Rancho Santa Fe Arbitration & Mediation Lawyers

The Law Offices of Norma Ann Dawson, founded in 1994, is located in Long Beach, California. In the past decade and a half, it has become a respected law firm in Southern California, providing legal risk management and alternative dispute resolution services in areas such as real estate transactions and litigation, and business transactions and litigation. Ms. Dawson's law practice focuses on general corporate counseling, corporate and regulatory compliance, and ethics, with a view toward minimizing the risk of liability, especially regulatory and contractual liability. Norma Ann Dawson, rated Av by Martindale Hubbell, has both extensive trial...

Victor A. Bullock, the founder of our firm, is a solution-focused, client-centered attorney with broad legal knowledge and experience. Professional experience includes providing counsel to individual, government and corporate clients with a focus on balancing organizational and business needs against legal risks. Experienced in counseling on regulatory and commercial matters, as well as defending and prosecuting multi-million dollar lawsuits and exposures including general liability, intellectual property, employment and breach of contract lawsuits.
Mr. Bullock has compiled that experience and helps ambitious and creative business owners reach their big goals. Together with his team, he assists entrepreneurs, creatives, artists, photographers,...

With over a decade of legal experience, Dominic M. Carucci, Esq. is a sought after business and real estate attorney practicing in California and Washington states. Formerly a Partner at a mid-sized California law firm, Dominic brings his unique approach, outstanding professionalism, and varied expertise to every matter. Whether he is drafting complex contracts or representing his clients through mediation or litigation, Dominic values his client relationships as much as he cares about obtaining favorable outcomes for them. Dominic was born and raised in San Diego, California. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego where he graduated...

Clients want lawyers who know what they're doing, who can explain what and why they're doing it and how it benefits the client, and who can do it all for a reasonable fee with a strong likelihood of a favorable outcome. This is especially true of intellectual property attorneys whose clients understand that their most valuable assets, their copyrights, trademarks, and patents, are largely intangible and oftentimes hard to quantify. I understand these challenges and that understanding underlies my approach to every client and to every legal situation. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I've been doing this for more than...

I have extensive experience in legal, finance, management and company-building.

As an attorney, my focus has been on transactional drafting and negotiation and providing ongoing legal counsel and contract interpretation to numerous private individuals as well as companies in varied fields such as media and entertainment, oil and gas, mining and exploration, virtual reality technologies, private health care, cannabis, and mortgage lending and real estate.

As an entertainment professional, I have acquired, or produced, and distributed dozens of feature films, while usually being active in managing the business and legal affairs of most the companies I have worked for or founded. My...

Kevin K. Hull is an experienced securities lawyer who benefits clients with his multifaceted background from multiple positions in the securities industry, regulation and law since 1988. Prior to reentering private practice, Mr. Hull was the CEO of Grubb & Ellis Securities, Inc., a position he held for nearly six years. Responsible for all aspects of the firm, including compliance, accounting, national accounts and sales management, Mr. Hull was successful in managing the structure and operations of the firm to be in line with current regulatory expectations while achieving sales during his tenure of approximately $3.4 billion across multiple product...

Thomas A. Fasel is a California licensed Attorney, a Solicitor (Attorney) in England & Wales and is the founding partner of Fasel Law. Mr. Fasel assists businesses and individuals facilitate cross-border transactions, foreign transactions and domestic transactions relating to international trade and finance as well as helping clients enforce international contracts, collect damages and obtain justice in international litigation. Mr. Fasel graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame, Law School, obtaining his highly specialized Master of Law (LL.M.) degree in International and Comparative Law. Mr. Fasel earned his Juris Doctor Degree from Chapman University...

Jeanann Khalife, attorney-mediator is the Managing Partner at Alternative Divorce Solutions, Inc. (“ADS”). Ms. Khalife commenced her legal career in 2012 as a litigation attorney, with a primary focus in Business and Employment Law. She enjoyed the challenging nature of the litigation realm and excelled in case management and legal argumentative construction. As time passed, Jeanann noticed that she had an inclination to do more with her legal career. She desired to utilize her legal training to positively impact her community. The question was how? Divorce Mediation, was an unexpected path in Ms. Khalife's career. However, it proved to be the path...

I am passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by developing and implementing creative cost effective plans tailored for each client. I have been a practicing attorney since May of 2011. Prior to attending law school, I was a family law and estate planning paralegal for approximately 20 years. In that time I acted as a Paralegal for several attorneys. After establishing my own practice, I used all of my skills and knowledge to develop my family law practice. I raised my three children as a single mother while working and attending...

For over 40 years, attorney Daniel C. Carlton has devoted his professional life to protecting the rights of people in Orange County and throughout Southern California. Attorney Carlton is a licensed Real Estate Broker and has extensive experience in real estate law, including but not limited to real estate disputes, purchase and sales litigation, commercial transactions and leases, constructions disputes, DRE licensing and matters involving homeowners associations (HOA). He also has decades of experience representing people injured in slip and fall accidents, motor vehicle accidents and other personal injury cases.

