OUR BACKGROUNDS: MEET THE MEDIATORS

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A full-time neutral since 1998 and an arbitration panelist for more than two decades, R.A. has successfully handled more than 4,000 mediations and arbitrations.

Respected for his dedication, he has a reputation as a decisive and knowledgeable arbitrator as well as a patient and calm mediator.

R.A.’s 25 years as a civil trial attorney for both plaintiffs and defendants has provided him with a wealth of trial experience. He is well-versed in complex legal issues, particularly in the areas of real estate, construction defect,  personal injury,  medical negligence, and employment law. 

R.A.  was an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University School of Law, where he has also received extensive mediation training at the university’s Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution. He has also taught law at UCLA and Santa Barbara College of Law.

R.A. has been the discovery referee in over 25 matters including class action employment and business disputes, toxic tort claims, significant injury cases, and real estate and construction disputes.  

Education:

J.D., University of Southern California Law Center, Los Angeles CA (1974)

M.A. Candidate, Pepperdine University, Los Angeles, CA (1970)

B.A., University of California, Los Angeles (1968)

After 25 years of litigating on the central coast, Victoria became passionately focused on mediation and as of 2013 became a full-time neutral. 

Upon completing intensive training at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law (ranked the number one dispute resolution program by the 2016 U.S. News and World Report for numerous consecutive years, ahead of Harvard University, University of Missouri-Columbia, and Ohio State), Victoria began settling cases at a high rate.

Victoria is known for having a unique ability to read and understand people, to diffuse tense and emotional situations, and to quickly identify intangibles that might be interfering with settlement. These attributes work well in combination with her penchant for diplomacy and her long history evaluating and resolving her own civil cases. She is focused, efficient, cost-effective,  results oriented and persistent! 

Victoria’s background gives her credibility and an “ear” with both the defense and plaintiff bar. Prior to becoming a full-time neutral, her legal career began in insurance defense,  progressed to a partnership of mixed plaintiff and defense work, and ultimately led  to a 20 year solo practice in plaintiff PI.

Education:

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law

Santa Barbara College of Law, J.D.

University of California at Santa Barbara, B.A. (Dean’s List Scholar)

Licensed CA Real Estate Broker (01241686)