Following nearly 14 years of distinguished service on the bench for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division, Honorable Andrew Guilford has retired and is available to serve as a mediator, arbitrator, and private judge, including special master assignments, and case evaluator.
During his judicial tenure, Judge Guilford sat by designation on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and is one of only two Central District Judges to have been invited to sit at the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He served as one of the few Patent Pilot Program judges in the Central District. As a federal judge, Guilford heard over a hundred trials, sometimes sitting without a jury, on matters including patent, trademark, copyright, defective products, securities, employment, civil rights, professional liability, class actions, MDL, and of course, criminal matters.
Before his appointment in 2006, Judge Guilford served as an arbitrator and Judge Pro Tem for the Orange County Superior Court, leveraging the experience he gained as a trial lawyer for more than 31 years. At Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton for his entire career as a lawyer, he tried complex commercial cases across a variety of industries, such as major league sports, medical devices, banking and finance, real property, telecommunications, and entertainment. At a young age, he was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Judge Guilford’s love for the community and passion for giving back is evidenced in his more than four decades and countless hours lecturing and authoring for law schools, religious entities, legal publications, bar associations, and judicial organizations both nationally and internationally. As a trial lawyer and judge, he has received many prestigious awards from various bar associations, including the Orange County Bar Association’s Franklin G. West Award—the organization’s highest honor, presented to outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and law.
Judge Guilford has earned a reputation for his compassionate, intellectual, fair, intuitive, and hardworking demeanor, all qualities he brings to the private sector. One attorney commented: “Judge Guilford always has been prepared, committed and well respected. Following many years of private practice on complex matters and on the bench, he treated lawyers with respect and gave them the opportunity to represent their clients, while achieving justice. He was always actively engaged and personable, and he operated with supreme verve. These attributes certainly will make him highly in demand, as both a private judge and a mediator, and rightly so.”
Judge Guilford’s interests are varied and include traveling, writing, poetry, photography, theater, and sports, being a fan of UCLA, the Dodgers, Lakers, and Rams, and playing basketball and tennis. Time with his family is most valued, and he is proud of his grandson and two granddaughters.
"Judge Guilford’s distinguished career was marked by intelligence, rationality, efficiency, and a focus on the human side of legal issues."
- Attorney in Orange County
"Judge Guilford has a high level of knowledge and skill."
- Attorney on a Consumer Class Action Matter
"The mediator worked diligently and efforted to give us a resolution that did finally occur. He did see the issues between the parties that needed to be overcome."
- Intellectual Property Attorney
"Judge Guilford's manner was excellent. We have a very sensitive mediation with a young woman who alleged she had been sexually assaulted by her employer. She was terrified to be in the same building as her former employer and Judge Guilford not only made sure to keep them apart but was patient, kind, and understanding while still providing an insight into what she faced going forward. He is incredibly bright and did an excellent job to move the parties toward resolution. Without reservation, he is one of the finest mediators I have had in 30 years of practice. "
- Attorney on a Sexual Assault case
"It is exciting that Judge Guilford will be available as a neutral. With his work as a litigator handling complex civil matters before being appointed, combined with his experience on the federal bench, there are very few judges with Judge Guilford’s extensive background in the resolution of complex civil matters."
- Attorney in Fresno
"Judge Guilford has an excellent demeanor for mediations. He quickly got up to speed on the issues and was effective in sorting out the roadblocks to settlement. Although the case did not settle, I would recommend him to colleagues for complicated business litigation and IP matters."
- Attorney on an IP Trademark Matter
"I thought Judge Guilford was terrific. I would use him again."
- Attorney on a Malicious Prosecution case
"Judge Guilford was a fabulous mediator. Very patient, even-keeled, and knowledgeable about the "push- button" issues of the case. We would utilize Judicate West's services again."
- Attorney on a Real Property case
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