Scott Berman, J.D.

5235 Mission Oaks Blvd., Suite 101

Camarillo, CA 93012

Tel: (805) 797-7775

Fax: (888) 726-8982

Email: scott@scottberman.com

Website; www.bermanADR.com

Scott Berman brings an astute combination of the legal and business worlds to his practice as a court-approved mediator. Mr. Berman, while not an attorney, is conversant with the language, structure, and workings of the law; in addition to possessing a JD degree he has administered the unlawful detainer program for a municipal housing and redevelopment agency. Approaching disputes with a businessperson’s judgment and economic sensibility, Mr. Berman speaks the language of the disputants, while his knowledge of the law enables him to converse intelligently and productively with the parties’ attorneys.

An experienced lease and contract negotiator for an international Fortune 500 company as well as a commercial real estate broker for thirty years, Mr. Berman provides the perspective of an entrepreneur and the negotiating skills of a seasoned deal-maker. His business background is an invaluable tool in connecting with the parties. Instead of using adversarial techniques, Mr. Berman crafts outside-the-box solutions that advance the interests of all those involved in the mediation. This strategy dovetails with the belief that one can be a better advocate by understanding each side’s position while having no vested interest in furthering one over the other. Mr. Berman employs his legal training, education, and deal-making expertise to guide the parties toward a creative, satisfactory, and expeditious dispute closure—a resolution that everyone can live with.

Mr. Berman holds a bachelor’s degree in real estate finance and business administration and has proven leadership experience from his tenure as president of a corporate real estate association. He received his formal mediation training at the Pepperdine University School of Law-Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, but his conflict resolution skills are the result of a lifetime of experience. Currently serving on the Ventura Superior Court Mediation Panel as a Qualified Civil Mediator, he also mediates limited jurisdiction cases for The Calif. Academy of Mediation Professionals (CAMP), is a panel member of the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement (VCDS), is a provider panel member of the Center for Conflict Resolution (CFR), and participates on the grievance committee of a local board of realtors. A member of the Southern California Mediation Association and the Association for Conflict Resolution, Mr. Berman has conducted negotiations worldwide with emphasis on the Asian-Pacific region. Mr. Berman is sensitive to cultural values and international differences and has extensive experience working with Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Hispanic disputants.

Each case is unique and Mr. Berman honors that uniqueness, ably shifting from facilitative to evaluative and, occasionally, transformative styles. Today’s disputes are increasingly characterized by sophisticated parties with complicated issues–issues that call for a mediator experienced with both legal and business matters. An effective mediation should not follow a one-size-fits-all formula, but must utilize an array of appropriate methods. Mr. Berman’s technique varies depending on the desires of the disputants and their counsel, the nature of the case, and his intuition regarding the circumstances. Mr. Berman tailors his approach to the subject matter of each case, but gives equal importance to the personalities of the disputants.

Scott Berman has the tenacity, patience, flexibility, and creativity to keep trying different options, persisting until the case is resolved. His approach to mediation goes beyond merely understanding the litigation alternative and weighing the strength and value of the case. One reason for his successful track record is that he tempers the adversarial nature of a case; he sets a tone that encourages the parties to really listen to each other. Mr. Berman skillfully guides the parties and their counsel to obtain closure by creating a safe atmosphere where everyone is heard. He connects with the participants and understands their points of view; establishes trust; clarifies issues and interests; and helps both sides gain a better understanding and appreciation of the other’s position, finding common ground and, ultimately, resolution of the dispute.

Areas of Practice

Commercial & Residential Real Estate, Landlord-Tenant, Predatory Mortgage Lending, Homeowners & Condominium Associations, Breach of Contract, Business/Corporate Matters, Construction Claims, Technology, Intellectual Property, Computers & Technology, Elder Law Dispute Resolution, Equine Disputes, Neighbor Disputes, Online Auction Disputes, Multicultural Negotiations, Workplace Disputes, Small Claims

Education

Juris Doctor, 1983, Lincoln Law School, Sacramento

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Real Estate, 1977, (cum laude),

California State University, Northridge

Mediation Training

Pepperdine University School of Law, 2005, “Mediating the Litigated Case”

Credentials & Licenses

Licensed California Real Estate Broker, 1978

Professional Affiliations and Volunteer Work

·        Qualified Civil Mediator of the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura
(2006 to Present)

·        Los Angeles Superior Court Mediation Program Panel Member, California Academy of Mediation Professionals ("CAMP")

(2008 to Present)

 ·        Panel Member, Ventura Center for Dispute Resolution

     (2006 to Present)

·        Provider Panel Member, Center for Conflict Resolution (CFR)

(2008 to Present)

·        Volunteer Mediator, 4.29 Korean American Coalition  

(2006)

·        Coach-Mentor Peer Mediation Invitational, Western Justice Center Foundation
(2005 & 2006)

·        Grievance Committee Member, Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors,
(2006 to Present)

·        Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA)

·        Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR)

·        American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution

·        President, National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives (NACORE),
Silicon Valley Chapter
(1993-1994)

Employment Affiliations

·        Mediator, BermanADR, 2005 to present

·        Manager of Real Estate, Lee Properties, LTD., 2007 to present

·        Director of Retail Development, General Development Company, 2006-2007

·        Commercial Real Estate Broker, ScottBerman.com, 1994-2005

·        Senior Corporate Real Estate Negotiator, Tandem Computers, Inc., 1991-1994

·        Corporate Real Estate Negotiator, Amdahl Corporation, 1989-1991

·        Legal Assistant, Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency 1986-1989