About Lauren
Lauren has served as a neutral since 2012 and has mediated hundreds of cases. Before that, she spent 33 years as a trial attorney and law firm owner handling medical negligence, premises liability, and wrongful death matters, which make up the majority of her mediation practice today. She also mediates business and real estate disputes.
Lauren is known for maintaining steady control of negotiations and is especially effective in emotionally charged cases, where she draws on strong emotional intelligence and deep experience with complex medical issues.
Attorneys appreciate that she takes the time to understand each case and designs the process around it. They also value her ability to listen to frustrated clients with empathy while speaking candidly about risk. She builds trust quickly, helps the parties set realistic expectations, and keeps momentum going so they can make well-informed decisions.
My work as a neutral resolving cases is by far, the most rewarding of my career. I have worked hard my entire personal and professional life to develop the skills required to be an effective mediator and am both proud and humbled to do this work.
Areas of Focus
- All types of Medical Malpractice
- All types of Personal Injury
Career
- 2012–presentMediator
- 2003–presentManaging Partner, Tate & Associates, specializing in all types of medical malpractice and personal injury
- 2000–2002Partner, Livingston Tate, LLP
- 1998–2000Attorney, Shane & Taitz
- 1996–1998Attorney, Lucey, Watkins & Lamson
- 1994–1996Attorney, Anderson, Galloway & Lucchese
- 1990–1994Attorney, Achor & Miller
- 1986–1989Attorney, Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon
Court & Bar Panel Appointments
- Settlement Panelist, Marin County Superior Court (2012–present)
- ADR Program Panelist, Contra Costa County Superior Court
- Mediation Program Panelist, Alameda County
Education & Training
- J.D., University of California, Davis School of Law (1986)
- B.A., University of California, Berkeley (1982)
- Advanced Mediation Skills & Techniques, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University (2016, 2018)
- Mediation and Collaborative Practice, Woody Mosten (2016)
- Advanced Mediation Training, Steven Rosenberg (2015)
- Mediation Certificate Program, Steven Rosenberg (2012)
Professional Affiliations
- Alameda County Bar Association, Member
- Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Contra Costa County Bar Association, Member
- National Association of Women Lawyers, Member
- Queen’s Bench, Member
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Member
Achievements & Awards
- Distinguished Mediator of the Year, San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association (2021)
Outside the Office
Lauren spends her free time outdoors, hiking the Desolation Wilderness and Seven Sisters and swimming and sailing on Lake Tahoe. She supports the Alameda County Community Food Bank and Achieve Tahoe, which helps adults, children, and veterans with disabilities take part in summer and winter sports.