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Most people have no idea what their amygdala is, much less how to control it in the interest of settlement. Ms. Bassis, a keen student of neuropsychology, uses her scientific understanding of conflict to redirect discussion and negotiation to enable settlement. Possessing a calm demeanor, soothing personality and tireless devotion to resolution, Ms. Bassis brings her world view of mediation to the mediation table and into the classroom. A pioneer in ADR in California, with 23 years as a practicing attorney, 17 years as a practicing mediator and 14 years as a mediation educator, Ms. Bassis' distinguished career makes her a highly sought out mediator where seemingly intractable conflict makes impasse look likely. Yet, her persistent equanimity, unflagging efforts and follow-through to close the deal distinguish her as a true professional in a field also populated by amateurs.
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Lynne S. Bassis, named Super Lawyer in 2007, is an accomplished mediator, mediation trainer, contributor to the Los Angeles Daily Journal and speaker. She works with parties and counsel at the Intersection of Law and Human Emotion as she helps parties reconcile their differences. She understands that settlement of a lawsuit or pre-lawsuit, which may involve intractable conflict, requires at least two dance partners: law and human emotion. Lynne offers guidance about when to dance duet; when to dance ensemble; when to dance solo. With her penetrating understanding of the law and complex business world; with the music of her humor; with the soul of her humanity, she will guide you through this intersection, demonstrate the art of both monetary and non-monetary negotiation and make sure you arrive on time at your final destination - SETTLEMENT.
MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION FOCUS
Ms. Bassis uses her compassion, legal dexterity and intuitive abilities to manage the myriad of complexities that arise in these areas:
- Employment
- Personal Injury
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Securities
- Small Business and Wealth Succession
- Real Estate
- Wage and Hour
- Probate and international Disputes
- Class Actions
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EXPERIENCE
A past director of the Disability Mediation Center at Loyola Law School, Ms. Bassis' private mediation practice emphasis is complemented by her position as faculty for the Los Angeles County Bar Association where she has provided mediation training to thousands of lawyers and other professionals during the last 14 years.
In addition to her private mediation and training practice, Ms. Bassis is a mediator for the American Arbitration Association (AAA), Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC), Inland Valley Arbitration & Mediation Services (IVAMS) and the National Association of Securities Dealers Mediator Pool (NASD). She is also an arbitrator for the NASD. Ms Bassis mediates for the Los Angeles and San Diego Superior Courts and the Court of Appeal, in addition to the United States Postal Service, Office of Affirmative Action Compliance, County of Los Angeles, National Conflict Resolution Center's Elder Care Mediation Panel (San Diego), and formerly for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration and US Department of Navy.
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TESTIMONIALS
"Lynne worked hard to prepare for and settle a sexual harassment case full of complicated emotional and cultural dynamics. It took 20 straight hours with Lynne nursing the parties along with compassion, helpful insights and fresh approaches. In the end Lynne was there in the early morning light putting the finishing touches on our settlement agreement." Jon Primuth, Pasadena, CA
"I handle employment discrimination cases and work all over the country. Lynne is the best mediator I've ever run into. She has a unique approach -- putting parties at ease while all the time driving the process through to a successful conclusion. She has a unique gift that allows her to be successful." Rick Harmon, Harmon & Davies, Lancaster, PA
"Lynne was amazing . . . she was focused on getting the job done, and she did. Very result oriented." Mark Russakow, Russakow Ryan Johnson, Pasadena, CA
"Ms. Bassis' ability to instill in clients the conviction that she understands and supports their concerns creates the framework for creative dispute resolution. Her persistent equanimity, unflagging efforts and follow-through to close the deal distinguish her as a true professional in a field also populated by amateurs." Linda Klibanow, Pasadena, CA
"Employment cases are usually driven by strong emotions on both sides of the table. A successful mediator must be able to maintain credibility and rapport on both sides of the table. Ms. Bassis' abilities as a seasoned employment mediator were evident." Marcus M. McDaniel, Latham & Watkins, Los Angeles, CA
"Lynne mediated a breach of merchantability case. She sized up the situation appropriately and managed a joint session with all counsel and clients participating. This was an excellent strategy in that it moved the case forward and cut through what otherwise would have been a lot of expensive discovery. In this particular case the approach she used and the flexibility she demonstrated was exactly what was needed, which led to a settlement." Robert L. Toms, Jr., Gibson Rivera & Toms, Pasadena, CA
"Lynne has calm demeanor, soothing personality and a tireless devotion to conflict resolution. Throughout the mediation, she focused the parties on the key issues of fact and law that would have the most significant impact on the outcome of the case. As a result of her sustained and skillful efforts, we were able to resolve a challenging case for which my client was very appreciative." Craig G. Staub, Littler Mendelson, Los Angeles, CA
"I have had the pleasure of working with Lynne as a mediator in legal malpractice cases. Unlike many mediators, she actually took the time to go through the legal issues and explore the parties' predilection for settlement, all of which led to favorable results. I recommend using Lynne." Steven R. Yee, Yee & Belilove, LLP, Pasadena, CA
"Ms. Bassis came well prepared to mediate a difficult case involving parties who had become firmly entrenched in their positions. She had the ability to grasp complicated legal issues and diplomatically work the parties toward resolution. Her efforts helped secure a favorable outcome for my client."
Brian A. Cardoza, Senior Attorney, Southern California Edison
"I admire her even-handed calm approach and the relentlessness with which she pursues it."
