Neutral 4 Hire
(818) 889-5571
CONTACT NEUTRAL4HIRE FOR A BETTER RESOLUTION NOW!
Neutral4Hire will provide neutrals (e.g. mediators or arbitrators) for Real Estate, business, or personal disputes for clients represented or unrepresented by attorneys. Contact us. If we do not offer what you are looking for, we will help you find someone who does.
OPTIMAL SOLUTIONS IN PERSON OR ACROSS THE GLOBE
We can arbitrate or mediate in person, over the phone, or through the Internet.
FOUNDER OF NEUTRAL4HIRE
Keith Schulner, MBA, MDR, as a trial attorney, worked for plaintiffs and defendants and tried cases before juries and judges. He received worldwide recognition for his leadership role in a multimillion-dollar dispute that was successfully mediated. He has appeared in the media including CNN, NBC, Dutch Television, The Los Angeles Times, Money Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. He earned the highest rating possible, AV, from Martindale-Hubbell's Peer Review Ratings which "shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity."
Keith realized he was gifted with the ability to help people understand when it was in their best interest to settle and how to structure a settlement for maximum benefit. He knew that mediation would be an excellent use of these talents. To better help people with disputes and complicated financial or business problems, he earned a full Master of Business Administration (MBA) merit scholarship and was the first attorney to graduate with an MBA and Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) from Pepperdine, which tied Harvard for having the best Dispute Resolution program in our nation.
Keith has facilitated settlements at Mandatory Settlement Conferences and Mediated for California's Superior Courts. He has served as an arbitrator for the California Bar and Superior Court as well as a neutral for other organizations (see PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE below.) He lectured about dispute resolution at the University of California Santa Barbara, taught Conflict Resolution at the University of Phoenix and Pepperdine graduate school and appears in Marquis' prestigious Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in America, and Who's Who in the World.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
No one can, mediate, arbitrate, communicate, solve problems, and find opportunities for mutual gain better than Keith. With his experience as a Real Estate Broker, businessperson, entrepreneur, manager, attorney, and neutral, combined with his training in family law mediation, as well as his MBA and MDR, he can expertly bridge the gap between differing individuals.
AT FEES YOU CAN AFFORD
We can save you far more than the cost of our services. Our neutrals usually cost only a small fraction of the time and expense of litigation and trial. Our normal hourly fees are $360 per hour total (for example $180 per hour per party if two parties are sharing the fees). Ask about discounts based on need, for longer engagements, guaranteed hours, prepayment, or fee matching.
GUARANTEED RESULTS OR NO MEDIATOR FEES AND A FREE FUTURE MEDIATION?
Although our mediations usually result in settlements, no one, not even Neutral4Hire, can guarantee results or a settlement, and nothing in this website should be taken as such a prediction or guarantee. Yet, if a party makes an offer or demand during a mediation conducted by the Keith Schulner, and it is memorialized during or within a week after the mediation by a written offer to compromise under California Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) section 998 or Rule 68 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure with a copy sent to Keith, and such offer is surpassed at trial as judged by an award by the court of interest and/or costs for such, submit a copy of such award to receive a full refund of mediator fees paid by such party and receive a certificate good for the same dollar amount good for a future mediation to be used by the party and/or party's representative at the mediation.
Alternatively, if you contact Keith to help you reach a mutually beneficial improvement of a binding arbitration award or judgment involving multiple issues, for example a business or personal divorce with more issues than who gets what money, all mediation fees will be refunded if parties are not made better off because of the mediation.
WE PAY REFERRAL FEES!
If you refer us a client, we pay you 20% of the first non-discounted payment by the client you referred. Though Neutral4Hire neutrals may be licensed to practice law, Neutral4Hire acts as a neutral only and does not provide legal services, but recommends clients consult with an attorney regarding their legal rights and duties.
FREE SERVICES IF NEUTRAL4HIRE IS INCLUDED ON YOUR WEBSITE OR IN YOUR CONTRACTS
Contact Neutral4Hire now to include Neutral4Hire on your website for people to contact confidentially to discuss any possible conflicts and reduce litigation expenses, loss of customers or employees etcetera (sometimes referred to as an Ombudsman) or on your contracts to use in case a contract dispute occurs, and receive complementary services up to one hour per month.
WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING?
I want to personally thank you for your great work!
(Immediately after a settlement agreement was reached in mediation, the participants began discussing their next sale of property together. That is not a likely occurrence after a trial!)
BRAD LUSTER, Managing Partner, Major Properties
Keith is particularly skilled because of his depth as an MBA and an MDR and his experience as a Lawyer. Because of Keith's depth, he has been able to handle complex issues that require years of skill and training. He has demonstrated an ability to help parties communicate better, analyze risks, and explore options for their mutual satisfaction. In the last thirty years at UCSB, I have not seen anyone with Keith's breadth and depth in being prepared for the hard and complex cases.
GEOFFREY WALLACE PhD, UC, Santa Barbara Ombudsman
Thank you for your efforts on the Simpson v. Pierce matter [settled]. We truly appreciated all that you did and I found you to be an excellent mediator. Many mediators do nothing but try to make you uncomfortable with your case by attacking either the attorney, the facts or the law to try to force a settlement. Your services were truly unique in that you were very courteous and respectful to both the parties and counsel and you helped us arrive at a solution without suffering abuse and battery.
Most of all, at least on our side, we had total confidence and trust in what we could tell you and how you would approach the mediation. You are well suited for being a mediator in both approach and personality. I wish you the best of luck. I truly mean this, I was truly surprised. I did not expect you to be as good a mediator as you were. No offense, it is just that I know you do not have a full head of gray hair.
J. GRANT KENNEDY, Law Office of J. Grant Kennedy
I was very impressed with Mr. Schulner's outstanding mediation skills and his ability to focus all parties on the issues at hand. His experience was evident during our negotiation discussions. Mr. Schulner was able to persuade both the plaintiff attorney and his client to settle this matter in the interest of all parties. Mr. Schulner is an excellent mediator.
BONNIE JACOBS, Claims Specialist, The Doctors' Company
I wanted to thank you for your most diplomatic handling of an antagonistic situation. You provided a quiet, peaceful, smoke-free, informal setting that was conducive to the exchange of information. You explained everything in a way that a non-legal person like me could understand, yet without "talking down" to me. You maintained your composure throughout. You maintained eye contact as well and did not react emotionally to anything I said. I had the impression that you were listening carefully to our point of view and that you gave the same consideration to the other side with no previous bias. Do I have any suggestions that would make you a better mediator? No, none.
ESTHER NELSON, Professor, Cal State University Northridge
I give my highest recommendation to Keith A. Schulner. Mr. Schulner conducts himself with the utmost professionalism. He always prepares thoroughly and speaks articulately; his comments are always carefully thought out. In addition, Mr. Schulner has keen business and analytical skills.
REVEREND YOLANDA SOTO, JD, Law offices of Ricardo A. Torres II
Keith has helped me start and build my own successful business, with better income and quality of life than fulltime employment ever provided.
LISA JOY GOLDSTEIN, Owner, LJG Business Services
Web pages including Keith Schulner
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Principal Mediator, Arbitrator, Consultant 1997 - Present
Neutral4Hire.com, Oak Park, CA
Settled hundreds of cases saving participants millions of dollars in litigation costs by mediating or arbitrating business or personal disputes, especially those with complicated financial matters; advise clients regarding business, financial, conflict resolution, negotiation and communication matters; speak about negotiation and conflict resolution subjects. For Superior Court saved the government thousands of dollars in trial costs handling Mandatory Settlement Conferences for Presiding Judges. Handled every aspect of forming and running a new, profitable, business including creating, negotiating and writing up contracts for strategic partnership formation; planned and executed marketing strategy; created web pages; formed spread sheets and data processing files to track financial and client information; prepared and filed tax returns; mediated, litigated, arbitrated, and consulted for personal, family and business disputes. First place winner of eNegotiation International negotiation contest (used SmartSettle, an online or in person program especially useful in multi-issue negotiations and mediations.)
Real Estate Broker Agent 2003 - 2004
zipRealty, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, CA
Helped people buy and sell Real Estate. California Real Estate Broker License; Member of the National Association of Realtors; Southland Regional Association of Realtors; California Association of Realtors. Top Producer San Fernando Valley, January 2004.
