MAP Background Information Provided

Katherine S. Clark

Law Offices of Katherine S. Clark
919 The Alameda
San Jose, CA 95126

(650) 289-9303 Fax:(408) 920-2544

500 per hour

No administrative fees or costs will be charged. An initial retainer fee of $1,000 will be invoiced on booking. The retainer is fully refundable if cancellation occurs more than 14 days prior to the scheduled Mediation, ENE or Arbitration. Travel costs will be billed for travel outside bay area only.

0094871

Attorney

Katherine Clark has been regularly mediating civil cases since 2013. She has and continues to serve as a volunteer mediator for day of trial small claims cases in Alameda County and San Mateo County Superior Courts. Since 2015, she has been mediating employment cases (discrimination, wrongful termination and breach of contract) for the United States District Court - Northern District. She also served as a volunteer mediator for the Palo Alto Mediation Program between 2014 and 2018.

Pepperdine University School of Law – Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, completed in August of 2013, practice group sessions and various continuing education courses on Mediation.

Ms. Clark has served as a Court-assigned Arbitrator in the San Mateo County Superior Court since 1986.

Since 2015, Ms. Clark has served as an Early Neutral Evaluator for cases pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District, with an emphasis on evaluation of employment disputes.

As a litigator for over 30 years, Ms. Clark has extensive experience attending Settlement Conferences, as a client advocate. She has not served as a formal pro tempore Settlement Judge.

B.A. Communications & Public Policy, U.C. Berkeley; J.D., Hastings College of the Law.

Mediation statements are requested and should be submitted one week prior to the mediation session. Depending on the specific case, Ms. Clark will utilize a combination of facilitative and directive approaches to mediation. She will also employ an evaluative approach when necessary. If the parties reach an impasse and the parties are receptive to a Mediator's Proposal, she will convey one. If the parties need additional discovery to make an informed decision on settlement, she will schedule a follow up mediation session. If the parties need assistance on writing up the terms of their settlement agreement, Ms. Clark will offer guidance and assistance.

Ms. Clark uses a flexible approach, depending on the preference of the parties. If desired, parties may dispense with formal opening statements and evidence can be presented as an offer of proof, subject to cross-examination. Short closing arguments are preferred. Based on the evidence and the applicable law, Ms. Clark will render an appropriate award.

Ms. Clark will hear testimony of witnesses and will receive documentary evidence presented by both sides. Based on the applicable statutes and case law, Ms. Clark will prepare an evaluation report explaining how, in her opinion, a court is likely to rule on the case.

With her background and experience, Ms. Clark is neutral and impartial.

Katherine Clark has practiced law in San Mateo County and other counties throughout the State of California for over thirty years. From 1980 through 2001, she was employed as an Associate Attorney and later Partner with Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley in Redwood City. She regularly represented clients in personal injury, real estate, construction defect, government tort claims and employment matters. In 2002, she started her own practice, specializing in employment advice and litigation. She has served as an Arbitrator, Judge Pro Tempore, Mediator and Neutral Evaluator for the State and Federal Courts in the Bay Area. She has served on the Board of Directors of the San Mateo County Bar Association. She has successfully mediated settlements of hundreds of civil cases including employment discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, personal injury, real estate, contract and various business disputes.