Rande Sotomayor brings over 35 years of domestic and international legal and dispute resolution experience to her independent ADR practice. Each case receives her dedicated preparation and focus. Tenacious, intuitive, and with exceptional ability to perceive and manage the emotional component of any conflict, Rande’s approach delivers consistently excellent results.
EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND
With significant trial, arbitration, and appellate experience, Rande has helped parties resolve hundreds of disputes, with specialties in the following subjects:
- REAL ESTATE (commercial, residential, purchase/sale, nondisclosure, deposits, real estate development, mold, quiet title, HOA disputes, offer/acceptance, brokers and agents, construction, landlord/tenant, warranty of habitability, wrongful eviction, boundary disputes, neighbor disputes, eminent domain, land use, nuisance, lender liability, creditors’ rights, property damage)
- PERSONAL INJURY (toxic tort, auto and other vehicular accidents, premises liability, pedestrians, family issues, product liability, public property)
- INSURANCE (ERISA benefits, disability, life, AD&D, coverage, general commercial liability, directors’ and officers’ coverage, additional insureds, home warranty)
- EMPLOYMENT (wrongful termination, discrimination, wage and hour, accommodation, ERISA benefits and union issues, retaliation claims, workplace disputes, breach of contract, defamation, non-compete agreements, proprietary information and trade secrets)
- BUSINESS/CONTRACTS (product placement, promotion, licensing, and distribution agreements, partnership disputes, financial institutions, lending administration, predatory lending, family business, breach of contract, unfair trade practices, Business & Professions Code 17200, consumer, tort claims)
LEGAL AND ADR EXPERIENCE
| 2020 | Professional judge, Australia Dispute Centre (ADC) – International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition. (Sydney, Australia) |
| 2016 – 2021 | Professional mediator/judge, ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris, France. Invited for 2019. Co-Coached Loyola Law School Mediation Team for 2019 and 2020 Competitions. |
| 1999 – Present | Mediator and Arbitrator (over 300 hours of mediation and arbitration education, training, and teaching) |
| 2010 – Present | Principal, Sotomayor Law – Mediator, Conflict Resolution Consultant, Attorney, Arbitrator |
| 2015 – Present | Panel Mediator, California Association of Realtors, Mediation Center for Consumers |
| 2014 – Present | Panel Mediator, California Associations Institute – Greater Los Angeles Chapter |
| 2013 – Present | Panel Mediator, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California |
| 2004 – Present | Mediator and Arbitrator, Los Angeles County Superior Court |
| 2008 – 2010 | Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP (following merger with Bannan, Frank & Terzian) – Partner in 85 – attorney business and litigation law firm |
| 1996 – 2008 | Bannan, Frank & Terzian, LLP – Of Counsel and Partner in 12 – attorney litigation law firm |
| 1983 – 1996 | Adams, Duque & Hazeltine – Associate and Of Counsel in 100 – attorney business and litigation law firm |
INDUSTRY RECOGNITION
- Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators
- Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
- Member, Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR)
- Selected to elite international working group on training over 130 international mediators to judge and mediate the 2018 ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris, France
- Selected as one of five judges for the Final Competition Match at the 2018 ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition
- Selected for the 2017-2021 Southern California Super Lawyers lists in Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating (Peer-Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence)
- Named a Top Attorney by Pasadena Magazine, 2016-2021.
EDUCATION
1983 – J.D., Washington University in St. Louis; Notes and Comments Editor, Washington University Law Quarterly
1980 – B.A., Duke University, Magna Cum Laude
PROFESSIONAL AND CHARITABLE ASSOCIATIONS
In addition to the invitation-only panels and associations above, Rande has been affiliated with the Los Angeles County Bar Association; Pasadena Bar Association; American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section; Southern California Mediation Association; IVAMS Arbitration & Mediation Services. Board Member, Pasadena Senior Center. Past Board Member, San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce. Past President, National Charity League, Pasadena Area Chapter.
PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“It’s All about Us – How to Win with Kindness,” Medium.com, June 12, 2020
“The best worst thing to happen to California lawyers in 2019 – Disclosure to Clients of Mediation Confidentiality under Evidence Code Section 1129 Requires A Written Disclosure to Clients before Mediation,” Advocate, August 2019
“Notre Dame and the forces in mediation,” Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 18, 2019
“Transforming a Mediation into a Positive Outcome for All Parties,” Los Angeles Lawyer, July/August 2017
“Effective Mediation Briefs,” California Lawyer, August 2014
“Practical Advice for Getting Results in Business Mediation,” Big News for Solo & Small Firms (CA State Bar), Summer 2014
- A Mediator’s Tips for Avoiding Litigation (or at Least Ending it Early), October 2021.
