucus formats depending on case dynamics, emotional considerations, and negotiation needs. Particular emphasis placed on preparation, financial transparency, interdisciplinary collaboration, and durable agreements that minimize future litigation risk. Extensive experience working with attorney-represented parties, self-represented litigants, and multidisciplinary professional teams in complex matters. Primarily facilitative in approach, while comfortable providing evaluative feedback, reality testing, and risk analysis when requested by the parties and appropriate to the circumstances. Recognized for the ability to quickly identify the central legal, financial, and interpersonal drivers of conflict, creating clarity, momentum, and practical pathways toward resolution in complex negotiations.

Proficient with Zoom, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Clio, DocuSign, XSpouse, Propertizer, Family Law Software, and electronic document management systems. Experienced conducting remote mediations and managing complex electronic financial documentation. Available for virtual and in-person mediation.

Whittier Law School (J.D,); Queens College (B.A.).

Admitted to the Bar: California, New York, District of Columbia. Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (since 1999).

APFM (mediation); Mediate.com; Beverly Hills Bar Association; Ventura County Bar Association; San Diego County Bar Association.

Published Daily Journal articles regarding mediation confidentiality and family law dispute resolution issues. Published article through Aspatore Publishing regarding Collaborative Divorce practice and settlement processes. Collaborative Divorce trainer and presenter on Collaborative Divorce process Presenter for live educational programs including: “Expert Tips” program with Victoria Kiriloff, CDFA (2024) “Cryptocurrency and Financial Infidelity in Divorce” addressing hidden asset issues and complex financial disputes (February 2025) “Winning Without War: Settling Your California Complex or High Conflict Divorce Out of Court” (2025) Invited speaker for professional and business audiences, including Morton Wealth “Herself” events, regarding divorce options, conflict reduction, and efficient resolution strategies in complex family law matters. Former radio host for KVTA 1590 AM Ventura programming addressing divorce, family law, dispute resolution, and related professional topics, including development of educational programming and guest interviews. Lead presenter for "Second Saturday--What You Need to Know About Divorce" consumer workshops.

Hourly Rate: $450.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $750.00/Day Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: 1 Days Comment: No cancellation fee compensation if 24 hours notice is given

English

United States of America

Calabasas, California