Profile
Irene Takahashi is widely recognized as one of the Bay Area’s leading mediators. Building on a solid foundation of trial experience, she adds the insights gained while serving as a trial judge. She has tried scores of criminal and civil cases both bench and jury. She has wide experience in a range of civil disputes, involving, among others, personal injury, landlord-tenant, and public and private entity liability.
Beyond her widely acknowledged legal acumen, she has a deserved reputation for being able to identify and facilitate the resolution of the complex personal concerns that often form the most formidable barriers to settlements. Rather than practicing a set pattern of mediation, she has a style that allows her to ‘shift gears’ as conditions develop and as unforeseen difficulties arise. Her adaptability gives the parties the maximum opportunity for resolution. As one attorney put it, “Irene’s perceptive instincts made the difference.”
Mediations can be costly and stressful, Ms. Takahashi is known to work to minimize both those issues. She knows most cases resolve. She is persistent and works with the parties before, during and with follow-up to provide a successful resolution tailored to the individual case.
Ms. Takahashi, as reported by many attorneys, is a wise, empathetic, approachable and hard-working mediator. Both litigants and litigators agree that she listens carefully, demonstrates human concern with a dignity that inspires confidence, and provides legal and practical guidance of substantial value. As a result, many counsel have sought her help on multiple cases. Consistently she facilitates prompt, fair and lasting resolutions in the most difficult mediations.
Areas of Expertise
- Personal Injury: slip and fall, auto, motorcycle, pedestrian, skateboard accidents, wrongful death, sexual assault
- Employment/ Title IX
- Landlord-Tenant: commercial and residential
- Property Liability and Damages: fires, floods, crimes committed on property
- Eminent Domain
- Professional Liability/ Errors & Omissions
- Public and Private Entity Liability: school districts, churches, private and public organizations, and government institutions
- Business Litigation/ Breach of Contract
- Sexual Misconduct
Education
- University of California at Davis, School of Law: Juris Doctor (1976)
- University of California at Berkeley: Bachelor of Arts (1973)
- Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (2015)
- Mediation Training, Mediation Offices of Steve Rosenberg (2017)
Career History
- 2001 – 2016 Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith – Partner
- 1998 – 2000 Santochi Gable Dwyer & Takahashi – Managing Partner
- 1996 – 1998 McLemore Collins & Toschi – Partner
- 1991 – 1996 Kincaid Gianunzio Caudle & Hubert – Senior Associate
- 1989 – 1991 Contra Costa County Superior Court – Judge
Presided over civil and criminal cases, Law & Motion, settlement conferences, case management, community forums, and educational outreach to youth, women, and people of color - 1982 – 1989 County of Contra Costa – Deputy District Attorney
- 1980 – 1982 Alameda County court-appointed criminal representation of juveniles
- 1978 – 1980 United States Department of Justice – Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California – prosecution of federal criminal offenses, and argued appeals before the United States Court Of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- 1976 – 1978 County of Alameda – Deputy District Attorney
Recent Speaking Engagements/Activities
- “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know About Elimination of Bias,” ADR Services, Inc. MCLE Day (2021)
- “Young Women in Excellence,” Speaker for young women’s community group (2017)
- Judge, Assistant Coach, and Scorer for Contra Costa County Mock Trial Competition (2017-2020)
- Contra Costa Civic Theatre, Board of Directors (2018-Present)
- “Does Gender Matter in Civil Litigation Mediations?” Alameda County Bar Association (2018)
- Mentor/Mentee Program, Asian American Bar Association (2018-Present)
- Judge, ABA Section, Dispute Resolution and Representation, Mediation Competition, Berkeley Law (2019)