CLE Program

When negotiations stall and trial looms, experienced mediators know that breaking impasse requires more than persistence—it requires insight into what’s really holding the case back. In this practical, example-driven CLE, former settlement judges Hon. Suzanne Bolanos (Ret.) and Hon. Kathleen Kelly (Ret.) draw from courtroom and mediation experience to unpack some common barriers to resolution in high-stakes civil disputes—and how to overcome them.

Through a series of thematic segments, the judges will examine:

1. Client Control Issues
2. Entrenched Fees
3. The Uncertainty of Trial

Whether you’re deep in trial prep or navigating a delicate mediation, this program offers concrete strategies and judicial insights that can move even the most entrenched case toward resolution.

Do you get client calls or referrals concerning neighbor disputes?  Join real estate trial lawyers and ADR experts for valuable legal education and strategies for handling easement and quiet title litigation, as well as title insurance. The panelists will provide best practices for resolving neighbor and homeowners’ association (HOA) matters, and ADR tips including client management.

Gideon Kracov is a mediator at ADR Services, Inc. in Los Angeles specializing in real estate matters.  He serves on the adjunct faculty at Loyola Law School where he teaches land use law and dispute resolution.  He is former Chair of the California Lawyers’ Association Environmental Law Section Executive Committee.

Zachary Schorr is a trial attorney at Schorr Law in Los Angeles where he focuses exclusively on real estate law from advice to litigation and appeals.  He is lead counsel on several recent published Court of Appeal cases that have shaped the law of easements in California.  He has served a first chair in over 50 real estate trials and has handled hundreds of neighbor dispute matters.

Stephanie Goldstein is a seasoned real estate litigator and trial law partner at Schorr Law in Los Angeles.  She provides advice and general counsel on a wide variety of homeowner’s association (HOA) matters.  She is a contributing author of CEB – California Title Insurance Practice.

The legal profession has long been considered the pantheon of balancing issues in the pursuit of justice. Yet balancing personal and professional well-being with the need to provide clients with zealous representation is difficult. National studies and data increasingly suggest that the adoption of new strategies by legal professionals to combat stress, anxiety and other debilitating mental health issues are needed. This presentation will explain techniques about how to support wellness, build resilience, and how to remain authentic to your true self and be a happier and better lawyer.

This program will explore the role of monitors in family law cases, including when it is appropriate to request a monitor, who to use as a monitor and the responsibilities monitors have. Topics will include the circumstances that may require supervised visitation, qualifications and selection of monitors, and what monitors are expected to do to ensure the safety and well-being of children during visits.

Stacie Hausner is an accomplished mediator with over a decade of experience. She has successfully mediated thousands of landlord-tenant cases as well as cases in a wide range of practice areas, including employment, business, real estate, personal injury, insurance coverage, construction defect, malpractice, civil rights, sexual assault and entertainment law. Recognized for her expertise and experience in the field of mediation, Ms. Hausner has been inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators (IAM) and has been selected as a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

Description: Trends in Mass Torts

• Trends in mass tort litigation
• A view from the bench by a former mass tort judge

"As more employment cases are tried in arbitration, mastering the nuances of litigating in this forum has become essential for practitioners. This session offers a comprehensive exploration of best practices for effectively handling employment disputes in arbitration, from initial case assessment to final award.

A panel consisting of an arbitrator and experienced employment litigators will guide attendees through key stages of the arbitration process, including navigating discovery and evidentiary challenges, preparing persuasive presentations, and managing cost-efficiency without compromising advocacy. Attendees will gain practical insights into arbitrator expectations and effective case strategy unique to arbitration.

Whether representing employees or employers, this session equips counsel with the tools and strategies necessary to successfully advocate for clients in this increasingly prevalent setting."

Retired Judge Vedica Puri pulls back the curtain on Law and Motion practice, offering candid insights on what she wishes she’d known as a litigator. With experience on both sides of the bench, Judge Puri will highlight how credibility is built—or lost—in written and oral advocacy. From understanding the near-finality of tentative rulings to mastering ex parte procedures, she will walk attorneys through best practices that truly help the court help you. Learn the significance of and how to sharpen your papers, present stronger arguments more persuasively, and navigate the nuances between direct calendar and law and motion departments. Attendees will leave with practical tools, examples, and a cheat sheet of deadlines to improve outcomes in every motion.

Soak up summertime fun with a getaway to the mountains. Earn MCLE, including specialty credits. Spend time with your family and friends, hiking through the wildflowers, swimming in the pools or at the lake, and enjoy camaraderie with your fellow ADC colleagues. This is a “Do Not Miss” opportunity.

Join Phyllis W. Cheng, Esq. for a timely and in-depth CLE presentation on the evolving dynamics between federal and state employment laws under the current administration. This session explores the sweeping shifts in executive orders, agency priorities, and case law at the federal level—and California’s robust legislative and regulatory responses. Attendees will gain practical insights into how these developments impact civil rights, workplace compliance, and the resolution of employment disputes through mediation. Ideal for attorneys, HR professionals, and neutrals who need to stay ahead in a rapidly changing legal environment.

Valuing a business in divorce is rarely straightforward—and the stakes are high. This program brings together the perspectives of a seasoned valuation expert and two retired judges—now respected mediators and private judges—to unpack the legal, practical, and strategic complexities of business valuation in family law.

Valuation expert Jennifer Magnes will provide an overview of the 3 valuation approaches, the cost / asset-based approach, market approach, and the income approach, and explain how to select the best method within the approaches based on the nature of the business. Judges Pulido and Landau will offer practical insights drawn from the bench and the settlement table, exploring how courts assess goodwill, determine valuation dates, and guard against double-counting in property division and support.

Experts can make or break a mediation—but only if used strategically. John D. Hanover and Robert S. Mann explore how to engage, prepare, and deploy experts to clarify technical issues, build risk models, and support realistic negotiations without overpowering the process. This program covers selective disclosure, joint expert sessions, and the potential role of neutral experts, offering practical strategies to ensure experts enhance—rather than hinder—the path to resolution.