| Name: | George B. Richardson | ||||
| Address: | Law and Mediation Offices of George B. Richardson | ||||
| 3790 El Camino Real #1122 | |||||
| Palo Alto, CA 94306 | |||||
| Telephone: | (650) 324-4801 | ||||
| Email: | George@gbrfamilylaw.com | ||||
| Fees: | $450 per hour | ||||
| Other Costs: | Fees from $450/hr. for up to 3 hours (TBD beyond 3 hrs.). Fees subject to agreement. International telephone costs, direct costs of pleadings and service of same, 4% of fees to cover all other costs. | ||||
| BAR Number: | 0055013 | ||||
| Current Status: | Attorney | ||||
| Mediation Experience: | I practice Family Law exclusively. Almost all of my practice is assisting people to reach their own solutions to the disputes they are facing without any court intervention. This includes mediation [where I assist the parties to find a resolution, but do not tell them what each must do], acting as reviewing lawyer in mediations [in which I advise people who are mediating their disputes], representing clients in Collaborative Practice [in which my client and I enter into a written agreement that we will meet together with the other person in the dispute to settle their matter and will not ask the court to make decisions about those disputes], and arbitration and private judging [where I act as a judge to make a decision about the dispute and prepare an order based on the evidence and arguments presented to me]. |
| Mediation Training: | Nearly a hundred hours of formal training in mediation and settlement techniques, plus numerous other courses since 1994 to refine and improve these techniques. Since 1998, I have trained practitioners, including lawyers, mental health professionals, and financial professionals, in the techniques of Collaborative Practice in Australia and throughout the United States and Canada. I am the former co-chair of the Committee on Standards for Practitioners and Trainers of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals [IACP] and founder and former co-chair of the Advisory Council on Collaborative Trainers and Practitioners to the IACP. |
| Arbitration Experience: | I have conducted numerous arbitrations dealing with the division and allocation of property, legal fees and costs. |
| Other Education: |
Princeton University, BA, with honors, 1969; Stanford Law School, JD, 1972 |
| Mediation Approach: |
In mediation, as in Collaborative Practice, I seek to facilitate the parties in reaching a settlement that is appropriate for their case. When required due to budget or time constraints, I may be more inclined to suggest options or arternatives. However, my overall approach is to help the participants to identify their needs and to create mutually acceptable ways to meet those needs. |
| Arbitration Approach: |
In arbitration, I seek to reduce the time and expense for the parties with pre-hearing planning to identify and narrow issues. I encourage the participants to prepare short statements of the case and offers of proof with respect to the constested and uncontested issues. |
| Other Information: |
Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. |