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Expertise

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MATT ARGUE
 
VICTORIA BUTLER
 
CHUCK ELWYN
 

Matthew Argue has over 17 years experience resolving real estate, construction and insurance disputes. His construction litigation experience includes high-end, custom single-family residences, master planned single-family and condominium tract developments, commercial developments, retail and hotel projects. He is licensed to practice in multiple jurisdictions including California, Nevada, Colorado, Washington and Texas.

Victoria Butler has been in the heavy, highway and civil construction industry for over 24 years. Her wide knowledge of federal and California construction and contract law, coupled with her specialty of delay and time-related disputes in over $10 billion of construction has been honed, perfected and nationally respected for the past 15 years.

Chuck is a licensed contractor with over 30 years of commercial and residential hands-on construction experience. Since 1994 he has represented major insurance companies as a construction consultant and adjuster completing over a thousand nationwide claims from residential homes to high rises. He represented property owners recovering several million dollars of (denied) claims due to Hurricane Katrina.

 

M,A,D,E M,A,D,E M,A,E
Carlsbad Redlands Encinitas
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

ROBERT FIELD
Ira A. Freydkis
MARK FRIEDMAN

Uniquely qualified by experience, training and knowledge to resolve your construction disputes. As an AV- rated attorney he represented owners, design professionals and contractors in private and public works. As a neutral he has arbitrated and mediated hundreds of cases, taught construction law and been a frequent speaker and a published author on construction and ADR.

Ira A. Freydkis, J.D., LL.M., has 22 years experience in successfully resolving construction and real estate related disputes. Mr. Freydkis is also a panelist for the American Arbitration Association, the Contractors’ State Licensing Board, the Superior and Appellate Courts, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing and the Department of Insurance.

During the past 24 years, Mark has inspected/certified well over 15K commercial and residential building projects. He has trained well over 1K construction students during his tenure at a local junior college. He managed construction conflicts with ease and settled construction related issues on a daily basis during his 17 years of municipal experience.

M,A,D,E M,A,D,E M,A,D,E
Walnut Creek San Francisco Rohnert Park
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

   

 

ALTHEA HALCHUCK
 
DAVID JENKINS
 
EDWARD J. JOHNSON
 

Althea Halchuck’s background includes more than 25 years in the construction and real estate field, most notably as a building contractor and real estate broker as well as a real estate appraiser, certified in 3 states. This, coupled with her current career in dispute resolution, makes her well qualified to mediate and arbitrate construction disputes.

For the past 24 years David Jenkins has mediated over 3,000 multi-party disputes in 44 states, while managing a diverse practice which has included mediating matters involving: Design Errors & Omissions, Construction Defect, Breach of Contract, Course of Construction, Changed Site Conditions and Insurance Coverage disputes in both North & Latin America.

Ed Johnson has been involved with construction related industries for over 30 years, 22 of which were as a local government official. As a lawyer with education and experience in land use planning and development, engineering, law, conflict management, and peacemaking. Ed brings a multi-disciplinary, public/private perspective to dispute resolution.

 

M,A,E M,E M,A,E
Rolling Hills Estate Inverness Mariposa
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

RICHARD JONES
ROGER LUDLOW
STEVE McGUIRK

Rick’s 35 years of experience with the Bureau of Reclamation in field construction management, which included contract administration, for Federal heavy civil water projects provides a unique combination for analyzing construction problems leading to mediation and/or arbitration proceedings. Rick was Field Engineer for earthen and RCC dams, water conveyance systems, concrete structures, roads and levees.

Roger has 53 years of hands on experience in the construction industry, including 23 years as a Class 1, State Building Inspector.  His experience as a general contractor  and residential, commercial building inspector, together with his expertise in ADA requirements and dispute resolution skills enable him to better serve the needs of homeowners, business owners, contractors and school boards.

Steve McGuirk moderates land disputes of all kinds. A retired California landscape architect and nationally Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), he holds a B.A. in Landscape Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley (1975), and a Master's in Dispute Resolution (MDR) from the Straus Institute, Pepperdine University School of Law (2009).

M,A,D,E M,A,D,E M,A,D,E
Sebastopol Santa Clara Soquel
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

THOMAS MEAD
RONALD MELER
Elizabeth A. Moreno

Thomas Mead has been in the commercial construction industry for over 35 years in all aspects as a construction executive, hands-on project manager, and consultant for large commercial contractors, developers, and construction managers in California, SE Asia and the Middle East. He has been involved in hotels & resorts, office, retail, multi-family residential, industrial, and institutional.

Ron has held management positions for general contractors and private developers for over twenty-six years. He was Vice President of Operations for Sundt Construction.
Currently provides construction operations consulting and dispute resolution services to contractors and developers. Teaches Construction Ethics, Law and Contracts at SDSU. He speaks from the position of experience.

Elizabeth A. Moreno, as a litigator for over 20 years, has concentrated her legal practice in the area of complex litigation, related to construction law, insurance coverage issues, land subsidence issues in the Southern California area, real property and employment. For the last six years, she has acted as a full-time arbitrator and mediator in over 250 cases.

M,A,D,E M,A,D,E M,E
Oakland La Mesa Los Angeles
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

ROSEVART NAZARIAN
RON NODDER
JEFF PEMSTEIN
As an experienced mediator and arbitrator in construction, I engage in hearing each party's position, evaluating evidence, and understanding the totality of the case, in order to address disputed issues. Parties have the right to receive an impartial opinion, which I am skilled, competent, and fair to do so. In addition, I have extensive experiences in construction.
Ron has been involved in the construction industry since 1982.  He received his B.S.in Civil Engineering in 1989, his M.S in 1992.  His experience includes framing, concrete, electrical, plumbing, insulation, drywall, painting, finish work, roofing, siding, etc.   He has managed subdivision construction defect mitigation work.  Ron has extensive experience in the financing of residential homes.

