RESOLUTION REMEDIES - Key Persons

In his 45 years of representing homeowners, contractors, engineers, and other clients as an attorney, Alan Mayer has approached dispute resolution with his own personal style. "I try to find a solution that benefits as many people as possible. I try to find long term solutions rather than short term ones. I like to begin with something reasonable and move from there. Rather than taking a hard line and then backing down, using a reasonable approach allows negotiators more movement, flexibility, and options." Mr. Mayer observes that the beauty of mediation is that disputants can do so much more than what they can do in court. They might win or lose a money judgment in court, but with a good mediator's help they can craft a settlement that brings them to new and unique solutions. For example, business partners can rearrange their business structures so their company operates better, neighbors with view disputes can fashion a schedule of tree maintenance, and homeowners impacted by landslide can start a resource fund that benefits multiple property owners. "That's the kind of solution that I prefer by far" he notes. "It actually accomplishes a physical good that's tangible and long term. The best settlement solves current and future problems."

Barbara Monty was fully prepared and displayed an excellent understanding of the case. She treated all with courtesy and respect and was helpful in ratcheting down a prior level of animosity. Barbara Monty is well known in the legal community for her practical, get it done approach to resolving disputes. Her quick intelligence, persistence and inherent kindness make her an excellent choice as a neutral. Ms. Monty brings her technical legal knowledge, energetic negotiation abilities, and strong intuition to resolve matters involving complex legal issues and challenging personalities. As a successful trial attorney for 35 years, Barbara represented defendants and plaintiffs alike. She has worked in-house for national insurance providers, and as general counsel to several corporations and an international aviation company. This experience has given Barbara a keen understanding of business concerns, in addition to her having compassion for injured individuals. Barbara began mediating even before she became a lawyer. In the early 1980s she was hand-picked by the mayor of San Francisco to be part of the seminal Community Boards Project to resolve neighbor conflicts and reduce gang violence. The San Francisco Human Rights Commission regularly appointed her to mediate human rights violations for the LGBTQ community. Prior to coming to Resolution Remedies as a full time neutral, she was a founding partner of Monty White LLP, and built a preeminent statewide law firm. At Monty White, Barbara frequently served as Judge Pro Tem, arbitrator, mediator, and special master. She is the author of numerous legal and mediation articles and has taught nationally on topics including trial skills, handing complex construction claims, sexual harassment, landslides, and insurance coverage. As one of the few attorneys in the country certified as a forgiveness coach, she teaches forgiveness skills to lawyers, law students, and mediators internationally. Areas of Expertise Barbara has resolved cases involving sexual harassment, multi-party personal injury, complex commercial and business matters, real estate, landlord tenant, fire, landslide, and neighbor disputes. She is regularly appointed as special master in complex construction defect cases, often with coverage, subrogation issues and HOA matters. Barbara serves as an arbitrator in medical malpractice and construction cases and as a discovery referee. While having broad legal knowledge, Barbara is particularly skilled at handling the complex emotional dimensions of dispute resolution.

Job Titles:

• Principal
• Civil Litigation Paralegal

Job Titles:

• Zoom Facilitator, Bookkeeper, Administrative Assistant

Diana Feil-Sharma is the indispensable, level-headed woman that many of you know from attending Zoom mediation with Resolution Remedies. She is also the self-proclaimed Girl Friday who handles our books and lends administrative support. "I have absolutely loved working with Resolution Remedies," she says. "The panel has been wonderful, professional, and so easy to work with." Ms. Feil-Sharma is a business owner, as well:

Diane Levinson-Fass bravely set out to form Resolution Remedies in 1995, just when mediation and arbitration services were beginning to flourish as viable alternatives to lengthy trials and pricey litigation. Diane left a career in advertising to work with noted Marin County attorney David Freitas, and it was her frequent contacts with other lawyers and judges that germinated the idea to enter the mediation field. "I've always trusted my gut feelings," says the affable, energetic founder. "I knew there was a crying need for effective, professional alternatives to dispute resolution. I'd always ask the attorneys about the judges and what they were like, and I discovered that they ran the gamut. A mosaic began to emerge, and I had a vivid picture in my mind about what a solid, diverse, viable, and effective mediation firm would look like." "The gift I have is intuition," Diane says. "I have extremely acute people skills. Growing up in a boisterous Italian family in North Beach, mixed with the joy of being exposed to the Bay Area's incredible wealth of legal and judicial talent - these things have sharpened my ability to recognize brilliance and put it to work in a collegial setting that is fluid, effective, fun, and ultimately successful."

