Orinda Arbitration & Mediation Lawyers

As a Certified Family Law Specialist, Jim Hoover represents clients in all aspects of family law litigation, including but not limited to, domestic violence, child custody and visitation, property identification, characterization, valuation and division, spousal support, child support, breaches of fiduciary duties, reimbursement claims, dates of separation, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and related matters. After many years of experience, Mr. Hoover skillfully settles and if necessary, litigates all of these issues. Mr. Hoover educates, advocates and acts in our clients' best interests on these issues. He pays particular attention to our clients' emotional and financial difficulties. Mr. Hoover attended Santa Clara University,...

Sonya L. Sigler is the founder of PractiGal LLC and is the creator of the WELCOME to the Next Level Process. She created this WELCOME Process to effectively sell herself when she needed to figure out a clear path forward professionally and personally. Having learned to do this work the hard way, Sonya now builds powerful storytellers who can then refine and polish their personal brand. This work empowers others to align their work and life visions and to approach both with a renewed vigor.
For the last twenty years, Sonya has worked with founders, team leaders, and their employees...

Ms. Seeley is a Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Seeley’s practice focuses on dissolution cases involving high asset and complex financial issues such as the division of interests in closely-held businesses, real estate, and equity compensation, including stock options and RSU’s. Ms. Seeley also has extensive experience with high-conflict custody matters and relocation/ move-away cases. Ms. Seeley brings over 40 years of civil litigation experience to the firm and represents clients through all phases of family law litigation before private judges and in public...

Dorit L. Goikhman is a licensed attorney, with years of experience representing clients in business, real estate, and family matters. Dorit graduated Brooklyn Law School in 2012, with a certificate in business law. During law school, she served as a debate coach for underserved NY youth, and won the CALI award for future excellence in accounting. After witnessing numerous clients spend fortunes and waste years of their lives in litigation, Dorit became interested in mediation and all that it has to offer. Dorit is committed in helping parties work together to obtain a mutually acceptable solution to their disputes at a...

Traci is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She graduated from Santa Clara University in 2000 and was admitted to the bar in December of that year. During her tenure at Santa Clara, she was the Sr. Technical Editor of the Computer Technology Law Journal and received a Certificate of Excellence in Legal Research and Writing. After graduation, Traci was recruited by a top corporate law firm. She worked at Gray Cary (now DLA Piper) from 2000 - 2002 as a securities and corporate transactional attorney. She was involved in...

Jennifer is certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She earned a B.A. in Law and Society from the University of California at Santa Barbara and her law degree from Santa Clara University. Jennifer is a member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, and member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association and is a member of the Family Law Executive Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. Jennifer has lectured at multiple seminars for the Santa Clara County Bar Association, and Santa Clara University School of Law,...

For your out of court settlement, mediation, negotiation, or transactional needs, contact Kevin Boileau, PhD, at 415.830.0065 or 858.688.4871. Specializing in complex negotiation, mediation, transactional, and int'l problem-solving. INTL LAW, divorce, business, climate change and water, design - - We handle transactions in Asia, Europe and throughout North America. ANIMAL RIGHTS MEDIATION - - We protect animals ranging from Animal Control issues, to vet malpractice, ownership, systemic abuse, and other. CLIMATE CHANGE, WATER & LAND MEDIATION - - We offer creative solutions to conflicts emerging from a changing environment. Wildfires, coastal erosion, earthquakes, land degradation, flash floods, heat, and polluted and scarce water. DIVORCE &...

Ms. Bateman Smith is a strong and compassionate family law attorney. She is a strong advocate for her clients' rights in divorce cases involving Custody and Visitation, Child and Spousal Support, and division of community property. She also makes the survivor of domestic violence cases heard by the court. Partition actions are another area of law on which she advocates.

Twenty-six years with the Sonoma County Superior Court gives her a unique perspective in helping clients through each step of their case.

Ms. Bateman Smith is an active member of both the California Lawyers Association (CLA), Sonoma County Bar...

Business and International Experience
Wayne started in Auckland New Zealand, graduating after completing a challenging combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws in just 4 years, achieving top marks at his law school at Auckland University made up of 11,000 students where he was elected Student President in a landslide victory in his last year. Then recruited by a leading Merchant Bank, MARAC Corporation, Wayne moved to Citibank before becoming the founding Company Secretary for New Zealand's first publicly listed Investment Bank, founding Company Secretary for NZ’s first publicly listed Venture Capital company and a Director of a...

