Louise A. LaMothe

In mediating, I draw on my close to 30 years of experience as a litigator handling a wide variety of complex business matters. I have had over 15 years experience with mediation, first as an advocate representing clients, and then as a mediator. (I have also served as an arbitrator since 1993.) I began mediating and arbitrating matters on a part time basis while still engaged in litigation practice in Los Angeles. Since that time, I have gradually increased my practice as a professional neutral, all the while continuing to practice as a litigator. I have lived in Santa Barbara since 1997 and since July 1999 I have been engaged full time as a neutral based in Santa Barbara.

I have a pragmatic approach, seeking durable solutions to the parties’ disputes. While my personal style is midway on a scale between facilitative and evaluative, I strive to be pliable in each case so as to enhance my ability to assist the parties.

My business litigation background is very broad. I have handled a number of cases involving the securities industry, including the defense of class actions against issuers and representation of broker dealers in many types of cases, including churning and other claims brought by customers. I have also defended employee claims in the securities industry.

I have also worked in many industries, including real estate, insurance, health care, law, accounting, telecommunications and technology. I am one of twenty members of a nationwide arbitration panel chosen by counsel for the parties to hear appeals in the settlement of a class action against a major life insurance company alleging misstatements in the marketing of universal life insurance policies.

I have also worked in the employment area, primarily in the representation of management, but also in representation of executives and actors in the entertainment industry. As part of my emphasis on employment law, I have designed and presented training programs for management and rank and file employees (and law firms) in statutory discrimination and harassment claims. I have also conducted investigations for employers into claims of sexual harassment and sexual orientation harassment in a wide variety of industries. I am a member of the California Board of Legal Specialization’s Consulting Group on Labor and Employment Law and a member of the American Arbitration Association’s statewide employment law panel of neutrals since the panel’s inception.

I have been active in state and national bar activities, serving as a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association and Chair of the Section of Litigation, the largest Section in the ABA. I also chaired the California State Bar’s Standing Committee on Women in the Law, and served on California’s Judicial Council. I have taught extensively about ADR in general and mediation in particular.

Additional information about my background and practice is available from my website, www.dispute-solutions.com.