Centers Business Management (CBM), Los Angeles County, CA 2003
Trained to help clients with their commercial Real Estate needs
Adjunct Professor / Lecturer / Instructor / Practitioner Faculty 2000 - Present
-University of Phoenix, Woodland Hills, CA
Teach Conflict Resolution, Business and Law Classes to working MBA students.
-Abraham Lincoln University Law School, CA
Taught Property Law to law students who cumulatively paid over $1000/hour to attend class and stated Mr. Schulner was a good professor.
Teach Business Negotiation and Conflict Resolution to graduate students, who cumulatively pay the university over $5,000/day to attend class.
-Concord Law School, Los Angeles, CA
Instructor for law schools students who mostly worked fulltime in addition to school
-University of California Santa Barbara , CA
Lectured and led class discussions regarding conflict resolution to students who enjoyed and learned from class
Managing Trial Attorney 1992 - 1999
L. M. Schulner & Associates, Camarillo, CA
Managed every phase of litigation from initial client interviews to jury and court trials including negotiating settlements; acted as Plaintiff, Defense and Cumis counsel; work has included breaches of contracts, crimes, torts, insurance coverage and claims; acted as liaison counsel, successfully representing over 50 plaintiffs in a multimillion dollar settlement of high profile cases; addressed questions worldwide on camera and in print for television, newspaper and magazine reporters; increased profits over fourfold during management
Arbitration and Mediation Panels 1998 - Present
-National
Panel of Construction Dispute Resolution Services (CDRS)
Help people resolve construction
disputes
-Ventura County Superior Court
Arbitrate and/or mediate Superior Court cases including construction issues
-Los Angeles County Superior Court
Arbitrate and/or mediate Superior Court cases including construction issues
Special Master and resolve attorney fee disputes
Mediated hundreds of disputes online
Act as a professional neutral to resolve disputes
-The Office of The Independent Administrator
On arbitration panel for disputes between Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. and its health plan members in California
-National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS)
Arbitrate cases including warranty for automobiles and homes
Mediate disputes involving securities
-California Dispute Settlement Program (CDSP)
Arbitrate warranty issues for automobiles (Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act / Lemon Law)
-Dispute Settlement Board
Arbitrated hundreds of disputes involving Ford Motors
-Southland Regional Association of REALTORS
Mediate Real Estate disputes
-United States Bankruptcy Court
On panel to mediate Bankruptcy disputes
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
Pepperdine Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution, M.D.R., 2000
GPA 87 (90 = A, 87 = A-)
Pepperdine University, School of Business and Management, Malibu, M.B.A., 2000
GPA 3.8 GMAT 770/800 (730 is top 1% for combined Verbal and Quantitative Skills); Earned full merit based scholarship at the internationally recognized MBA program; worked with Dean Goodrich and Dr. Lowry to create a program combining an M.B.A. with a Masters in Dispute Resolution; was the first such graduate from Straus, which tied Harvard as having the best Dispute Resolution Program in the United States; Externships with California Academy of Mediation Professionals and UCSB Ombuds Office
Loyola Law School Los Angeles and Admitted to California State Bar, J.D., 1992
Bar number 162937; Dean's List; Competed in Moot Court Acted as a General Relief Advocate for Public Counsel Homeless, Advocacy Project, Externships with Los Angeles County Public Defender, Burbank City Attorney's Office, Protection & Advocacy (non-profit organization helping physically and mentally disabled people), and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office
University of California Los Angeles, B.A., Economics / Business Management 1989
Dean's Honor Role; Ombuds Mediation Program Graduate; SPE Fraternity: Founder, Executive Board Member, Social Chair, Most Accomplished Active; UCLA Crew Team member; Martial Artist (Keith is a black belt); Pre-Law Society Treasurer and President
POST COLLEGE / COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Mentor for Loyola Law Students; Moot Court Judge; Singles Committee Member, Group Facilitator, Organizer and Leader for Federation Council; Fulfillment Fund Mentor and Committee Chair; Men's Club President; Jerome H. Berenson Inn's of Court Associate; Advisor for Camarillo High School in Mock Trial Competition; Camarillo Chamber of Commerce Diplomat, Legislative Committee Member and chosen for Executive Board; Capri II Home Owners' Association Treasurer, Member at Large, Vice President, President and Director; Gold Coast Bruins President; Ventura County Bruins President; Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution member; Association for Conflict Resolution member; State Bar Arbitrator; Disability Mediation Center volunteer; Mentor of Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC) ADR program
PARTIAL CLIENT LIST
As a professional neutral, Keith has helped hundreds of people and organizations settle their cases in a variety of issues included the below
A.S. Gillespie & Associates
AAA / Automobile Club Insurance
Allan K. Cutler, Attorney at Law
Allstate Insurance Company
Beach, Procter, McCarthy & Slaughter
Bloomingdale's
Bonne Bridges Mueller O'Keefe & Nichols
Bragg, Short, Serota & Kuluva
Carroll, Kelly, Trotter, Franzen & Mckenna
Catholic Healthcare West
Charlie's Fixtures
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies
CHW Risk Services
Cline & Associates
Cunningham & Lindsey
Downs & Associates
Early, Maslach, Rudnicki & Rossnagel
ETS Express Inc.
