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 Hon. John P. Shook
A Superior Court Judge with nearly 30 years on the bench, Judge John P. Shook has a reputation as a “gentleman judge” who takes a traditional approach to litigation and allows lawyers to fully and fairly present their cases without being interrupted or sanctioned. He is known for his even temper and willingness to provide feedback about a case. Judge Shook was assigned to the civil courthouse beginning in 1996 and remained there until he retired. He conducted hundreds of voluntary settlement conferences and often received cases from other courts because of his excellent settlement skills. |
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Angel Gomez, Esq.
With more than 30 years experience concentrating in the employment law field, Angel Gomez brings insight, problem-solving skills and judgment to disputes. Voted as a “Super Lawyer” in the employment law field for multiple years, Mr. Gomez uses the experience earned during years of jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations in each dispute. He will listen carefully, and work with energy and thoughtfulness to reach a solution. |
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Ronald E. Guttman, Esq.
With 20 years of experience as a senior executive with CBS, Inc. and Sony Pictures Entertainment, and more than 15 years as a litigation and transactional attorney, Ronald E. Guttman brings to the alternative dispute resolution process more than 35 years of business and legal expertise. Mr. Guttman’s experience as an executive, in-house counsel, law firm litigator and mediator contributes to The Panel at ARC an understanding of the clients’ and the attorneys’ prospective. |
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Steven W. Paul, Esq.
Mr. Paul brings experience, substantive knowledge, counseling and negotiation skills, and a balanced analytical perspective to successfully resolving business, employment, and other litigated and pre-litigated disputes. He has more than 20 years of practical legal experience, including handling employment and general business and operational issues while serving as in-house legal/business affairs counsel at a major studio. In private practice, Mr. Paul has advised and represented a wide variety of businesses and industries on negotiation, transactional, and employment matters. Mr. Paul's extensive ADR training furthers his effectiveness in managing the mediation process to reach a satisfactory resolution.
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Max Factor III, Esq.
Described as a "highly effective and valuable agent of reality," Max Factor III is a full-time neutral with a thriving ADR practice. He has successfully resolved well over a thousand cases in the past 10 years. With over three decades of experience in business, employment, insurance and real estate matters, Mr. Factor excels in situations laden with difficult clients and hard bargaining tactics. His perseverance has resulted in resolution in cases no one thought possible. Highly regarded by counsel on both sides of the bar, Mr. Factor is an elected Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, serves with distinction on the AAA National Roster for Commercial and Employment Arbitration and has been recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in the practice of ADR every year since 2005.
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Hon. Charles C. Lee, Ret.
A Superior Court Judge for nearly two decades, Judge Lee retired from the bench in 2008. During his many years of civil assignments in Pasadena, Alhambra, Glendale, and downtown, he was highly regarded for his ability to settle the most difficult of cases. Additionally, Judge Lee, a Mandarin speaker and expert on Asian culture, was appointed by the United States Olympic Committee as the “Chef de Mission” and leader of the United States delegation at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also acted as Envoy to China’s team at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, its first participation in a modern Olympics.
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Alan Roper, J.D.
Alan Roper has an extensive background (25+ years) in ethics & business conduct, compliance, managing and conducting complex and sensitive investigations, security, and threat assessment/management activities. His expertise includes developing strong customer relationships within the private sector as well as with multiple government agencies. Additionally, Alan’s expertise is regularly called upon for training and consulting. Most recently, he managed all facets of the Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems Ethics and Business Code of Conduct Program. |
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Hon. Paul G. Flynn
Judge Paul Flynn brings to ARC nearly four decades of wide-ranging legal experience as an attorney in both the public and private sectors, as a law professor and as a judge. On the bench he presided over business disputes, professional malpractice, personal injury and real estate matters. During his tenure as a U.S. Attorney, he handled civil and tax matters involving a variety of government agencies. This broad range of expertise makes him an ideal choice as a neutral.
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Hon. Aviva K. Bobb
Judge Aviva Bobb, a versatile jurist with 30 years of experience in family law, probate, and civil litigation, now serves as a mediator, arbitrator, special master, and discovery referee at ARC. As Supervising Judge of the probate and family law departments over the past decade, Judge Bobb successfully conducted hundreds of settlement conferences and was recognized for developing innovative programs which increase access to the court system for parties and their families. |
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Hon. Gretchen W. Taylor
Commissioner Taylor, a Family Law Judge for 12 years, now serves as a mediator, arbitrator, special master, discovery referee, and parent plan coordinator. Known for her adept handling of complex property issues and her expertise in custody and visitation, she was recently featured on NBC’s Today show to discuss the custody of Michael Jackson’s children. A Certified Family Law Specialist and a proponent of mediation on the bench, she finds the “sweet spot” all parties can accept as the settlement of preference, often adding creative ideas not previously considered. |
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William E. Thomson, Jr.
Bill Thomson has an exceptional background as an international Intellectual Property litigation attorney and civic leader. He has litigated a broad spectrum of complex patent and other intellectual property cases, particularly pharmaceutical, biotech, chemical,
and computer technology matters. An accomplished trial lawyer, Bill has represented major clients in jury and court trials, and before the International Trade Commission. He represented the City of Pasadena for many years as a mayor and councilman. |
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Randy W. Kuluva, Esq.
An experienced litigator and coverage attorney, Randy Kuluva’s practice has concentrated on all aspects of construction disputes during the past 20 years. He has represented developers, general contractors, sub-contractors, design professionals and insurance companies in numerous complex, multi-party litigated cases. Mr. Kuluva has been involved in more than 500 mediations and other forms of alternative dispute resolution. He is admitted to practice in several western states, including California and Nevada. |
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Hon. Yvonne B. Burke
California’s first African-American congresswoman and a longtime L.A. County Supervisor, Yvonne Burke has a storied, five-decade career as a lawyer and public servant whose accomplishments have been recognized on a national level. She is well-known for her leadership skills and gained a reputation as a good listener who brought an attorney’s perspective to her role as a supervisor. As a three-time chair of the Board of Supervisors, she was responsible for the review and settlement of a wide range of litigation. As chair of Metro, she was involved in labor negotiations and settlement of the transit strike. Ms. Burke was also a partner in the national law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis and Pogue (now Jones, Day) from 1987-93, where she specialized in public finance and public/private partnerships for facility development. |
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Kenneth A. Feingold Esq.
Kenneth A. Feingold has presided over more than 400 cases as a mediator, arbitrator, and Judge Pro Tem. A partner at Feingold and Spiegel, Mr. Feingold has devoted a significant portion of his time to serving as a neutral since 1995, specializing in resolving real property, civil and commercial disputes.
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Professor A. Marco Turk, Esq.
Professor A. Marco Turk, the Director of the Negotiation, Conflict Resolution & Peacebuilding Program at California State University Dominguez Hills, joined ARC in 2008. He is available to mediate and arbitrate domestic and international entertainment industry disputes. An ADR professor and program director, Professor Turk also spent 27 years as an entertainment lawyer, talent agent and film/TV creator/developer/producer. His 13 years in full-time higher education emphasizing conflict resolution, coupled with his success in international peacebuilding activities, qualify him to resolve all types of disputes. |
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Hon. Robert A. Schnider
Judge Robert Schnider retired in 2008 after spending nearly three decades assigned to the court’s Family Law Department in the Central District. One of the state’s most experienced Family Law jurists, Judge Schnider regularly made rulings in high-profile custody, paternity and other disputes involving celebrities such as Michael Jackson, David Hasselhoff, Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin, and Anna Nicole Smith. He has handled thousands of settlement conferences during the course of his career. |
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