Daren brings 30 years of experience as a trial attorney and dispute resolution professional to Judicate West. His practice encompasses employment, business and commercial, personal injury, and sexual misconduct matters.
Throughout his litigation career, Lipinsky has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in complex, high-stakes disputes, giving him a deep understanding of the dynamics that shape litigation and resolution. He is a longtime member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and has served in leadership of its San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter and on the Cal-ABOTA Board. Before joining Judicate West, he founded his own mediation practice, focusing on the resolution of employment and business disputes.
Drawing on three decades of courtroom experience, Lipinsky quickly identifies the strengths, weaknesses, and risks in a case, helping counsel and parties assess their positions with clarity and realism. His approach is grounded in preparation, sound judgment, patience, and respect for all participants. He creates an environment where difficult issues can be addressed candidly and constructively, with the goal of achieving meaningful resolution and enabling parties to move forward with clarity and dignity.
Practice Areas
- All types of Employment Matters
- Business/Commercial
- Personal Injury
- Sexual Misconduct
- Defamation
Hobbies & Interests
Daren enjoys traveling internationally with his wife and three children, listening to live music, and cheering on the Los Angeles, Rams, SDSU Aztecs and San Diego Padres. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Ability Counts, a non-profit organization that assists disabled adults in finding suitable employment.
Website
Legal Career
- Full-time Neutral, Judicate West (2026-Present)
- Founder, Lipinsky Mediation (2025-2026)
- Senior Partner, Rizio Lipinsky Heiting, P.C (2018-2026); Employment and Business Litigation
- Managing Partner, Brown & Lipinsky, LLP (2000-2018); Employment and Business Litigation
- Associate Attorney, Dryden, Margoles, et al. (1998-2000); General Civil Litigation
Education & Professional Affiliations
- J.D., Loyola Law School (1994-1997)
- B.A., Skidmore College (1990-1994)
- ‘Mediating the Litigated Case’, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution - Pepperdine (2025)
- Settlement Officer-Los Angeles County Superior Court, Resolve Law LA (2025)
- Mediation Panel Member, San Bernardino County Superior Court (2018-Present)
- Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), Board of Governors (2018-Present); Member (1999-Present)
- ABOTA San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter, President-Elect (2026); Member (2018-Present)
- Cal-ABOTA, Member (2018-Present)
- Western San Bernardino County Bar Association, Past President (2020-2021)
- Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire, Past President (2021-2022)
- Trial Lawyers Charities of Los Angeles, Honorary Board of Governors Member (2019-2025)
- Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2019)
- Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, Member (2016-Present)
- Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, Member (2010-Present)
- Orange County Bar Association, Member (2010-Present)
- San Bernardino County Bar Association, Member (2006-Present)
- California Employment Lawyers Association, Member (2000-Present)
- National Employment Lawyers Association, Member (2000-Present)
- Riverside County Bar Association, Member (2000-Present)
- American Association for Justice, Leadership Forum Member (2018-2025)
Achievements & Awards
- Employment Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, Riverside County Bar Association (2022)
- William M. Shernoff Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, CAOC-Inland Empire Chapter (2022)
- Jennifer Brooks Lawyer of the Year Award, Western San Bernardino County Bar Association (2022)
- Southern California Super Lawyer, Employment (2012-Present)
- Top Labor and Employment Attorneys, Daily Journal (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2025)
- Top Lawyers in the Inland Empire, Inland Empire Magazine (2010-Present)
- Top 500 Employee and Civil Rights Attorney in the Nation, LawDragon (2018-Present)
- • AV-Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell (2006-Present)
- Exceptional Achievement in Employment Litigation Award, American Association for Justice (2025)
- Speaker, Employment Law Panels throughout California
- Author, Various Legal Publications including the Daily Journal and The Advocate
- Co-Author, “Inside the Minds: Representing Employees in Sexual Harassment Cases,” Thompson Reuters (2012)
Below is a sampling of the various matters Daren H. Lipinsky, Esq. handled as a practicing attorney or neutral.
Contractual
- Served regularly as lead counsel and trial counsel for clients involved in business disputes for nearly 30 years.
Fraud/Misrepresentation
- Served as lead counsel in a FINRA arbitration involving three securities brokers against a large financial institution, alleging fraud and breach of contract.
ERISA
- Served as lead counsel in an arbitration involving a national vice president of an international financial institution who was terminated in violation of his employment agreement and deprived retirement benefits in violation of ERISA.
Whistleblower Wrongful Term
- Litigated and helmed a trial team for a heavily contested whistleblower retaliation case wherein complaints about the safety and well-being of developmentally disabled resident patients were raised, resulting in a constructive termination.
- Served as lead counsel in an arbitration involving two executive employees of a large funeral home who were terminated for reporting illegal activities.
Wrongful Termination
- Served regularly as lead counsel and trial counsel for clients involved in employment disputes for nearly 30 years.
- Served as counsel in an arbitration involving a founding member and executive employee of a company who was pretextually terminated and had his ownership interest summarily terminated after complaining about dangerous conditions at one of the company's processing plants and racial harassment by the company's CEO.
Daren created a settlement out of supremely challenging circumstances. He brings the best qualities to the process: armed with knowledge only gained from the trenches as well as persistence, perspective, and a sense of humor amid high and hotly contested stakes. Add Daren to the list of effective neutrals. He’s on mine.
- Employment Attorney
I have worked with numerous attorneys, and Daren is among the most dedicated, conscientious, and ethical I have met. I recommend him for your highest rating in both legal and ethical standards without reservation.
- Attorney
Daren possesses a unique combination of skills that makes him an ideal mediator. He brings an incredible wealth of knowledge, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution expertise to mediation that proves to be effective even in the most challenging of circumstances.
- Employment Attorney
Daren is effective. Combining strong interpersonal skills and an unwavering commitment to resolving a case, Daren epitomizes the characteristics of a mediator we all desire.
- Employment Attorney
Daren’s knowledge of the law and, most importantly, his ability to bring the parties together is truly impressive. I recommend his services to any attorney or party, regardless of the subject matter.
- Business Litigation Attorney
Daren is one of the most intelligent, savvy, and professional attorneys I have ever worked with. He has the experience, insight, and temperament to be an outstanding mediator even on the most challenging of cases.
- Business Litigation Attorney
Daren is extremely diligent and cares about his clients. He has good judgment regarding the merit and value of cases, and always strives to serve his clients' best interests. He has the highest integrity and morals and is a down-to-earth, great person, lawyer, and family man.
- Attorney
I worked with Daren on a difficult-to-resolve employment law litigation matter and saw how focused he was on driving both parties toward a resolution that made sense to both sides. He’s imaginative, hard-working, and in our case showed a willingness to go the extra mile to bring about even reluctant parties to a deal.
- Employment Attorney