Job Titles:

• Counsel to the Law Firm of Monty White LLP

Eileen Barker is an accomplished and insightful mediator, conflict coach and forgiveness specialist. A former litigation lawyer who rejected the traditional adversarial role, she has focused her practice on mediation and conflict resolution for over 25 years, helping thousands of people resolve disputes outside of court. This work led her into a deep exploration of forgiveness as it relates to resolving conflict and making peace, both with others and oneself. She notes that, "Forgiveness is often particularly effective in cases when nothing else seems to work. And it requires only one person to do it." Ms. Barker has led numerous trainings on forgiveness, provided forgiveness coaching for individuals and organizations, and is the author of several publications on forgiveness. In 2016, she received the Champion of Forgiveness award from the Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance, along with Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Ms. Barker currently serves as Of Counsel to the law firm of Monty White LLP, bringing her expertise in mediation and forgiveness to this dynamic San Rafael law firm. As partner Barbara Monty says, "With Eileen's presence, we are infusing our law practice with the principles of forgiveness."

A preeminent authority on Family Law, Justice Dennis Cornell (Ret.) earned his reputation during his twenty years in private practice and twenty-three years on the bench, fifteen of which he served as a Justice on the California Court of Appeal. He is a prolific writer and lecturer, who enjoys sharing his knowledge with numerous speaking engagements, training programs, and seminars. After retiring from the bench in June 2015, he embarked on the next chapter of his legal career-working as an independent consultant, and applying his extensive set of skills toward mediation, arbitration, and private judging with Resolution Remedies. As a private judge, Justice Cornell undertakes to thoroughly learn the facts and issues of the case and fully contemplate the positions of the parties. He follows with a determination as to credibility issues before rendering a decision. Justice Cornell was appointed to the Superior Court, County of Merced in 1992. As one of the three Superior Court judges in Merced, Justice Cornell's docket was filled with every assignment imaginable. The jury trials he handled ranged from 2-day criminal matters to multi-month death penalty cases, and 2-day estate disputes to 4-month medical malpractice cases. In addition, there were numerous court trials and other contested hearings. Despite a frenetically busy court calendar, he still found time to lecture and write on law-related subjects for a variety of organizations, including Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), CFLR/Rutter, and the Center for Judicial Education and Research (CJER), among others. Justice Cornell's reputation for legal expertise and integrity brought state-wide attention and eventually an appointment to the 5th District Court of Appeal (DCA) in 2000. There, he sat on three-justice panels that issued over 4,500 written opinions and handled several thousand writs. Moreover, he participated in a pilot DCA mediation program in which sitting justices acted as mediators for cases pending before the DCA. He successfully settled almost every matter assigned to him through the program while accumulating valuable mediation experience. Now a resident of the North Bay Area, Justice Cornell looks to utilizing his considerable background and experience to the art of mediation and arbitration. "My entire career has entailed evaluating evidence and issues to reach resolution," he points out. "In each of my capacities, my aim has always been to resolve the dispute. That's the bottom line." Background Justice Cornell was born and raised in Merced, California. He graduated from Stanford University in 1969 and the George Washington University Law School in 1972 (with Honors). He practiced law in Merced from 1972 until 1992. He was certified as a specialist in family law in by the State Bar of California in 1980 and admitted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 1982. He also served as a part time United States Magistrate Judge from 1986-1992. In 1992, he was appointed to the Superior Court, County of Merced where he served as presiding judge on three separate occasions. He also served on the Trial Court Budget Commission from 1995 to 2000, when he was appointed to the Court of Appeal. During his 15 years on the DCA he continued to serve as an instructor on ethics, family law, and other topics for CJER, CEB, CFLR/Rutter, and the California Judges Association (CJA).

Larry Baskin was a very good listener. He is highly knowledgeable and found pragmatic solutions.