Jeff is the Division President for Towne Development of Sacramento/Homes by Towne, a land development and residential construction firm. With over 30 years of experience, Jeff oversees all aspects of entitlement/permitting, site and vertical construction, and warranty services. Previously, he was a founding partner of Pacific Municipal Consultants, providing contract Planning and Environmental staff services to municipalities throughout California.

M,A,E M,A,E M,A,E
Glendale Templeton Carmichael
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

GREGORY C. PYFROM SR.
Jay Rhein
Gene Royce

44 years of suing/defending clients related to construction defects, R/E non-disclosure, Realtor errors, Escrow inspectors, and HOA issues involving residential/commercial large-scale developments. Attorney has built and remodeled his own homes and is a former R/E Agent/Broker. Experienced in real estate/construction insurance cases. Clients seek my counsel based upon my ability to listen to their issues.

Former Trade Ambassador to the Marshal Islands, Jay helped manufacturers build plants in the Marshall Islands. Jay started his career in construction by working his way through UCLA as a construction worker. He has conducted hundreds of arbitrations/mediations in a diverse array of disputes ranging from single homes to mediating multi-party, multi-million dollar construction claims.

Gene E. Royce is a construction attorney with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. His background includes mediating construction, engineering and legal matters in San Diego, California. He has served as an American Arbitration Association Arbitrator since 2003.

M,A,E M,E M,E
Thousands Oaks Huntington Beach San Diego
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

LONNY RUTHERFORD
Robert Saint-aubin
MICHAEL SAYDAH

Lonny Rutherford, a past president of the New Mexico Home Builders Association, received the "Remodelor of the Year Award" for the entire United States by the National Association of Home Builders. He is a Certified Graduate Remodelor (CGR) and with his over forty years experience as a remodeler. He has served several times as an expert .....

Saint-Aubin, an MIT-educated, AV-rated attorney, licensed in California, Nevada, and Pennsylvania (inactive), now applies his problem-solving skills and almost forty years of professional experience to assisting counsel and their clients in resolving their conflicts. As a mediator, Saint-Aubin impartially helps the parties identify their short- and long-term interests to find a mutually acceptable outcome.

Arbitration and mediation. 32 years as an arbitrator/mediator and trial lawyer. Michael uses knowledge and creative ideas to resolve commercial/residential building and public works project disputes. Working with developers/ generals/  subcontractors, engineers, banks, insurance companies, bonding companies who require answers, not theories, enables him to conduct efficient, goal oriented and productive arbitrations and mediations.

M,A,D,E,G M,A,D,E M,A,D,E
Oceanside Monarch Beach Poway
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

Keith Schulner
GRACE SEFERIAN
MICHAEL SHEKEY

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.

Grace Seferian practices alternative dispute resolution specializing in mediation, arbitration and dispute review boards. She has over 20 years experience in the construction industry. In addition to being a licensed Professional Engineer and a General Contractor, she is also certified as a PMP, LEED AP and QSD/QSP. Additionally, Grace holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management.

Michael A. Shekey has been a licensed California building contractor for 16 years, and is also a licensed Florida building contractor. Michael has been a licensed California attorney for 30 years, and has represented the Contractors State License Board, as well as private developers/builders in California. Michael is both a certified arbitrator and mediator.

M,E M,A,D,G M,A,E
Oak Park Berkeley Whittier
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO

       
 
JON SORRELL
GARY SPENCER
REGINA STEVENS
 

Jonathan has extensive experience in ADR, project development, construction and quality management, inspection, testing, and has served as an expert witness. Having worked on projects exceeding $2B, and with companies exceeding 40,000 employees, this experience provides him with a comprehensive understanding of the industry, and I welcome you to utilize my experience and expertise.

Gary Spencer has 37 years of litigation experience involving Construction, Insurance, and Business disputes representing both Plaintiff and Defense. He has been Plaintiff’s Counsel for individual homeowners and Homeowner Associations in major construction litigation and has been lead counsel for developers, architects, engineers, subcontractors and coverage counsel in construction cases.

Regina Stevens is a registered Civil Engineer and has over 17 years of experience in resolving construction disputes as a construction manager in heavy, civil, highway/bridge, roadway, utility, and grade separation construction projects. Her projects ranged from $25 M - $283 M, including three freeway interchange projects in Southern California: 110/105, 405/5, and the I-15/40 Interchange projects.

 
M,A,D,E M,A,D,E M,A,D,E  
San Jose Irvine Highland  
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO  

       
 
MARTIN VAN TASSELL
SCOTT VIVIAN
RAFFI ZAROUKIAN  

Through 25 years of experience managing surety claims Mr. Van Tassell successfully resolved most every kind of construction problem.  He handled thousands of disputes and claims on construction projects.  From small remodel jobs to huge infrastructure projects, Martin crossed the nation to bring owners, contractors, subcontractors, labor and suppliers together to resolve their disputes.

Mr. Vivian started in construction in 1969 as a carpenter’s apprentice. He holds general contractor licenses is CA, NV, AZ, NM. He is a certified ICC Building Inspector, AAMA Fenestration consultant. Since 1982, Pacific Construction Management, Inc/International, LLC has handled over 8,500 litigation cases as expert witnesses in six states.

Mr. Zaroukian, RA, LEED AP, is a licensed architect in the state of California and brings over 25 years of experience in the AEC (Architecture Engineering and Construction) industry. Throughout his career, Mr. Zaroukian has always held a position of conciliator and moderator, bringing opposing parties and divergent ideas together in mutual agreement and resolution.

 
M,A,D,E M,A,D,E M,A,D,E,G  
Petaluma Riverside Berkeley  
FULL BIO FULL BIO FULL BIO