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Articles Published by Robert A. Merring at Mediate.com

All types of business, commercial, intellecutal property, real property and employment-related disputes ranging from simple breach of contract and collection matters to complex, multi-party trademark, copyright, trade secrets, business dissolutions, real property conflicts and sophisticated debtor-creditor and mortgage foreclosure workouts. Combining a Stanford University and Columbia Law School education, 32 years of experience as a practicing attorney, 16 years as an alternative dispute resolution provider and extensive training through Pepperdine University's Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, the American Arbitration Association, Harvard Program on Negotiation and American Insitute of Mediation to bring you the highest quality mediation and arbitration services at reasonable fees. Mr. Merring has been accredited by the International Mediation Institute as a Certified Mediator.

Engaged in the private practice of law since 1977 with experience in both large and small firms, as well as being presently a solo practitioner. Practice areas include business and commercial litigation; intellectual property, real estate and general corporate practice. In addition to the mediation experience listed below, other alternative dispute resolution experience includes: American Arbitration Association, Commercial Arbitrator (1993 to present) and Appeals Committee Reviewer, Policyholder Remediation Plan for Prudential Policyholders (1998-99); Orange County Superior Court, Civil Arbitrator (1993 to present); and NASD (formerly National Association of Securities Dealers), Arbitrator (2006 to present).

Mediator, Settlement Officer, Early Neutral Evaluator and Small Claims Court Hearing Officer, Orange County Superior Court (1993 to present); Mediator, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California (1996 to present); Mediator, American Arbitration Association (2002 to present); Attorney Settlement Officer, United States District Court for the Central District of California (2007 to present).

Columbia Law School J.D. with honors in international and foreign law 1977 Columbia Journal of Transnational Law Member 1975-77 and Administrative Editor 1976-77; Columbia University International Fellow Stanford University A.B. with distinction and departmental honors in political science 1973

Most successful mediators seem to share four common traits: flexibility, patience, perserverance and curioisty. As to the first of these traits, I believe that each mediation has its own dynamics, and my approach to dispute resolution may perhaps best be categorized by what Jeff Krivis has described as "improvisational negotiation." In other words, I have no formulaic philosophy and tend to shift between evaluative and facilitative techniques guided by what my experience and "intuition" deem to be the appropriate approach in each situation. In most mediations, I begin with an “open session” allowing the parties and their attorneys free reign to express their own thoughts and feelings, while encouraging them to propose their own solutions to the controversy. Usually, I then break into private caucuses to explore with each side not only what they feel would be a desirable outcome but also to express what they think may be the principal barriers to settlement and how those barrieris may be overcome. Statistical surveys have shown that most parties ultimately do want the mediator to evaluate the case, and drawing on my considerable experience as an arbitrator, mediator and business and litigation attorney, I will try to guide the parties towards what I feel may be a just and reasonable resolution of the dispute in the event that the parties are unable to resolve the matter themselves.

Hourly Rate: $250 or $300 for mediations conducted through the auspices of the American Arbitration Association

Over 250 hours of mediation training through Pepperdine Law School's Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution; American Arbitration Association; Harvard Program on Negotiation; International Academy of Mediators; Southern California Mediation Association, Association for Conflict Resolution and American Bar Association. The particular seminars attended are listed on the attached resume. “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law.

Paul Van Loon American Arbitration Association, former Regional Vice President Dean Zipser Orange County Bar Association, Past President Nicholas Yocca The Yocca Law Firm LLP Hon. Gregory Lewis Orange County Superior Court David B. Ezra Berge Kahn LLP