Katherine Edwards, Esq.
A recognized expert in the field of employment law, Katherine Edwards dedicated herself to developing her neutral practice in the late 1990’s after practicing in the field for over a decade. Currently a full-time neutral, Ms. Edwards’ remarkable mediation success rate is a reflection of both her ability to keenly assess settlement opportunities and her personal commitment to finding a durable resolution in each and every dispute.

Ms. Edwards mediates and arbitrates a wide variety of workplace disputes including federal and state claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour, privacy rights, contract claims, and trade secrets, as well as personal injury and medical malpractice cases. In addition to her mediation and arbitration practice, Ms. Edwards is frequently selected by employers to conduct independent investigations into allegations of workplace misconduct and serves as an exper.t witness and consultant on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants

Ms. Edwards began her legal career in 1989 as an Associate attorney with Allred, Maroko, Goldberg & Ribakoff where she specialized in prosecuting claims of unlawful employment practices on behalf of individuals. She later became an Associate/Managing Attorney for Anticouni & Anticouni, a preeminent Central Coast employment law firm located in Santa Barbara, California, continuing her representation of individuals in employment disputes in a variety of forums, including before the State Labor Commission. She joined Masters & Ribakoff in 1993, a primarily plaintiff’s employment law firm at the time, representing individuals accused of misconduct, including sexual harassment, and providing advice and counsel to small and medium-sized employers. As a partner with Masters & Ribakoff, her practice is exclusively devoted to providing neutral services.

SPECIALIZES IN:
All aspects of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour, breach of contract, trade secrets, privacy rights, and covenants not to compete.

EDUCATION:
• J.D. cum laude 1989, Pepperdine University School of Law, Malibu, California
• B.A. Sociology, 1983, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

ORGANIZATIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS:
Member of mediation and arbitration panels for numerous organizations, including Kaiser Permanente and the National Association of Securities Dealers. Hearing Officer, City of Santa Monica’s Personnel Board. Founding member, California Association of Workplace Investigators; Discrimination Complaint Investigator for the Special Committee of Investigator Oversight, City of Los Angeles; “A-V” rated by Martindale Hubbell; Published author and speaker
on a variety of employment-related topics.

AVAILABLE:

Throughout California.