Michael D. Young, Esq. was at the forefront of the mediation movement, beginning his mediation training in 1989 and developing a mediation practice that complimented his trial and litigation practice. After more than 25 years as an employment, intellectual property, and business litigator and trial attorney with a national law firm, Mike left his litigation practice in 2011 to join Judicate West full-time helping parties resolve disputes through mediation. Mike never stopped learning or sharing, immersing himself in the mediation profession, taking and teaching mediation courses around the world, serving as the President of the International Academy of Mediators, and teaching ADR courses as an adjunct professor at USC Law for almost a decade and at Pepperdine’s world-renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Since joining Judicate West, Mike has mediated and resolved thousands of cases in all areas of the law, but with a particular focus on employment, intellectual property, environmental and business disputes.
Mike continually seeks to create mediation processes that better and more efficiently meet the needs of lawyers and their clients alike, and has earned a reputation for his creative and “out of the box” techniques. He is known to settle contentious and complex disputes in innovative ways that the parties themselves had not previously considered. He prides himself on tirelessly following up and developing solutions tailored to each case. Mike is a believer in paying it forward through his teaching, public speaking and writing, and his more personal mentoring of new mediators.
Attorney's have praised Mike’s creativity and doggedness. Said one attorney following a difficult employment mediation: "Your ideas were very creative, and your no-nonsense approach was exactly right for this case. I've been in over 200 mediations from all perspectives, but the job you did this week really stands out." Commented another: "Mike was very effective in building credibility with both plaintiffs and the defense in an emotionally charged case involving several plaintiffs. He was able to get to the heart of the issues and put the parties on a path to resolution while giving everyone an opportunity to be heard. His tireless follow up and accessibility was crucial to the resolution of the case." Said a third: "I have used mediators for over three decades, and Mike came up with approaches, ideas, and solutions that were new to me. That mediation was a success because Mike Young refused to let it fail."
Below is a sampling of the various matters Michael D. Young, Esq. handled as a practicing attorney or neutral.
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"We have mediated with Mr. Young numerous times and will do so again in the future. He is a top-flight expert at dispute resolution and I would recommend him without hesitation in any case."
- Attorney on an Employment Discrimination - Retaliation case
"Michael did a great job and made my client feel very comfortable with the process. I would use him again for sure."
- Attorney on an Employment Hostile Environment case
"Recommending creative solution on an impossible case."
- Attorney on an IP Patent Dispute
"I appreciated the way he gave our side room to talk and express emotional issues at the beginning but then moved to practical issues to bring the parties to a close."
- Attorney on an Employment/Discrimination Wage & Hour Dispute
"Great demeanor, effective use of time, moved the negotiation along until the case resolved."
- Attorney on an Employment Wrongful Termination Matter
"Mike was very effective in building credibility with both all sides in an emotionally charged case involving many parties. He quickly zeroed in on the heart of the issue while giving everyone a chance to be heard. He then set the stage for the path that ultimately led to resolution. I would not hesitate to recommend Mike and will certainly use him in the future."
- Attorney, Orange County, California
"Mike Young is great. He's smart, sharply focused, and by comparison [to another mediator], has a relaxed demeanor. But don't be fooled. He understands exactly where the case is and what the parties need, as well as how to move the case toward resolution. Mike is very creative and perceptive and knows how to put frazzled nerves at ease. His knowledge of employment law is deep and his nose for settlement is second to none. I'd entrust my case and my clients to him and believe that, if a settlement is possible, he will facilitate making it happen."
- Employment Attorney in Los Angeles
"I wanted to reach out and thank him for helping push this one over the edge and settled. I appreciate that he kept in the loop and helped navigate some strange waters."
- Attorney on an Employment Breach of Contract Matter
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