This program offers 1 participatory MCLE credit.

Mediation preparation begins long before the mediation session. This webinar will guide counsel through the careful consideration and evaluation of actions and strategies to prepare for and ultimately settle a dispute. For example, what style of mediator will be effective for the parties, which issues and values are firm and which our flexible, preparing the client for what to expect, what to include in a mediation brief including one that will be exchanged, and what counsel may wish to communicate to the mediator ahead of time regarding the dispute. A step-by-step approach will ensure that counsel are doing what they should do to have satisfied clients.  

Speakers: Jeffery J. Daar and Malcolm McNeil

---

Jeffery Daar has practiced law since 1982 and is a principal of the law firm Daar & Newman. Jeffery takes a holistic approach to clients’ legal and business issues. His diverse expertise includes strategic planning, complex state and federal litigation, innovative dispute resolution, and international transactions and disputes. Jeffery’s practice focuses on both litigation and transactional projects. Jeffery is known for his extensive background in a number of practice areas, including but not limited to cross-border litigation and transactions, class actions, insurance including insurance insolvency, products liability, consumer litigation, unfair competition, appellate work, private post-secondary schools and colleges, and intellectual property.

While Jeffery is a United States trained lawyer, he has close working relationships with lawyers throughout Europe, Latin America and Asia. This permits him to assemble international legal teams for innovative global solutions to business transactions and disputes. He regularly handles cross-border disputes and transactions.

Jeffery is the Chair of the ADR Committee in the California Lawyers Association. He is also the Past Chair of The State Bar of California International Law and International Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Jeffery has been appointed by three different Mayors of the City of Los Angeles as a City Commissioner. He is currently a Los Angeles Ethics Commissioner and has served on the Board of Airport Commissioners for the Los Angeles World Airports and was Chairperson of the Los Angeles Rent Adjustment Commission for 10 years

Jeffery is an internationally recognized speaker and frequently speaks and writes on international law topics.

Malcolm McNeil is a Partner at Arent Fox LLP in their Los Angeles office. He has over 35 years of litigation and commercial experience in a wide variety of matters including business/commercial, construction (defect and coverage issues), employment disputes, administrative proceedings, trade secrets, probate, media and entertainment, intellectual property, partnership dissolutions, and real estate. Malcolm has 25 years of experience resolving civil disputes as a mediator and is a panel mediator for the United States District Court, Central District of California.

Malcolm has litigated issues for a wide variety of businesses including those in the venture capital formation, retail, entertainment, textile, manufacturing, import/export, real estate investment, aviation, and publishing. He is keenly aware of the legal and business needs of his clients, and provides strategic solutions to commercial disputes that help enable his clients’ businesses to keep moving forward. He also has experience in cross-border negotiations and has an established network of colleagues globally assisting foreign countries as needs arise. Malcolm’s practice has included representation of clients in most forums, including a range of administrative forums, statewide and nationally. Known for his leadership and accomplishments, particularly for clients with business interests in China, Malcolm is a panel member on the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration, the Beijing International Arbitration Commission, and the Harbin Arbitration Commission. Malcolm serves as the co-leader of Arent Fox’s International Group, and is the vice president of the Beverly Hills Bar Association.