It’s often said the “best conversationalist” is the one who listens the most - not the one who talks the most. I believe that this is because listening is the key to understanding. My role, as a mediator, is to listen and understand the needs of the litigants and by doing so, provide the greatest opportunity to facilitate resolution to the parties’ dispute.
-John DiCaro, Esq. Read More »
Settling cases is my passion. As a mediator for the past thirteen years, I have served thousands of attorneys and their clients by helping them successfully resolve their legal matters. To each case, I bring my ability to manage complex legal and practical issues, as well as my seasoned communication skills – qualities that contribute to my settlement rate of over ninety percent.
-Eleanor Barr, Esq. Read More »
Settling cases in a mature mediation market like California over the past 17 years has required me to become more adept at managing negotiation subtleties, client expectations, difficult personalities, and enhanced details and complexities of cases. Mediation today involves a whole different set of skills than it did 5-10 years ago. I attribute a large part of my success to being a quick study, having deep and broad experience, incredible patience and tenacious energy.
-Lee Jay Berman Read More »
There is such an incredible dynamic to mediations. No two are ever the same. What I need to do is prepare very carefully, listen very closely, engage the participants completely, and choose the right tools for each mediation. My strength comes from gaining a feeling of confidence and a sense of trust from the participants, then assisting them to come to their own resolution. A successful mediation is when all the participants feel invested in the result.
-Hon. Michael B. Orfield (Ret.) Read More »
I have dedicated my life as a lawyer, including 16 years as a neutral, to resolving work related disputes. I have seen firsthand the costs of such disputes, and the pain and anguish suffered by those involved, be it the employee or the employer. Drawing from my experience as an employment rights lawyer, and my studies in such disciplines as non-violent communication, psychology and gerontology, I work indefatigably with the disputants and their counsel to address their needs and interests in reaching resolution.
-Christine Masters, Esq. Read More »
I partner with counsel to design the best mediation process for their clients. If the case does not settle at mediation, I follow up relentlessly afterwards.
-Louise A. LaMothe, Esq. Read More »
Scott Slater Markus is widely known as the last person to give up on a settlement. “I strive to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem in civil litigation, which can often be protracted, expensive and emotionally draining.” His perseverance and adherence to his personal creed have established him as one of California’s most dedicated and enthusiastic Neutrals.
-Scott S. Markus, Esq. Read More »
'Seek first to understand, then to be understood’ makes us better people, more effective lawyers, and more persuasive in finding solutions that benefit our clients. I am committed to understand you and your client’s evidence and perspective, and work as hard as you do to reach a common ground in mediation or a proper decision in arbitration.
-Howard C. Hay, Esq. Read More »
My mediation style is a good match for PMA. While others credit my strong work ethic, result-focused tenacity and positive attitude, for my having achieved an extraordinary rate of settlement, I prefer to believe that it is rooted in my strong desire to be of service to the parties and my genuine love for the mediation process itself.
-Eugene C. Moscovitch, Esq. Read More »
I believe that a fluid mediation process best adapts to the demands that each unique case presents so I strive to be flexible and creative. I also believe that the parties and counsel with whom I mediate recognize the respect and empathy I try to show each and every participant. By earning their trust, I hope to instill confidence that I can guide them out of conflict to resolution. While being a subject matter expert in law is important, being an expert in human nature is critical to successful mediation.
-Katherine J. Edwards, Esq. Read More »Recent News
PMA is the Best Choice
We are a boutique firm maintaining the highest possible standards of professionalism and integrity in this industry. It is our mission to become home to the finest neutrals available. We create the best possible environment to allow for the successful resolution of disputes.
“We don’t want to be the biggest–we simply want to be the best. Our goal is to create an environment where our highly respected neutrals can collaborate and where dispute resolution is enhanced by this environment.”
—Cary Sarnoff