Nationally-recognized arbitrator and mediator experienced in the resolution of complex disputes in business and commercial law, both domestic and international (including mergers and acquisitions [incl. earn-outs], intellectual property, biotech, employment, franchise, insurance coverage, reinsurance, litigation management, business torts, wage and hour, entertainment, securities, aviation, commercial real estate, banking, probate and partnership law), in a wide variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, fashion, textiles & apparel, aerospace/defense contractors, condominium and shopping center development & leasing, advertising, banking and savings and loans, gaming, food & beverages/restaurants, healthcare (doctors, pharmacies, health insurance, nursing homes, home health agencies, HMOs, dentists and hospitals--failure to pay for Covered Provider Services, denials of Subscriber Claims), school districts, police departments, municipalities, security guard services, international beverage distribution, scrap metal export, agriculture (vegetables, migrant workers), direct marketing, multi-level marketing, U. S. Postal Service, law firms, accounting firms, medical,  dental and  other partnerships; media: radio, television, infomercials, motion picture, newspaper. In cases involving aviation/aircraft liability and pilot instruction; employment (discrimination - sex, race, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation and sexual harassment; wrongful termination; retaliation; non-disclosure; wage and hour; and breach of covenant not to compete and fiduciary duty; class actions); intellectual property and licensing, misappropriation of trade secrets, trade dress infringement and failure to de-identify; biotechnology--sale of patents; business torts; commercial contracts and leases, communications, computers/technology; consumer disputes; construction defect and earthquake damage; entertainment (radio, TV, motion picture production, songwriter credits/royalties, construction of recording studio, disputes re personal management contracts including right to residuals); franchisor-franchisee; First Amendment including slander and defamation; foreclosure; partnership disputes and dissolutions; medical and legal malpractice; negligence, personal injury; ADA & FEHA compliance and discrimination claims; trusts, conservatorships and estates; product and premises liability; software joint venture; securities industry (broker-dealer and customer-broker disputes); taxation-municipal and corporate; and unfair competition, commercial real estate development partnership disputes. Mediated multi-party construction defect matters including dispute by homeowners association against contractor, subcontractors, architect and engineers; SaaS applications, internet, website design and eDiscovery.

Deborah has been recognized for professional excellence in both mediation and arbitration since 2006, as well as one of California's Best Arbitrators by BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA which, in 2012, named Deborah the "Best Arbitrator in Los Angeles."  WHO'S WHO LEGAL in 2023 named her a Thought Leader - USA - in Commercial Mediation. Deborah has been honored as a California SUPER LAWYER in the field of ADR from 2006 to the present; as a Tier1 Best Lawyer in America (California) in the field of ADR from 2006 to the present; as one of 34 Power Entertainment Mediators in the U.S. by the Hollywood Reporter in 2007. 

June, 1971. B.A., Yale College, Magna cum Laude. June, 1976. Juris Doctor, New York University School of Law. June, 1976. Masters, Public Affairs, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton Univ. ADR Training: *Extensive arbitration & mediation training: American Arbitration Assoc. (annual trainings), ABA, College of Commercial Arbitrators. Certified in mediation by L. A. County Bar Assoc. ("LACBA") Dispute Resolution Services ("DRS"). *Trained by Army Corps of Engineers: construction partnering. **Trained by Department of Justice: mediation of ADA claims.  *Trained by FINRA--mediation & arbitration of securities disputes.

*Panel of Arbitrators and Mediators, American Arbitration Association. Large Complex Case Panel, eCommerce B2B, Commercial, International and Employment Law Panels.

*Former President, Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators.

*Fellow, International Academy of Mediators. .

**Board of Directors (former), Center for Civic Mediation, fka Dispute Resolution Services Inc., L. A. County Bar Association.

**Former Chair, Beverly Hills Bar Assoc. Labor & Emp. Law Section (2005 - 2006).

**Former Chair, Beverly Hills Bar Assoc. ADR Section (2004 - 2005). Current Memberships include the ABA and LACBA.

Available via Zoom or in-person at daily or hourly rates. 

No additional charge for class mediations. 

Spanish