Keith Schulner

GENERAL OVERVIEW

Hon. Keith Schulner, MBA, MDR, is uniquely qualified to help you with your construction issues in that he earned a Master of Dispute Resolution, has construction litigation experience as an attorney, and acted as a mediator and arbitrator for construction issues. He has helped thousands of people resolve their disputes. Have him help you.

Keith Schulner, 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."

Judge Schulner 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.

Judge Schulner has facilitated settlements as a Judge Pro Tem and Mediator in 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.

EDUCATION

M.D.R., Pepperdine Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution     2000
GPA 87 (90 = A, 87 = A-)
M.B.A., Pepperdine University, School of Business and Management, Malibu,     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

J.D., Loyola Law School Los Angeles and Admitted to California State Bar     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

B.A., University of California Los Angeles, 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 (Judge Schulner is a black belt); Pre-Law Society Treasurer and President

Dispute Resolution experience

Judge
California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, Oxnard Office of Appeals, CA  2004 - Present
Hear and rule on cases as an administrative law judge for the board, which hears cases involving unemployment, disability and employment tax issues. Keith was promoted after earning the second highest promotional exam result in California at that time.

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 construction, 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. Act as Judge Pro Tem for Superior Court saving the government thousands of dollars in trial costs sitting as Judge for 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 construction, 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.)

Arbitration and Mediation Panels     1998 - Present

-CDRS National Panel of Construction Dispute Resolution Specialists

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

-California State Bar

Mediate attorney fee disputes

-Construction Arbitration Services, Inc

Arbitrate home warranty and construction defect issues

-SquareTrade

Mediated hundreds of disputes online

-National Arbitration Forum
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

-NASD Securities Exchange

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

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.

As a professional neutral, Keith has heard and decided many issues involving hundreds of participants including the below:*(# is number of cases heard with entity, individual’s names are not listed unless part of an entity):

Construction or Construction Law Background

Construction Arbitration Services, Inc
Arbitrate home warranty and construction defect issues
 
Managing Trial Attorney
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; 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. Work included construction issues
 
-National Center for Dispute Settlement (NCDS)
Arbitrate warranty cases including for homes

- Southland Regional Association of REALTORS
Mediate real estate disputes including construction issues utilizing among other skills and training, construction education acquired prior to passing real estate broker's exam on first try
 
-CDRS National Panel of Construction Dispute Resolution Specialists
Help people resolve construction disputes
 
-Ventura County Superior Court
Arbitrate and/or mediate Superior Court cases including construction issues
 
-Los Angeles County Superior Court  (PDF)
Arbitrate and/or mediate Superior Court cases including construction issues

Professional Affiliations

Arbitrator and Member State Bar of California
Mediator and Arbitrator for Superior Courts in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties
Martindale Hubbell A-V rated
Who’s Who in American Law
Who's Who in America
Who's Who in the World

Additional Information

No one can, mediate, arbitrate, communicate, solve problems, and find opportunities for mutual gain better than Judge Schulner. With his experience as a Real Estate Broker, businessperson, entrepreneur, manager, attorney, and judge, combined with his training in mediation, as well as his MBA and MDR, he can expertly bridge the gap between differing individuals.

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
 
 
Web pages including Keith Schulner
 
CNN
 
The Acorn
 
Daily Bruin
 
Associated Press
 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

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.

-Pepperdine University, CA
Teach Business Negotiation and Conflict Resolution to graduate students, who cumulatively pay the university over $5,000/day to attend class.

-University of California Santa Barbara; CA
Lectured and led class discussion regarding conflict resolution to students who enjoyed and learned from class.

-Concord Law School, Los Angeles, CA
Instructor for law schools students who mostly worked fulltime in addition to school

 

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; Judge and 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