Explorer Insurance Company
Farmers Insurance
Gilbert, Kellly, Crowley & Jennett
Girardi and Keese
Hacker, Kanowsky & Braly, LLP
HCN Realty
Hornberger & Brewer, Attorneys at Law
Houl & Houl
Jack L Mattingly, APC
Keating & Keating
Klein, Testan & Brundo
Kuzyk Law
Law Office of Robert J. Waechter
Law Offices of Amante A. Pimentel
Law Offices of Brian S. Weinberger
Law Offices of Brownwood & Rice
Law Offices of Chapman, Gluckman & Dean
Law Offices of Craig A. Humphrey Esq.
Law Offices of Douglas J. Schiffer
Law Offices of Eugene Egan
Law Offices of Gregory J. Khougaz
Law Offices of Hausman & Sosa, LLP
Law Offices of Hawkins, Schnabel, Lindahl & Beck
Law Offices of Isaac Nalive
Law Offices of J. Grant Kennedy
Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Reichman
Law Offices of Knapp, Marsh, Jones & Doran
Law Offices of Larry A. Rothstein
Law Offices of Lawrence W. Scott, MD & Associates
Law Ofices of L. M. Schulner & Associates
Law Offices of Marsha Munemura
Law Offices of Mohammad Nadim
Law Offices of Neil F. Schwartz
Law Offices of Nolan B. Henderson
Law Offices of Peter R. diDonato
Law Offices of Rex Parris
Law Offices of Richardson, Bambrick, Cermak & Fair
Law Offices of Robert B. Treister
Law Offices of Spile & Siegal, LLP
Law Offices of Tabone A Professional Corporation
Law Offices of Zimmerman & Kahanowitch,
Leon D. Fleishman, Attorney at Law
Lewis, D'Amato, Brisbois, & Bisgaard, LLP
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
Los Angeles City
Los Angeles County
Lowthorp, Richards, McMillan, Conway & Templeman
Major Properties
Manning & Marder, Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
Mercury Insurance
Michael S. Mischel & Associates
O'Connor & Martin
Osborn & Associates
Paul and Janofsky
Pacific Employers Insurance Company
Pacific First
Pritchett~Rapf & Associates Realtors
Progressive Insurance
Prudential Property and Casualty Insurance Company
Raleigh & Associates
RE/MAX
Robert A Lisnow A Prof. Corp
Rosen and Loeb
Royal Specialty Underwriting Inc., (RSUI)
SAFECO Insurance
SBC Pacific Bell
Schaffer, Lax, McNaughton & Chen
Shane & Digiuseppe
Spray, Gould & Bowers
Stone, Rosenblatt & Cha
The Doctors' Company
Travelers Property Casualty, A member of Citigroup
Wood & Bender
CONTACT NEUTRAL4HIRE FOR A BETTER RESOLUTION NOW!
(818) 889-5571
The number (818) 889-5571 follows Keith Schulner, MBA, MDR, Esq. so it may take up to a dozen rings but you will reach Keith or his voicemail.
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