After 44 years of litigation practice, I'm now focused on neutral services. I am available for private judging, arbitration mediation and discovery referee. I am also available for case evaluation, second opinions strategic analysis and consultations for attorneys.
I have broad experience in all aspects of civil litigation:
• personal injury, medical and legal malpractice, wrongful death, psychological injuries
• construction defects, architect and soil engineer negligence, boundary line disputes, co-ownership disputes, fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation, soil contamination and remediation
• Breach of contract, Real estate broker disputes, ABC licensing
• Family Law: Support, imputed income, forensic accounting, commingled assets, Moore/Marsden, Pereira/Van Camp, property and...

Amy's approach to estate planning is to focus on each client's unique needs and objectives. She strives to design a comprehensive plan for her clients that provides the maximum protection without compromise. Her broad experience enables her to provide keen insight for her clients. She is deeply commitment to her clients and the ethical standards of her profession. Amy has lived in Brentwood since 2001 with her husband and two daughters. She is a Director for the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce and in her free time, enjoys yoga, reading and golf.

Andrea represents clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, legal separation, annulment, custody and visitation, support, and complex property division.

Andrea understands the impact a divorce and other family law issues can have on people’s lives and is committed to provide support to litigants with family law issues, while explaining the law to them and advocating for the best results possible.

Javed Ellahie's practice focuses on estate planning, probate, real estate law and bankruptcy. He carries a Martindale-Hubbell “AV-rating”, the highest rating of legal knowledge and ethics.
Mr. Ellahie has also served as a Trustee to the Santa Clara County Bar Association and the West-Valley Mission Community College District and on the Monte Sereno City Council.

Mr. Ellahie’s estate planning experience includes setting up estate plans such as simple and complex trusts, drafting irrevocable trusts, family limited partnership, charitable trusts and other documents that provide the maximum flexibility. Mr. Ellahie can draft wills and trusts that meet the requirements of the Islamic...

Arlette completed her law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2010. Prior to earning her J.D., she received a B.A. in History and a B.A. in International and Area Studies at the University of Oklahoma. She is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the State of Oklahoma.

Arlette has solely practiced family law since 2010. Her family law experience began prior to graduating from law school when she worked as a law clerk at the family law firm of Cindy Allen and Associates, PLLC. After graduating from law school, Arlette worked as an...

I am a real estate, business and estate planning attorney. My background is in real estate, where I was a real estate appraiser, property manager, and project manager for condominium conversions and other real estate developments. I can certainly relate to many of the issues that my clients face in their day-to-day professional lives.

A large segment of my client base is small business owners. I understand that you want simple answers to your questions; I help focus on figuring out how to get what you're interested in, explaining your options and deciding what will work best for you. I...

Our office provides legal services in matters involving business law, real estate, construction, employment law, contracts, and litigation. With over 20 years of experience we are highly skilled and experienced in the various legal issues that involve our clients. We represent business owners, brokers, landowners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, sellers, and purchasers. Our clients include both businesses and individuals. We represent clients throughout the State of California. In addition, Mr. Jacobs provides top-notch mediation and arbitration services.

Help small to medium size companies navigate through a wide variety of legal challenges: formation, funding, governmental impediments, operational legal planning, merger and acquisition, employee relations, and labor compliance. All with the goal of litigation avoidance. Litigation in all California state courts and the Northern and Eastern U.S. District Courts of California.

In the last seventeen years, Law Offices of Joseph Salama has helped companies and individuals navigate successfully through the legal system. For some, this meant going before a jury, whether in federal or state court, or before an administrative law judge. For some, it meant getting out of the case as quickly and painlessly as possible. For some, it meant putting the right knowledge, documents, and systems in place to minimize the risk of litigation. But for all of them, it meant listening, understanding, and then making the commitment to meet their needs such that they could begin to outsource...

Michael Stebbins is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group and the Chair of its Business and IP Litigation and Employment Groups. His practice focuses primarily on employment, intellectual property and commercial disputes. He has extensive litigation and trial experience in matters involving trade secret theft, employee solicitation, technology licensing, IP infringement, false advertising, earn-out issues, unfair competition, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, trade libel, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour issues, and wrongful termination. He has also litigated complex matters involving real estate leases, construction contracts and insurance coverage.

A significant portion of Michael’s practice also involves...

The Law Offices of Julia J. Parranto is a personal injury law firm centrally located in Santa Rosa, California, the heart of the Sonoma County Wine Country. Our lawyers are dedicated to providing high quality, ethical and aggressive legal representation to victims of personal injury in a manner that reflects our passion for justice and fairness. Julia Parranto is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.

