North Richmond Arbitration & Mediation Lawyers

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.

For 11 years, Ms. Mills practiced law as a litigator. In Spring, 2007, she gave up the practice of litigation to focus exclusively on mediation. Today, Ms. Mills is a mediator focusing on elder mediation and civil mediation. Most of her practice is in Contra Costa County, but she will travel throughout the Bay Area for mediation.

Karen Matcke Crosby Attorney / Mediator P.C. 35+ years of legal practice and 15+ years as a mediator. WHY MEDIATION CAN BE SUPERIOR TO COURT By Karen Matcke Crosby (2021) Court litigation exposes parties to great public exposure, expense and long delays in court proceedings. Litigants have little or no control over the procedural process. How a dispute arose in the first place, is given short shrift, failing to consider the parties’ intentions, experience in negotiations (or lack thereof), personality, ego, culture, norms, morals, bullying, customs, or values. What is heard in court is the representing attorney’s version of his client’s legal...

Because divorce is a problem to be solved, not a battle to be won, I focus on alternatives to the court system, through Collaborative Law and Mediation. I believe that most families and children are best served by being supported to work together in resolving their family matters. The fundamental goal in both Collaborative Divorce and Mediation is client empowerment.

With either mediation or the Collaborative process you will have control of the decisions that are made and will be firmly supported, legally and emotionally, in achieving a successful dissolution of your relationship. This not only allows but also encourages you...

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,...

GUY O. KORNBLUM is the principal in Guy O. Kornblum, A Professional Law Corporation, with an office in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. He has specialized as a trial and appellate lawyer for over 45 years. The firm specializes in a wide range of civil litigation, including serious injury and wrongful death, financial and physical elder abuse, and all aspects of insurance including “bad faith” claims. Mr. Kornblum himself has handled over 4,000 litigated matters to conclusion and has several million dollar plus cases to his credit. He has represented hundreds of clients, small businesses,...

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...

Julie S. Levy and Zachary A. Carroll have practiced law since 2008 in solo practices. In 2009, they began sharing an office and collaborating on certain cases. This duo has turned their collaboration into Levy Carroll Law and as strong litigators, they provide a strong and determined focus for fair outcomes in their client's cases. Choose Levy Carroll Law for their strong, honest, caring representation for bankruptcy, divorce, custody, guardianship, or personal injury. Look no further as you have found a team that has your best interests at heart

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...

I have over 35 years of experience in bankruptcy consulting, litigation, and related appeals. I am dedicated to exceptional representation focused on the practical, cost-effective solutions you need. Visit my website for more information and representative cases.

Mahal is a family law attorney based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her practice in 2014, having spent the previous fourteen years as a law clerk, educator, and paralegal specialist for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Her law practice integrates her passion for civil rights and her love for community. Mahal was born in Vallejo, and after a series of family tragedies enrolled herself in the tenth grade at Oakland Technical High School. She was legally emancipated as a minor the following spring. These childhood experiences inspired her to become an attorney and...

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...

Michèle Bissada is a Principal at Flicker, Kerin, Kruger & Bissada, in Silicon Valley and serves as a neutral throughout California. She is a Certified Specialist in Family Law (CFLS), Fellow of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) and International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), and member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). With over 30 years of experience, Ms. Bissada is a seasoned mediator with a prominent litigation background. She specializes in both complex financial and high-conflict custody matters. Highly committed to her practice, she has achieved notable success assisting parties in resolving the most...

Our practice covers all aspects of family and matrimonial law in all of the Bay Area counties, primarily focusing on Contra Costa, Alameda, Solano, and San Francisco counties. We will expertly navigate you through your family law matter, whether it involves termination of a domestic partnership, paternity, custody, visitation, domestic violence, adoption, guardianship, support, an annulment, legal separation, or post-judgment issues. Regardless which of these processes you are dealing with, we understand the strain and pressure that these matters inevitably put on clients and the necessity of providing strong representation. Therefore, we strive to make the entire process as easy...