Mediation is not magic. Settlements do not just happen. A skilled mediator must rely on different tools to help parties broker deals over a wide variety of situations. Having subject matter experience may help. Having judicial experience may help. Having the tenacity and creative energy to explore and exhaust all possibilities of settlement WILL help.
Hon. Jeffrey K. Winikow has served as a Judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court, but is a far cry from being a "Retired Judge." He is an "Active Mediator," focussing on workplace disputes. Judge Winikow is a past Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Labor & Employment Section, and a past recipient of the California Employment Lawyers Association's Joe Posner Award. Judge Winikow has authored and/or edited many leading legal publications, including the Rutter Guide's treatise on California Employment Law. A graduate of the University of Chicago's School of Law and Cornell University's School of Industrial & Labor Relations, Judge Winikow resides in Los Angeles but is available to mediate cases throughout California.