- The Four-Word Solution to Most of Your Conflicts – San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce, January 2021. Recording available at https://sangabrielchamber.org/zoom-events-video-archive/ (Presentation from 27:50 to 1:05:33 in the audio).
- California Evidence Code Section 1129 – An Opportunity to Strengthen the Attorney-Client Relationship, San Gabriel Valley Bar Ass’n, May 2019.
- Culture and Implicit Bias – Strategies to Improve Practice in Mediation and Beyond. – Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, January 2019. Giovanniello Law Group, March 2019.
- Cross-Cultural Issues In Mediation: What Is Culture, Does It Affect Negotiations in Mediation, and How Can We Use It to Improve the Mediation Process and the Outcome? – Western San Bernardino County Bar Association, September 2018.
- Mediation Basics: What, When, Who, & How? – New Attorney Academy, Riverside County Bar Association & Riverside County Superior Court, February 2018.
- Panel trainer of 130+ mediators from over 30 countries in judging and mediating at the 13th International Chamber of Commerce Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris, France, February 2018.
- Is Mediation Confidentiality Important To You? A Discussion of California’s Proposed Exception for Alleged Attorney Malpractice, Pasadena Bar Association, December 2017.
- How to Succeed in Mediation 2017 – MCLE presentation for the San Gabriel Valley Bar Association, November 2017.
- Real World Mediation Problems with Cross-Cultural Barriers – Guest lecturer in Loyola Law School class, Cross-Border & Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution, October 2017.
- Transformative Moments in Commercial Mediation – Techniques for Success – Presented MCLE Workshop at the Southern California Mediation Association’s 29th Annual Fall Conference, October 2017.
- Business Foundations: Conflict Consciousness, Mediation Mentality, & Resourceful Resolution – Guest Lecturer in undergraduate business class on Interpersonal Competence, Influence, & Development, March 2017.
- “THEORY of MED-ARB & ARB-MED: Why? Where? When?” – International panel presentation as part of program entitled “MED-ARB/ARB-MED: MAKING DISPUTE RESOLUTION FASTER, CHEAPER, BETTER,” at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Toronto Chapter’s Fall 2016 Symposium.
- Navigating Family and Divorce Issues in Psychotherapy, 2016. Panel presentation for marriage and family therapists to better understand their clients’ experiences facing divorce, other family conflicts, mediation, legal processes, financial issues, and obstacles to decision-making. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, San Gabriel Valley Chapter.
- Resolution – What Happens When A Family Decides to Dissolve? – Guest Lecturer for course in Divorce at California State University, Los Angeles, 2016.
- How to Succeed in Mediation, 2016. Presented MCLE program addressing issues including when to mediate, choosing a mediator, preparing for mediation, mediation confidentiality, joint sessions, dealing with unrepresented parties, mediator’s proposals, and handling negotiations when cases do not resolve in mediation.
- Elder Care Planning Community Seminar, Arcadia, CA, 2016. Contributed discussion about mediation for families confronting conflict on issues of elder care, estate planning, and distribution of assets under wills and trusts.
- Keeping Negotiations on Track – How to Manage Conflicts before Claims Arise, for Real Estate Professionals, 2015. Presented program on negotiating techniques to de-escalate conflict and create win-win deals; dealing with difficult personalities; handling emotions in negotiation; techniques to save a deal and lead to more referrals.
- Mediation Basics, 2015. Presenter & Moderator, San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce Legal Education Forum.
- Mediation Q & A, 2014. Presenter, San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce Legal Education Forum.
- Negotiation Tactics: “Puffing” vs. Misrepresentation in Mediation, 2014. Presenter, The Esquire Network – Downtown Litigators.
- What Is Mediation?, Presenter, West Los Angeles Chamber Legal Education Panel, 2014.
VIDEOS
RANDE’S JOURNEY
Rande shares part of her personal journey from childhood to eventually making her home and business base in the San Gabriel Valley on the SGV Master Key podcast, a show that highlights the people and small businesses in the San Gabriel Valley in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.