Attorney Carlton is known for his personalized approach, getting to know...

Cyndie M. Chang is the Managing Partner of the firm's Los Angeles office and a member of the firm's governing Partners Board. Ms. Chang manages risks and resolves business challenges. She advises and partners with clients to defend them in commercial disputes, enforce their rights, mitigate exposure, and litigate their commercial disputes. She has often handled corporate litigation involving mergers & acquisitions, asset or stock sales, fraud, securities, purchase and sale agreements, business or partner break-ups. She also has handle many other complex or class action disputes involving contracts, trademarks, licensing, products liability, product safety and recall, construction defect, trade...

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.

Attorney Davis founded the Law Offices of Terry K. Davis in June 1993 Bar Admissions: Admitted to California Supreme Court U.S. District Court (Central and Eastern Districts), U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit U.S. Supreme Court Reported cases: Carter v. California Dept. of Veterans Affairs (2006) 38 Cal.4th 914 Professional Affiliations: American Inns of Court, Robert A. Banyard Chapter, Orange County Orange County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Board of Directors and Past Vice-President, 2010 California Employment Lawyers Association Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles Education: Juris...

I act as my clients outside general counsel and advise them on the full range of legal issues facing their businesses. In addition, I mediate both litigated and non-litigated matters and do workplace investigations. I built my reputation by achieving outstanding results for the clients and colleagues with whom I have been privileged to work.

Chuck Stevens joined Phillips ADR after a 40-year career as a litigation partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, U.S. Attorney, and neutral in ADR matters. At Gibson Dunn’s San Francisco office, he served as managing partner for six years and was recognized by Lawdragon (2023 Leading Global Litigators), Benchmark Litigation (2024 Litigation Star), and Chambers (Band 1, California Litigation). He was named San Francisco’s Lawyer of the Year for Bet-the-Company Litigation (2019) by Best Lawyers. Chuck founded a boutique litigation firm, handling complex civil cases and qui tam matters. As a neutral, he mediated for the Eastern District of California’s Voluntary...

Michelle Yoshida, a full-time mediator, arbitrator, and special master since 2007, joined Phillips ADR in 2014. Previously with Judge Daniel Weinstein’s team, she has mediated over 500 disputes with billions in settlements, excelling in complex cases involving securities, insurance, professional liability, ERISA, and trustee issues. Known for quickly grasping legal and factual complexities, she manages large ADR cases with objectivity and determination, finding practical solutions for disputes ranging from personal contracts to major corporate matters. Michelle builds trust and productive relationships with mediation participants. Before becoming a neutral, she was a trial attorney handling complex business litigation, including contracts, insurance, intellectual...

Edwin V. Woodsome, a Phillips ADR neutral, was managing partner of Dechert LLP’s Los Angeles office and head of Global Litigation at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. With over 35 years of trial experience, he has handled consumer fraud, False Claims Act, securities, product liability, trade secrets, employment, antitrust, and intellectual property cases in state and federal courts. He has extensive appellate, mediation, and arbitration experience, including the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California’s mediation panel. Woodsome represented major firms in transportation, banking, technology, aerospace, and entertainment, serving as U.S. national litigation counsel for a global logistics company and...

More than twenty years of diverse experience as a trial attorney representing and counseling domestic and international clients in a vast array of matters. More than ten years of experience providing arbitration, mediation and other ADR services involving many domestic and international issues. Representation and ADR services have included: REAL ESTATE (purchase/sale, title, easements, financing, mortgage lending:underwriting - securitization, leases, fraud, environmental, receivership, foreclosure, appraisal/valuation); BUSINESS & CORPORATE (purchase and sale, formation: corporation - partnership - joint venture - LLC - LLP, capitalization, equity adjustment, fiduciary duties, D&O liability, executive compensation, internal investigations, fraud, business torts, unfair...

I am an Attorney licensed in California, New York, Nigeria and Cameroon. I have vast experience in civil litigation and a wonderful understanding of the law. I also handle transactional matters for a slew of clients. The law is not complicated and with any set of facts, if the law is on our side, I will do all it legally takes to ensure my client gets what they deserve.

Mr. Carroll was born and raised in the South Bay. He attended law school at Arizona State University. Thereafter, Mr. Carroll obtained an advanced law degree in trial advocacy from Temple University. Temple University Beasley School of Law has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top three trial advocacy programs in the country for more than twenty years. Before starting his own law firm in Hermosa Beach, California, Mr. Carroll served as an extern for a superior court family law judge and he also worked as an attorney for one of the premier boutique family...

A native of Southern California, Paul graduated cum laude from Chapman University where he pitched for Chapman’s World Series baseball team. Paul then attended Chapman University, Dale E. Fowler School of Law, where he was extremely active in Mock Trial and ADR competitions, winning numerous top advocate awards. He gained valuable courtroom experience while externing with the United States Attorney’s Office and the Orange County and Riverside County District Attorney’s offices. After receiving his law degree, Paul moved to Chicago, IL and gained significant trial experience representing clients in all phases of litigation, from inception of the case through post-trial motions...

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...

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...