This program provides a practical overview of best practices for real property mediations conducted privately, and through the California Association of REALTORS® (CAR). Gideon Kracov and Neil Kalin examine the structure and procedures of the CAR Mediation Program and the core principles guiding effective mediations, including confidentiality, party self-determination, and impartiality. 

The speakers address common real estate disputes—such as nondisclosure, contract breaches, landlord-tenant issues, HOA conflicts, title disputes, property damage, and neighbor matters—while offering practical guidance on planning for successful mediations. Topics include timing, pre-mediation preparation, attendance decisions, joint sessions, term sheets, and special considerations involving multiple parties, insurance, government entities, and experts. The program concludes with a discussion of key mediation tools and strategies, where viewers can learn practical information to apply to real property cases.

• Identify key data and trends related to attorney burnout, incivility, and wellness challenges in the legal profession
• Recognize the ethical and professional risks associated with neglecting health and well-being
• Apply guided breathing and mindfulness techniques to improve focus and reduce stress
• Understand resilience through the five pillars of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and mental health
• Implement practical, everyday tools to manage stress and maintain balance in high pressure legal environments

The PDI Convocation is an annual event where you will be able to network with Primerus members and clients alike while earning continuing education credits in your field.
Don't miss the opportunity to re-connect with those you know and reach out to potential new referral resources.

California Labor Code §2699.3 has altered the procedural path of PAGA litigation by introducing a statutory Early Neutral Evaluation (ENE) process that, in practice, often functions as an early mediation.

This program will break down the statute’s language and legislative origins, outline the ENE timeline and hearing procedure, and examine how courts are implementing the process. The panel will then turn to real-world application: Does ENE meaningfully change outcomes? How flexible are the statutory timelines? And why do many cases ultimately resemble traditional mediation?

Finally, the discussion will explore broader implications for employers, employees, and the courts — including pending regulations, the anticipated California Supreme Court decision in Leeper v. Shipt, Inc., and the political and budgetary forces shaping PAGA’s future.

At bottom, this program discusses the real-world implications of this procedural reform, and what the future may hold for PAGA litigation.

Using real-world mediation insights, MyKhanh Shelton and Stacie Hausner of ADR Services, Inc. explore how opening moves, anchoring psychology, and end-of-day strategy shape settlement outcomes in employment cases. Designed for employment litigators, the program will cover how to:

• Make strategic opening offers that invite productive negotiation
• Recognize and respond to anchoring attempts in employment mediations
• Manage client expectations and psychological dynamics in the room

Through examples drawn from employment discrimination, termination, and workplace dispute mediations, attendees will walk away with tools they can apply in their next negotiation.

The Pinto decision upended long-standing assumptions in California insurance litigation, directly challenging the validity of CACI 2334 and setting off a wave of change across bad faith failure-to-settle claims. In response, courts and legislators acted—producing two significant published opinions and ushering in Code of Civil Procedure § 999, which now governs pre-litigation settlement demands.

In this program, mediator and retired Judge Vedica Puri will unpack:

• What Pinto really changed about bad faith litigation;
• How recent decisions like Hedayati and Planet Bingo extend or limit that reasoning;
• Why CACI 2334 had to be revised—and what the new instruction means for trials;
• How CCP § 999 is reshaping settlement strategies and potential liability.
• Whether you represent plaintiffs, defend insurers, or mediate coverage disputes, this program will help you understand and adapt to the new legal landscape

The 5th Annual Women in Trial Travel Summit® (WITTS) will take place at the stunning Conrad resort in Punta Mita, Mexico. Hosted by Lauren Wood—trial attorney with L Wood Law and the owner of Travel is the Cure—this unique attorney conference blends legal education with luxury travel. WITTS offers women lawyers the chance to connect with peers, earn MCLE* credits, network with vendors, and enjoy some well-deserved fun in the sun.

The 2026 event will feature MCLE classes in the mornings and hosted networking events in the afternoons and evenings. Past WITTS events, also held at the Conrad Punta de Mita, have included welcome receptions, poolside cocktails with live mariachi, a keynote lunch and a hosted dinner with a lively Cuban-band.

Speakers: Hon. Jacqueline Connor (Ret.) - ADR Services, Inc. Daniel DeSantis Ninos Saroukhanioff Steve Fleischman Alexis Morgenstern Location: JW Marriott Los Angeles

This dynamic one-hour panel offers a comprehensive, practice-oriented look at employment arbitration, guiding attendees through each stage of the process—from selecting an arbitrator to navigating discovery, hearings, and post-award challenges. The discussion will highlight real-world considerations, strategic decisions, and potential pitfalls that arise when resolving employment disputes outside the courtroom.

California's strong mediation confidentiality protections have long shaped how construction disputes are resolved through ADR. With the enactment of SB 440 and new Evidence Code §1129, attorneys and mediators must now navigate a narrow but significant exception allowing certain mediation communications to be introduced in legal malpractice actions.

This program will provide construction lawyers, litigators, insurers, and neutrals with a practical overview of what SB 440 changed, when mediation confidentiality may be pierced, and how these developments impact multi-party construction mediations involving owners, contractors, carriers, and public entities. The panel will also address required attorney disclosures, client acknowledgments, risk management considerations, and best practices for preserving trust and clarity in the mediation process.

Join us in San Francisco as we celebrate two decades of Vietnamese American legal leadership with the theme "Anchored in Heritage, Rising Toward Justice." Connect with attorneys, judges, and legal professionals from across the country for four days of inspiring programming, including MCLE panels at UC Law SF, a special conversation with Dean Chemerinsky, networking with Bay Area General Counsel and political leaders, a celebration of Vietnamese American jurists, an optional Wine Country excursion, our 20th Anniversary Gala, and more. Whether you're seeking professional development, meaningful connections, or a chance to celebrate our community's achievements, this milestone conference promises to be unforgettable. 

Registration includes: Welcome Reception, CLE Programming, Networking Events, Leadership Breakfast, and Anniversary Gala. Optional add-ons available for Wine Country Excursion and Community Service Event.

Description: Hon. Victoria Gerrard Chaney (Ret.) will be sharing her deep expertise at West Coast Casualty’s Construction Defect Seminar, serving as a panelist on two dynamic programs focused on complex case management and innovative dispute resolution strategies. She will appear on the 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM panel, “Can You Handle the Truth? We Can Help!”, where leading neutrals and practitioners discuss expert approaches to managing and resolving high-stakes, complex cases. Later in the day, Judge Chaney will also speak on the 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM panel, “Dual-Use Same Neutral; An Effective Two-Fer”, exploring the strategic use of a...