Independence Arbitration & Mediation Lawyers

For over thirty years, attorney Fred J. Knez has been representing individuals and corporations in serious personal injury and business litigation (plaintiff and defendant). Attorney Knez graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu, California in 1979, was a member of the Honor Board and Law Review, admitted to practice law in California in 1980, admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court in 1981, admitted to practice in the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in 1983, and in the U.S. Supreme Court in 1984. Attorney Knez began his private practice in 1984.

Over 35 years practicing law, mediating, and judging cases and controversies. I am available for private judicial assignments persuant to Rules of Court.

Andrew is a Family Law Specialist certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization. He started practicing law in 2006 as a Family Law Litigation Attorney after graduation from the University of San Francisco School of Law. After 16 years of litigation experience, Andrew recognizes and understands the challenges of navigating the California legal system. Andrew’s current law practice emphasizes conflict resolution in family law matters as an alternative to litigation. Andrew obtained a Mediation Certification and Basic Conflict Resolution Training through the SEEDS Community Resolution Center. Resolving family legal conflicts outside of court is his primary goal. Andrew holds a Bachelor...

Jennifer L. King was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. Curious about human development, she earned a B.A. in Psychology with departmental honors from the University of California, Berkeley. This passion drove her to commit to advocacy at the University of Illinois, where she earned her J.D. cum laude. As a law student, Ms. King took a deep interest in domestic violence. She gained experience at the University of Illinois’s Domestic Violence Clinic and the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Clinic and found that her investment in psychology enable her to bring a unique perspective, skill set, and...

Seth Aronson joined Phillips ADR in 2023, mediating disputes up to ten figures in securities, consumer class actions, privacy, false claims, shareholder derivative, antitrust, RMBS fraud, and complex litigation. He serves on the ADR panel for the U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Retiring from O’Melveny & Myers LLP in 2022 after 40 years as a trial and appellate lawyer, Seth was managing partner of O’Melveny’s Los Angeles office and chaired its Securities Litigation practice. Ranked by Chambers USA for 20 years, he was named California Securities Litigation Attorney of the Year twice by Benchmark Litigation, a “Top 100 Lawyer”...

Andra Greene, a Phillips ADR neutral, has mediated OR COMEDIATED disputes from seven to 11 figures in NUMEROUS AREAS INCLUDING mass torts, class actions, EMPLOYMENT, securities, sexual misconduct, insurance, and intellectual property. She spent 35 years at Irell & Manella LLP, leading the Class Action Defense practice and serving as managing partner of the Newport Beach office and on the Executive Committee. A seasoned trial lawyer, Andra handled complex litigation in class actions, professional liability, employment, business torts, securities, and intellectual property in state and federal courts. She often represented lawyers and law firms. Recognized as a “Top Woman Lawyer in...

Elliot Brown, a Phillips ADR neutral, is the former managing partner of Irell & Manella LLP. He spent nearly 30 years in IP litigation, counseling, and licensing at a top IP practice. Elliot graduated cum laude from Harvard College (1985), earning Phi Beta Kappa and a John Harvard Scholar award. He studied philosophy of science at Princeton, receiving an MA (1987) and a Mellon Fellowship, where game theory and Daniel Kahneman’s work on bargaining and cognitive bias shaped his approach to dispute resolution. He earned his J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School (1990), serving as a Harvard Law Review...

Clay joined Judge Phillips’ ADR practice in 2011. He graduated cum laude from Pepperdine University (B.A., History, 2006) and earned his J.D. from Fordham Law School (2011). He is admitted to the New York and California State Bars. Clay began mediating small claims in Bronx County Civil Court during law school. With over a decade at Phillips ADR, he now mediates complex disputes involving major companies in areas like antitrust, class actions, intellectual property, environmental, mass tort, insurance, securities, and contract disputes. He has worked on over 500 mediations, assisting Judge Phillips before, during, and after sessions, and directly engaging parties...

