Biography
Janet brings more than 25 years of experience as a neutral to Absolute. Today she focuses exclusively on mediation and settlement allocation, drawing on nearly a decade as an arbitrator. Since 1999, she has settled thousands of cases across nearly every area of civil law, including personal injury, catastrophic injury and wrongful death, employment, professional liability, and sexual assault and abuse matters.
Every case is a blank canvas to her. Rather than arriving with a template, Janet comes prepared and focused on the people, the pressures, and what a workable resolution looks like for everyone at the table. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants, she understands each side’s risks and is a trusted choice for counsel on both sides.
Janet is nationally recognized for resolving complex sexual assault and abuse cases involving religious organizations, public and private educational institutions, corporations, and medical providers. These cases are deeply sensitive and often involve dozens of parties across multiple time zones. Janet brings a steady presence to every session, along with the organization, time management, and insurance coverage experience needed to guide all parties to resolution. She has earned a reputation for reading the room, offering compassion when it’s needed and firmness when it counts.
Choosing to be a mediator has given me the opportunity to be of service and to build lifelong relationships that have translated into a wonderful life. Learning through others’ misfortune and conflict has taught me to appreciate and be grateful for family, friends, and professional longevity.
Areas of Focus
- Catastrophic Personal Injury / Wrongful Death
- Employment
- Insurance Coverage
- Professional Liability
- Sexual Assault / Abuse, specializing in highly sensitive molestation and abuse cases
Career
- 1999–presentFull-time neutral and allocator
- 1999–2008Arbitrator
- 1993–1999Partner, Fields & Fields, professional liability (plaintiff and defense)
- 1989–1993Trial attorney: personal injury, commercial litigation, and professional liability
Education & Training
- J.D., Empire College of Law, Santa Rosa (1984)
- B.A., Sonoma State University (1978)
- Masters in Mediation, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law
Affiliations & Recognition
- International Academy of Mediators, Fellow and Board of Governors
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
- Super Lawyers, Alternative Dispute Resolution, every year since 2002
- Daily Journal, Top Neutrals in California, 2007–2015
- Best Lawyers in America, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Speaking & thought leadership
- California Co-Chair, Harvard Negotiation Insight Initiative, Harvard Law School
- Author and presenter on advanced mediation topics, including Hidden Agendas, Master Mediator Magic, and Mediating with Challenging Personalities
- Leader, “Heartfelt Conversations”
- “Finding the Balance,” a program on the challenges professionals face balancing work and personal life
- Speaker on plaintiff and defense panels for bar associations
- Speaker, “Resolving Cases Virtually: Plaintiff & Defense Perspectives,” webinar (November 2020)
Outside the Office
Janet treasures time with family and friends, and enjoys golf, snow skiing, cooking, wine, and travel. She is also a passionate Los Angeles Dodgers and Rams fan.