About Ann
Ann joins Absolute Dispute Solutions with more than 30 years as an employment and business trial lawyer and nearly a decade as a full-time neutral, during which she has mediated more than 1,000 employment disputes. During her career, she tried, arbitrated, and mediated employment and business disputes across the country, and served as a partner and rainmaker at several of the nation’s leading law firms.
She loves a challenge and focuses on highly sensitive and legally complex employment matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual assault, whistleblower, and wrongful termination claims.
Through pre-mediation calls and mini-sessions with all sides, Ann frames the issues before the parties ever meet. She prepares as though she were trial counsel for each side, studying the evidence, briefs, and law to pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of each position and how the case would be tried. Her trial experience lends weight to her read on likely outcomes and litigation risk. Candid and persistent, she often stays with the case after the session ends until it resolves.
Areas of Focus
- Business/Contractual
- Class Action
- Highly Sensitive and Legally Complex Employment Matters
Career
- 2016–presentFull-time Neutral
- 2016Partner, Payne & Fears, LLP
- 2015Mediator/Arbitrator, Ann Kotlarski Mediation
- 2013–2015Partner, Bryan Cave, LLP
- 2003–2013Partner, Seyfarth Shaw
- 2001–2003Director, Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May
- 2000–2001Lamb and Baute, LLP
- 1997–1999Of Counsel, Yuhl, Rhames, Yuhl & St. Clair
- 1991–1997Quinn EmanuelPartner (1995–1997); Litigation Associate (1991–1995)
- 1987–1991Whitman, Breed, Abbott & Morgan
Court Panel Appointments
- Los Angeles County Superior Court CRASH Program
Education & Training
- J.D., University of San Francisco School of Law, cum laude (1985)
- B.A., Northwestern University (1982)
- Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law: Mediating the Litigated Case; Women’s Negotiation Academy; Resolving Workplace Disputes Through Mediation and Other ADR Processes
Achievements & Awards
- Super Lawyers, Employment Litigation (2014–2016, 2018–2024)
Speaking & Writing
- Speaker, “Effective Mediation Practices: Thoughts and Observations of Selected Mediators,” Beverly Hills Bar Association CLE Program (2022)
- “The Current State of Affairs: Best Practices and Pitfalls in Negotiating Employment Law Disputes in Mediation,” Southern California Mediation Association Employment Mediation Institute (May 2016)
- “Valuation of Discrimination/Retaliation Cases in Mediation: A 360 Perspective,” LACBA Labor and Employment Symposium (March 2016)
- “Managing Leaves of Absence and Accommodations in California: An Essential Guide for In-House Employment and Corporate Counsel,” Celesq for Westlaw (February 2016)
- “Arbitrating in 2016: New Cases, Rules, Challenges and Opportunities” (January 2016)
- “HR Investigation Workshop: A Guide to Legal and Effective Inquiries,” Business Management Daily (January 2016)
Outside the Office
Ann spends her free time in the garden, on hiking trails, and at the easel. She also loves baking, yoga, reading, and taking on interior design projects.