I have worked in a dozen fields of law over my career of 44 years. Mostly I was a business trial lawyer, but now I only advise and handle transactions: no trials. I am semiretired but come to the office most days.

Gregory P. Lindstrom, a Phillips ADR neutral since 2014, brings extensive litigation and business experience from his roles as a Latham & Watkins litigation partner and General Counsel of The Irvine Company. A full-time mediator and arbitrator since 2012, he specializes in complex disputes, including antitrust, securities, intellectual property, and commercial matters. Born in California, Greg graduated summa cum laude from UCLA (Economics, 1975) and earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School (1978), working with Professor Richard Posner. At Latham & Watkins (1978–2008), he became a partner in 1986, managed the San Francisco office, and served on the...

Niki, a Phillips ADR neutral for six years, brings 25 years of experience in complex litigation, claims administration, mediation, arbitration, and special master roles. A protégé of Judge Layn Phillips, she has co-mediated hundreds of cases, applying his innovative practices in mediations she leads and in court-appointed special master roles nationwide. Before Phillips ADR, Niki was Vice President of Client Strategy & Development at a national class action claims administrator. For nearly 15 years, she litigated securities fraud and complex commercial cases at a national class action law firm, securing court-approved settlements in high-profile matters. She also represented defendants in insurance...

Dana L. Green is an Estate Planning and Elder Law attorney in North County, San Diego serving all of California. She was born in New York and was raised bi-coastally in New York and California. She received her B.A. in Finance and Business Economics with an emphasis in Spanish and French from Goucher College and her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Dana is admitted to the bar in three states: California, New York and Connecticut.

She has practiced in various fields of law over the years including Insurance Defense Litigation, Family Law and Real Estate Law before...

I am a full time family law/divorce mediator in San Francisco. I have been practicing law for 11 years and have been mediating for 6 years. I work with couples to stay out of court and to reach creative and fair agreements together in the privacy of my office.

Offering you a client-focused approach to legal problem solving, for divorce, custody, support and for small business contracts, agreements and protections. I help people sort through legal challenges. If you are dealing with debt or facing bankruptcy, going through a divorce or custody battle or wrestling with problems in a small business, I'd be happy to speak with you.

I have been a Senior Trial Attorney for the Monterey County (California) District Attorneys Office, and a General Civil Litigator for over 30 years.
I am a trained Mediator in the areas of Real Estate, Business, Estate Planning, Probate, and Conservatorships. My practice includes transactional law in all of those areas, and I continue to accept litigation matters as well.
My primary focus on Real Estate cases includes all areas of entity creation, development, planning, construction contracts and disputes, regulatory permits and compliance, land use, leases, purchase agreements, condominium creation and administration, and landlord-tenant matters.

Mr. Harmeling graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1993. While at UCLA, Mr. Harmeling was a sports writer and later a sports editor with the Daily Bruin. After working in sales for two years in Los Angeles, Mr. Harmeling commenced law school at the University of San Diego School of Law, receiving his juris doctor degree in 1998. Following law school, Mr. Harmeling worked as a researcher/writer/editor before deciding to sit for the February 2000 California Bar Exam. While awaiting his bar examination results, he was hired by the San...

Robert C. Martinez is an experienced trial attorney with almost 20 years in the profession and a diverse trial practice. Robert has represented private clients and government entities in state and federal court. Robert has tried both jury and bench trials throughout Southern California and he has also handled numerous arbitrations and mediations.

Highly experienced in commercial litigation and general corporate matters. Has been both partner in AM Law 50 law firm and General Counsel of corporation. Great courtroom, negotiation and client relation skills.

Bill Ohlemeyer brings 40 years of experience to Phillips ADR, representing plaintiffs, defendants, and working at Altria Group. He has litigated, arbitrated, mediated, and tried cases in state and federal courts, advising on legal and regulatory challenges. A Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Bill graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri Law School and clerked for Chief Judge Scott O. Wright. He joined Shook, Hardy & Bacon, becoming partner in 1991, then served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel at Altria (1999–2008), managing litigation for Philip Morris...

