It always seems impossible until it's done." - Nelson Mandela

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Over 30 years of practicing employment and civil law makes her the perfect choice as a neutral. Michelle is now focusing her current practice on dispute resolution services, acting as a mediator in employment disputes as well as business and consumer matters.  Why focus on dispute resolution? Michelle has “worked in the trenches, and now wants to help clients get their cases resolved to avoid the uncertainty and potentially negative energy of litigation.” She has performed arbitration and mediation services on a part time basis while still litigating for over ten years, and that path has led her to move forward to become a full time neutral.

 

Michelle is now a full-time mediator with Judicate West, one of Southern California’s leading providers of dispute resolution services, which aims to deliver “Results Beyond Dispute-SM.”  She has also served for 17 years (concurrently with her legal and mediation careers) as an Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and with Judicate West.  Michelle has gained an excellent reputation and experience in all areas of employment law, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, whistleblower and civil rights violations.  She also has many years of experience handling business and other civil disputes.  Michelle is a former president of the Orange County Bar Association, former chair of its Business Litigation Section, and past chairperson of the California Employment Lawyers Association.  She has been recognized as a Top Business Lawyer of the Year, Top Woman Litigator and Top Employment Attorney.  She is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, named a Preeminent Lawyer and given the highest "AV" rating by Martindale Hubbell, recognized by Best Lawyers of America, and is a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and has been inducted as a Distinguished Fellow in the International Academy of Mediators.