For over 20 years, Mr. Thiel has served clients in California's Central Valley in matters involving personal injury, wrongful termination & employment disputes, estate planning, probate, tax issues, and criminal law. Drawing on his knowledge and experience, he seeks to help you make informed decisions that work toward your best possible outcome. He is always upfront with you about your options and chances for success.

The depth of his experience includes recovering millions of dollars in settlements and court awards for injured victims, recovered real property wrongfully taken from unsuspecting parties, and redressed wrongs committed by employers against their employees....

Ken is a transactions attorney, arbitrator and mediator with 29 years of experience in intellectual property licensing, litigation, and technology transactions. He practiced at leading US law firms and served as Senior Vice President at Samsung Electronics as the head of the Silicon Valley IP Office from 2011 to 2021. Ken has handled more than two hundred IP litigation matters, negotiated numerous patent licenses including three of the largest patent cross license agreements, and helped clients to acquire companies ranging from startups to a multibillion dollar company. He was also extensively involved in SEP and FRAND disputes...

I've always had a passion for law and justice. As such, I gave up a business career in my mid thirties to obtain a law degree. I graduated from law school in 2001. While in school, I received multiple awards and honors, including top 5% of my class in the first year, as well as a merit scholarship. I received special training in trial work, earning certificates in litigation, public interest law, and mediation. My law practice began in commercial litigation, where I had certain aptitudes and strengths due to my business background....

Michele Elizabeth Hales has been assisting clients with Family Law matters since her admittance to the California Bar in 1992. In addition to a successful litigation practice, she also offers Alternative Dispute Resolution services, such as Mediation, Collaboration and Unbundled Family Law Assistance. She is dedicated to providing experienced, skilled and knowledgeable representation, and pursuing the best possible outcomes for your family law needs. Michele received her B.A. from the University of California Davis in 1989. She earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1992. Michele is a member of the State Bar of California, Santa Clara...

Sebastian Miller focuses on representing workers in employment litigation on a contingency-fee basis. He litigates both class actions as well as single-plaintiff cases. He has achieved excellent results for many clients. More details are available at www.sebastianmillerlaw.com. Sebastian often speaks and writes about developments in employment law. For example, his work has appeared in the California Labor & Employment Law Review and the Daily Journal. Sebastian has been quoted by Law360 and has appeared on panels hosted by the Association of Corporate Counsel, the Labor and Employment Section of the California Bar as...

My family law practice is entirely limited to mediation and coaching. After witnessing the financial destruction and emotional distress that accompanies a litigated divorce, I decided to devote my career to helping couples separate constructively, peacefully and with dignity. Not only does a mediated divorce typically cost tens of thousands less than a drawn-out courtroom battle, but it also maximizes the likelihood that the parties will enjoy a civil relationship after the legal work is done. This is critically important when children are involved. I handle the entire divorce process for my clients, from our initial meeting to drafting...

My goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome for the client. My current practice focuses on live musical and theatrical entertainment, and general civil litigation in federal and state courts. Other practice areas include alternative dispute resolution, copyright and trademark consultation, licensing and protection of intellectual property rights, employment issues, internet law, and appellate work. I also have substantial prior business experience in internet, alcoholic beverage distribution and entertainment industries. I am fluent in Hebrew.

Daniel F. Quinn, one of the founding partners of Quinn & Kronlund, LLP, has practiced law in the state of California for almost 40 years. Today he focuses his practice primarily on mediating and arbitrating cases but still devotes a percentage of his time to litigation. Over the years, Mr. Quinn has represented plaintiffs and defendants from all walks of life in every aspect of civil litigation.

Judge Suzanne K. Nusbaum (Ret.) brings a wealth of experience to her ADR practice. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, with specialized expertise in commercial contract, employment, health care, real estate and intellectual property matters, she serves on many ADR panels, including the American Arbitration Association's National Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Arts Arbitration and Mediation Services (AAMS), the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), Kaiser Permanente, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Judge Nusbaum arbitrates and mediates legal fee disputes for the State...

I am an experienced, proven and well respected civil litigation and business law attorney representing both individuals and businesses in lawsuits. I have been practicing law for over nineteen years. What sets me and my law firm apart from other lawyers is that it’s critical to us that we provide superior and distinctive services while building client relationships and achieving client satisfaction second to none. I have served as a judge pro tem as both an arbitrator and a mediator for the Santa Clara County Superior Court. In 2016, I was selected to the exclusive list of the “10 Best”...

Real Estate & Business Planning and Litigation: Multi-unit Residential, Commercial, R&D and Industrial projects. Litigation regarding interest in, and preparation of Condominium Projects. Planning and Litigation regarding Manufactured Homes. Litigation and planning for contractors.