Carla Nasoff is a mediator who brings 35 years of combined experience in healthcare and law. She has 23 years experience as a former litigator and trial lawyer representing both plaintiffs and defendants. She represented Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 clients in healthcare. From 2010-2015, she was an independent contracted Administrative Law Judge pro-tem with the Office of Administrative Hearings where she presided over hearings on disciplinary licensing matters. Visit NASOFFMEDIATION.COM

Margaret B. Seymour, a retired U.S. District Judge (District of South Carolina, 1998–2022), was the first African American woman federal judge and chief federal judge in South Carolina. She served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge (1996–1998) before her district court appointment. Over 26 years, Judge Seymour presided over complex securities, contract, class action, commercial, banking, bankruptcy, employment, discrimination, and environmental cases, as well as criminal matters like drug conspiracies, white-collar crime, and Ponzi schemes. She sat by designation on the Fourth Circuit and participated in two three-judge-panel redistricting cases. She served twice on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of...

Barry R. Ostrager, a retired New York State Supreme Court Justice (Commercial Division, 2015–2023), presided over numerous trials and resolved hundreds of commercial cases. Before his judicial role, he was a litigation partner at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, leading its 300+ attorney Litigation Department and serving on the management committee. As lead trial counsel, Ostrager handled high-profile securities, antitrust, and insurance cases, including Swiss Re’s World Trade Center dispute and Travelers’ environmental coverage case against Shell Oil, both resulting in jury verdicts. He tried five cases involving $1 billion+ disputes and led major arbitrations, such as Andersen Consulting’s $14 billion...

Maciej Wesolowski is an owner and principal lawyer of Wesolowski Law Firm, a Beverly Hills based law practice that provides experienced and knowledgeable legal representation in the areas of: litigation, family law, real estate law, business law and immigration law. As a natural and strong leader Mr. Wesolowski assembled a team of dedicated, diligent attorneys and support staff who offer the highest standard of client care. Prior to establishing his own law firm Mr. Wesolowski worked as an international business investment consultant and litigator. Experiences gained throughout his career helped him to better understand his clients needs. Maciej Wesolowski has...

Layn R. Phillips, founder of Phillips ADR Enterprises (PADRE), is a former U.S. Attorney and U.S. District Judge. Appointed at age 35 by President Reagan, he presided over 140+ trials in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas, and sat by designation on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Earlier, Judge Phillips served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, and at age 31, was nominated as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma. After leaving the bench, he spent 23 years at Irell & Manella, focusing on complex civil litigation, internal investigations, and alternative dispute resolution. He later founded PADRE, specializing...

Bret is in the business of getting the best effort from everyone at the negotiating table. His litigation experience on both sides of the courtroom combined with his straight-shooting mediation style will put your path to settlement front-and-center. Before starting his full-time mediation practice, Bret Geckeler completed a formal practicum of mediation skills training, mediated dozens of cases in Los Angeles Superior Court, and undertook a mediation-clerkship with master mediator, Howard Broadman (Ret.) where he helped successfully mediate dozens of matters across the San Joaquin Valley. Bret’s mediation experience includes personal injury, wrongful termination, PAGA, medical malpractice, landlord-tenant, contract...

Cherry Mediation Center serves individuals and businesses from the San Francisco Bay Area to the Sierra Foothills and from Sacramento to Fresno. Our professional neutral comes to you to provide cost-effective, fair and private conflict resolution services, including Mediation, Arbitration and Negotiation, resulting in dispute resolution without the need for a trial. Mediation is one of the very best tools an ADR lawyer has available to respectfully and collaboratively resolve disputes. The mediation process allow all parties to gain control of their destinies, working together to arrive at an agreement acceptable to everyone. However, if mediation has not worked or is...