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Bio

After years of mediating part-time while practicing law, Laurel Kaufer transitioned to full-time neutral practice in 1995. Mediating disputes successfully through panels across Southern California, Kaufer was quickly able to gain strong credibility, serving as a neutral in over 1000 disputes.  After a decade resolving litigated cases, Kaufer makes every effort to address conflict prior to litigation wherever and whenever possible.  Specializing in the resolution of construction, real estate and commercial disputes, Kaufer has been instrumental in the restructuring of a public mediation panel through the Southland Regional Association of Realtors and regularly speaks throughout Southern California on Real Estate mediation.  Kaufer, a Diplomat and Advisory Committee Member of the California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, also arbitrates Contractors State Licensing Board disputes and mediates through both the Santa Barbara CADRe program and the Ventura County Superior Court. 

A leader in any profession is expected not only to practice with credibility and expertise, but also enhance the profession through a consistent exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as open up new frontiers of practice.  Kaufer’s commitment to public service is a natural part of her career as a neutral. Kaufer served for years on the Board of the Southern California Mediation Association and is a past Board Member of Ventura County Dispute Services.  In 2007, Kaufer co-founded the “SCMA Salons,” warm home-based events, presenting guest speakers from outside the local community who engage mediators in intellectual discussions of issues which push the envelope of the profession. 

Most recently, following Hurricane Katrina, Kaufer founded the Non-Profit Mississippi Mediation Project to provide Community Conflict Resolution programs to hard hit areas of the state, strengthening their physical, cultural and economic renewal.  Recognizing that this was an effort she couldn’t do alone, Kaufer used her professional credibility to recruit a group of highly esteemed Mediation professionals from private practice, universities, non-profits and government agencies across the United States to create, implement and support the programs of the Mississippi Mediation Project.  In order to see that this effort leaves sustainable programs in place, the focus of the MMP is on the training of community members both in conflict resolution skills and in the training of those skills.  In addition, programs are planned to provide ongoing support to trainees who apply these skills in their communities through the use of an online mentor program, the donation of conflict resolution resources to local libraries and community dialogues. 

Resumé

EDUCATION

  • University of California, Los Angeles, CA, B.A.1982
  • Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, CA, J.D., 1986
  • Dispute Resolution Services, Los Angeles, CA, Certificate in Mediation
  • Pepperdine University School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Malibu, CA, Advanced Mediation Skills
  • Santa Barbara Superior Court, Santa Barbara, CA, Certificate in Neutral Evaluation

LICENSES & ASSOCIATIONS

  • State Bar of California
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • ABA Section in Dispute Resolution
  • ACR - Association For Conflict Resolution
  • SCMA - Southern California Mediation Association
  • San Fernando Valley Bar Association
  • Southland Regional Association of Realtors

     

RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT & EXPERIENCE

Alternative Resolution Centers ("ARC")
Panelist
January 1, 2008

Arbitration Mediation Conciliation Center ("AMCC") Contractors State Licensing Board Arbitration Panel
2007 - ongoing

Neighborhood Cluster Initiative, Hurricane Katrina   Response Project Neutral/Mediation Coordinator
October - December, 2005

Santa Barbara Superior Court CADRe Program Mediation, CMADRESS, Neutral Evaluation, Special Master Panels
2000- ongoing

San Fernando Valley Bar Association Mediation Panel
1999 - ongoing

Los Angeles County Superior Court ADR Panel
1/1996 - ongoing

Mediation and Arbitration practice
1996 - ongoing

California State University, Northridge, Department of Business Law
Part-time faculty
1999

Pro Bono litigation practice 1991 - 1996

Private civil litigation practice
Sole Practitioner
1987 - 1996

Daniels, Baratta & Fine, Associate, General Litigation and Insurance defense firm.
12/1986 - 2/1987; Law Clerk 1986

9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Stephen Reinhardt
Law Student Internship
1985

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

California State Bar Association Standing Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appointed by State Bar Board of Governors
Term 2007 - 2010

California Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Diplomat and Advisory Committee Member
2005 - ongoing

Mississippi Mediation Project
Founder/President
Established 2006

California Dispute Resolution Council,
Member, 2000 - present
Qualifications and Standards Committee, 2001 - 2003

Southern California Mediation Association
Board of Directors (2003 - 2007)
Member, 1997 - present

Peace Team L.A. Advisory Council
Member
1996-1998

Women's Social Action Network/Women's Conference of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
1995- 1999

Superintendents Advisory Council, Las Virgenes School District
1994 - 1997

Pro Bono Attorney: Bet Tzedek Legal Services 1992 - 1995
 

REFERENCES AND FURTHER DETAILS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST