Background:

I am passionate about bringing parties to the table and negotiating to create win-win resolutions. My priority is to work as effectively and strategically as possible, collaborating with parties in order to guide them through the dialogue and understanding necessary to bring resolution. Identifying alternatives, financial consideration, causes, contributors, possible legal outcomes and clarifying responsibilities assists parties in gaining improved insight and/or understanding. Finally, I seek to obtain sensible and practical agreements.
As a mediator, I carefully listen to both parties’ goals so that together we can build sustainable agreements. When requested to do so by the parties and as needed, I have also successfully utilized an evaluative or directive mediation approach. In this approach, I point out strengths and weaknesses of the parties’ positions as well as their legal rights which can predict likely outcomes in court proceedings. My goal is to remain open, focused and practical so as to respond effectively to the parties’ own style as well as the existing dynamics.
 

My work:

Since I embarked on my alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) journey, I have been fortunate to work directly with many highly regarded ADR innovators, including Patricia Brown (PCRC or Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center) and Ric Rudman (Project Sentinel). Since 2010, I have served on the ADR Panel for San Mateo Superior Court. I have served as a Mediation Manager at Project Sentinel in the Silicon Valley where I managed a large caseload and negotiated housing disputes. I have also been a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, ADRNC, American Arbitration Association and the Palo Alto Mediation Program. I have taught anger management and conflict resolution skills at the San Mateo County Jail. I previously worked in house at a real estate company where I handled real estate and business disputes as well as in house for the California Department of Insurance where I handled litigation, claims, administrative law and practice. 

In addition to my legal work, I enjoy spending time with my family and outdoors in nature.
 

Juris Doctor, McGeorge School of Law (1987)
American Jurisprudence Award, Civil Procedure

University of California Berkeley (1983)
B.A. in Legal Studies