Introduction
After 20 years of service, Judge Goldberg retired from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, 9th Circuit, Central District of California, where he presided over and mediated all types of bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy related issues including but not limited to class actions involving multiple insurance coverage issues, complex commercial matters involving real estate, banking/lending, title insurance, collateralized debt obligations, securities, patent, and copyright issues. During his time on the bench, Judge Goldberg earned a reputation with both the bench and the bar as the "go-to" guy for mediation of all types of problem disputes mediating many hundreds of cases for all other 21 Judges in the Central District.
After he retired, his passion for mediation remained front and center so much so that it led him to teach an advanced course in mediation skills at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Law School. He found it so invigorating that he ultimately decided to continue teaching and became an adjunct professor and to further serve the community as a private mediator with Judicate West. Judge Goldberg has been a featured speaker about bankruptcy, transportation, real estate, and family law, plus mediation and effective communication skills. He was a panel speaker at the International Conference of Judges sponsored by the World Bank and Pepperdine University at which over 40 nations were present, and he was recently one of four Professors/ judicial mediators to introduce mediation skills to lawyers and judges in the Republic of Uganda.
Many of the attorneys who have worked with Judge Goldberg over the years have commented that although their experience with him as a mediator was initially through the bankruptcy court, his skills are obvious to all and translate well into all other areas of civil litigation. He has settled cases that the lawyers felt could not settle and is gifted in legally complex cases and highly emotional cases.
Practice Areas
Experience Summary
Below is a sampling of the various matters Hon. Mitchel R. Goldberg, Ret. presided over on the bench, tried as an attorney, or handled as a neutral.
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Hobbies & Interests
Interests include travel, golf, working as a Hospice volunteer, teaching and children's story teller
Testimonials
"Judge Goldberg has an outstanding temperament for a mediator. He is a great study and tireless in working toward solution."
- Attorney on a Business/Contractual Case
"Judge Goldberg was efficient and friendly and it was obvious that he had read all the briefs and position statements that so many participants provided to him. He was very understanding and accommodating. "
- Attorney on a Business/Contractual Case
"Judge Goldberg was excellent as always. He was critical in resolving the matter for us."
- Attorney on a Real Property Case
"You are an artist and a magician in mediation!"
- Attorney on a Real Property Breach of Contract Case
"He saw problems clearly, wad prepared, did not act like a judge, understood the human dynamics, + pushed when necessary."
- Attorney on a Business/Contractual Case
"The mediation Judge Goldberg handled for our client reached a successful conclusion. The settlement was approved.
Some clients are more difficult than others - and Judge Goldberg handled our with ease.
I look forward to working with him again in the future."
- Attorney, Orange County, California
"Highly skilled, knowledgeable and personable. Very effective. Would love to work with Judge Goldberg again. One of the best mediators I've worked with in a long time."
- Attorney on a Real Estate Land Use Case
"Judge Goldberg is worth his weight in gold. He is engaging, highly intelligent, an incredibly "quick study." He digests complex matters quickly and is able to penetrate to the heart of the matter.
He is creative and able to address disparate interests to achieve resolutions. "
- Attorney on a Commercial Insolvency Issues Case
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