Resume

EDUCATION

2023
2014

1988-1990

1987-1988
​1980-1984

Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation, Negotiation Master Class.
Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution,  Mediating the Litigated Case.
University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Juris Doctor. Order of the Coif; 
AmJur Awards for the highest grades in Commercial Law, Agency Law and Administrative Law.
George Washington University Law School. Honors, Legal Research & Writing.
Claremont McKenna College, Bachelor of Arts. Philosophy and Political Science Double Major.
Philosophy Department Award; Editor, The Claremont Journal of Philosophy.

ADR EXPERIENCE

2023-Present

​2023 - Present
​2021 - Present

2009 - Present​

American Arbitration Association, Panel Arbitrator and Mediator.
Commercial, Healthcare and Consumer Panels.
Burgess Dispute Solutions, LLC, arbitrator and mediator. 
U.S. District Court, Central District Mediation Panel, mediator.  Handles mediations, including ADA, TCPA, consumer credit, breach of contract and insurance disputes.
Los Angeles Superior Court, volunteer mediator.  Handles mediations assigned by the ADR staff (2009-13), and Resolve Law LA for the LASC PI Hub (2021-Present).​

LEGAL EXPERIENCE

2023 -
1995-2023






1990-1995

​1987-1988
​

Burgess Law Corporation, President. 
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, Partner; Associate (2/95-3/99), Special Counsel (2023). Represented clients in healthcare, entertainment, insurance, manufacturing, distribution, retail, real estate, finance, and technology. Trial counsel in successful jury and bench trials, arbitrations and mediations, involving, among other things, a $2 billion insurance class action, a retail sales tax class action, wrongful cancellation, fraudulent conveyance, beverage distributor termination, hotel development, IPA ownership, idea submission, virtual camera trade secret, trademark, copyright, and medical equipment manufacturing.
Graham & James, Associate.  Trial counsel in arbitrations, handled dispositive motions and negotiated settlements.
Pettit & Martin, Legislative Assistant/Law Clerk.  Advocacy concerning tariffs, trade restrictions and product regulation. ​

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES, MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS​

Licenses

• Admitted in the State of California (Bar No. 151018); District of Columbia (Bar No. 1739605); United States Supreme Court (Bar No. 314561); United States Courts of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and District of Columbia Circuit (Bar No. 63043); and United States District Courts for the Central, Northern, Eastern and Southern Districts of California and District of Columbia (Bar No. CA00100).
• ​Admitted pro hac vice in the State of Delaware (Court of Chancery), the State of Washington, and the United States District Courts for the District of Nevada, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Southern District of Texas. 

Memberships

• Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Board Member (2013 – 2022), President (2018-2020);
• CMC Gould Center for Humanistic Studies, Advisory Board Member (2019 – 2024)
• Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Board Member (2009-2013)
• Marymount High School, Los Angeles, Board Member (2010-2019)
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
• American Bar Association, Member, Litigation and Dispute Resolution Sections.

Awards

• Wiley W. Manual Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services by the State Bar (2010);
• Southern California Super Lawyer (2012-present);
• AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell (2005-present);
• Father Pat Traynor Award by St. James Inn (2015)(outstanding community service);
• Scott and Jean Adam Light of Christ Award by Catholic Charities of Los Angeles (2011)(outstanding parish and community service).

  

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