Case Manager: Katy Jones
For over 30 years, Mark LeHocky has mediated, managed and resolved hundreds of cases nationwide ranging from intellectual property, antitrust and other business disputes, class and individual consumer and employment cases, PAGA claims, malpractice actions, as well as individual and mass torts. For this work, Mr. LeHocky was voted 2022 Mediator of the Year for San Francisco and has been repeatedly recognized among the Best Lawyers in America© for mediation.
Mr. LeHocky’s approach is shaped by having worn nearly all professional hats in the legal arena – as a litigator representing plaintiffs and defendants, a public company general counsel resolving hundreds of litigation matters, and a private arbitrator and pro tem judge, and a senior executive and client. Central to all this work is helping decision makers of all types make realistic, risk-based choices based upon alternative scenarios and the practical tradeoffs of different courses. As a mediator, Mr. LeHocky uses all of his varied experience to help craft appropriate resolutions for everyone.
Private Mediator and Arbitrator (2012-Present)
First appointed as a mediator for the federal courts in 1999, Mr. LeHocky’s nationwide mediation practice includes state and federal actions involving: Intellectual Property (patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets), Employment (class and individual cases), Consumer (class and individual cases), Commercial, Antitrust, Unfair Competition and Contract actions, Insurance Coverage and Indemnification disputes, Real Estate transactions, and Business Acquisition and Dissolution disputes.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Ross Stores, Inc. (2007-2012)
Ross is an S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 company (ROST) and the second largest off-price retailer in the United States. As Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Mr. LeHocky:
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc. (2000-2007)
Dreyer’s, now a subsidiary of Nestlé, S.A., is the largest U.S. manufacturer and distributor of ice cream products. Prior to merging with Nestle, Dreyer’s was a Fortune 1000 public company. As General Counsel, Mr. LeHocky:
Principal, Freeland, Cooper, LeHocky & Hamburg (1987-2000)
Mr. LeHocky managed the complex litigation practice of this boutique law firm, prosecuting and defending intellectual property, employment, antitrust, commercial and class action disputes, and representing clients including Apple, AT&T, Dreyer’s and Met Life.
Prior to the Freeland law firm, Mr. LeHocky honed his litigation skills at two other San Francisco law firms: Wilson, Ryan & Campilongo, and Khourie & Crew (a litigation spinoff of Broad, Khourie & Schulze).
“Mr. LeHocky brings a rich set of resources and skills to mediations. The breadth of his professional experience provides him with a sophisticated worldliness in a wide range of business arenas. But what really sets Mr. LeHocky apart is his command of the full range of dispute resolution techniques and his highly developed interpersonal skills. He is perfectly positioned to deliver great value as a mediator- by guiding parties’ use of the mediation process to maximize its productivity, by offering nuanced and balanced analytical input, and by attending with sensitivity to the personal and emotional circumstances of the parties. It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Mark LeHocky as a mediator. ”
“Mr. Lehocky assisted in resolving a very contentious trademark infringement case between two competitors. Given the exchange of statements between the parties prior to the mediation, I believed that the chances of resolving it without significant discovery were not good. Through Mark’s efforts, however, we were able to reach a satisfactory resolution of the case in a single day of mediation. Niether my client or myself could have been more pleased. ”
“Mr. LeHocky adeptly gains your trust and confidence while discovering what he needs to do to get you ‘to the table’ by the end of the day. Very effective and very successful! I would recommend him to any client. ”
“Mr. LeHocky not only understands the mediation process thoroughly, but also how to work with counsel and parties of all types to problem solve and effectively settle cases. With his active involvement, knowledge of the law and communication skills, he is able to facilitate the resolution of cases prompty and fairly. In mediating difficult cases, there is no substitute for experience. His background as both a litigator and a General Counsel makes him uniquely qualified. ”
“Mr Lehocky genuinely wants to help parties settle their disputes, and to settle them early on, so as to avoid costly litigation. In our case, he did just that. He worked hard to help the parties find an agreeable middle-ground in a short amount of time. Throughout, he was well-prepared, insightful and professional. Both my client and I were very pleased with the process and the result.”
“Mr. Lehocky helped us resolve a contentious employment discrimination lawsuit. He was well prepared, understood the law, and assisted the parties in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of their respective cases. His broad work history allowed him to relate to the parties and the lawyers invoved in the case. He was thoughtful, but firm when needed and helped us craft a resolution that was accepted by both sides. My client was very pleased with the result and I look forward to working with him again.”
“Mr. Lehocky mediated one of my single plaintiff employment cases. He connected with my client very well, kept both parties focused on a deal through many offers and counter-offers, and ultimately resolved the matter. His prior experience as General Counsel for large employers was extremely beneficial. I would recommend him without reservation.”