Andre E. Jardini, Knapp, Petersen & Clarke, Glendale, CA
"I had the pleasure of working with Lynne Bassis on a difficult gender bias and discrimination case involving a major police department. Having handled other discrimination cases against law enforcement agencies, I was not optimistic about the possibility of reaching an accord. Lynne, however, came fully prepared and determined to explore all possibilities and was able, after much effort, to assist us in fashioning an innovative means of fully resolving the case to everyone's satisfaction. She interacted extremely well with my clients and demonstrated excellent mediation skills. She was strong but compassionate, direct but diplomatic, and managed to keep the parties and attorneys fully engaged - even when it appeared we were destined to fail. I would highly recommend her to anyone thinking of mediating an employment related case." David Nye, Nye Peabody & Stirling, Santa Barbara, CA
"Ms. Bassis displayed empathy and toughness in mediating a contentious employment case." Jay J. Lee, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP, Los Angeles, CA
"I appreciated your congenial style and good sense of the human dynamics that were involved. I think you created an environment in which the parties showed respect for each other, which also was invaluable in reaching an agreement. Finally, I appreciated the pace at which you conducted the mediation. It was not rushed, but the parties had ample time to digest the concepts being exchanged. This permitted counter-offers that were initially miles apart slowly to come together. I was not only surprised we were able to settle after a single day of mediation, but also that the parties seemed more congenial and communicative as the day progressed. Thank you for your expert assistance. I look forward to working with you in the future." Michael Monk, Musick, Peeler & Garrett LLP, Los Angeles, CA
"Lynne is an excellent mediator ---knowledgeable, unflappable, professional, always calm and persistent. She listens well to both sides, and is devoted to the settlement process in an ego-free manner." Steven M. Schneider, Mitchell, Silverberg & Knupp, Los Angeles, CA
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TRAINING ENGAGEMENTS
- Consultant, Assessing Workplace Problems and Implementing Solutions through training, mediation, facilitation or coaching (current)
- National Training Team, United States Air Force Supervisory Skills Training: Interest-Based Bargaining and Communication Skills (current)
- Mediation Trainer for Los Angeles County Bar Association (current & since 1993)
- Instructor, "The Art of Peacemaking ~ Beyond Mediation: Dealing with Difficult Cases: Seminar to Understand Why Those Other Mediations Did Not Work (June 2004 & May 2005)"
- Lecturer, "Employment Law from A to Z in California" Lorman Education Seminars (March 2005)
- Lecturer, "Disability Discrimination in California: Managing & Mediating Disability Issues in the Workplace" Lorman Education Services (October 2002)
- Lecturer, "Ethical Responsibilities When Representing A Client in Mediation" Lorman Education Services (2001)
- Director & Adjunct Professor, Disability Mediation Center, Loyola Law School (1999-2001)
- Trainer, Advocacy Training for California State Department of Rehabilitation and other entities (1999-2001)
- Mediator and Trainer, United States Postal Service (since 1998)
- Mediation Instructor, University of California at Riverside (1998)
- Adjunct Professor of ADR, Southwestern University School of Law (1997)
- Mediation Trainer, In-House Skills Building Seminar for Pacific Enterprises (1997)
- Mediation Trainer, "Negotiation At Work" Seminars (1997)
- Trainer, UCLA Education Extension: "Conflict Resolution Using Effective Communication Skills" (1996)
- Trainer, Conflict Resolution Skills Program for High School Students (1995 & 1996)
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PUBLICATIONS
- Bassis: Attorney-Client Mediation: Los Angeles Lawyer, June 2003
- Bassis: Litigators Who Take Advantage of the Mediation Process Can Help Their Clients: Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 11, 2002
- Bassis: The Adjustment Act: A Mediator Versed in Disability Law Can Help Parties Sort Through the Accommodation Process: Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 8, 2002
- Bassis: Answered Prayers: Foxgate and Draft Ethical Standards Illuminate Mediator's Role, Los Angeles Daily Journal, August 22, 2001
- Bassis: New Solutions: Pilot Mediation Program Offers Benefits to Employers and Employees, Los Angeles Daily Journal, July 25, 2001
- Bassis: Cart Controversy: Disabilities Act Protects Golfer Casey Martin, Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 14, 2001
- Bassis and Kichaven: Pendulum Swing: Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of Disabilities Act, Los Angeles Daily Journal, March 22, 2001
- Bassis, Contributor: Review of Dispute Resolution Web Sites, American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Magazine, Technology Column (2000)
- Editor, American Bar Association's The Lawyer's Desk Guide to Legal Malpractice, (April 1999)
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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Appointed Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association Elder Law Committee (2007)
- Fellow, International Academy of Mediators (IAM)
- Appointed Member, California State Bar Labor & Employment Executive Committee (Term: 2005-2008)
- Member, Ethics Subcommittee, State Bar Committee on ADR (1998)
- Vice Chair, Executive Committee, Attorney-Client Mediation and Arbitration Services, Los Angeles County Bar Association & Chair, Mediation Subcommittee (2000-2004)
- Member, Los Angeles County Bar Association (since 1996)
- Member, Southern California Mediation Association (1994-Present)
- Member, Board of Directors, Southern California Mediation Association (1994- 1996)
- Chair, Programs Committee of Southern California Mediation Association (1993- 1995)
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Legal Career
Ms. Bassis' 24-year legal career includes work in both the private and public sectors. Her private practice includes work for municipal defense and employment-labor law firms. Her public service includes her position as judicial counsel to the California Supreme Court's State Bar Court. She also held the position of prosecutor for the State Bar of California and was a staff attorney for the Legal Services Corporation.
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Education
Ms. Bassis did her undergraduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, and received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston.
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Geographical Interests
Though based in southern California, Ms. Bassis travels to accommodate her clients.
For further information:
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5445 DTC Parkway, Ste 770 Greenwood Village, CO 80111-3045 * (303) 355-2314 * Fax: 303-388-3420
Offices in Scottsdale, AZ, Pasadena, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Naples, FL, Portland, ME, Troy, MI and Atlanta, GA
claudia@crs-adr.com |
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