Kim Deck was at the forefront of the mediation movement starting as a full-time mediator and fact-finder in 1989. Having shadowed employment mediators and studied resolution techniques early in her career, she developed a passion for resolving specifically employment cases. Since then, she has mediated almost every type of employment dispute including single plaintiff, PAGA, and class action. In addition to often being selected in emotionally charged matters, her experience also includes breach of contract disputes in the entertainment industry.
Kim has successfully settled the vast majority of more than 4,000 plus cases and receives high praise from both plaintiff and defense counsel for being open-minded, objective, responsive, and tenacious in facilitating settlements. Litigants often comment on her personal concern for their client's interests and feelings, her persistence in following up with the parties, and her creative solutions in dealing with the issues.
One client commented, "Kim is a no-nonsense mediator who has settled every case my firm has brought to her. She is masterful, consistently demonstrating the right combination of legal knowledge, aggression, empathy, and honest communication to achieve amazing results." Another client commented, "I am always impressed with Kim's ability to fashion a creative solution."
Practice Areas
- All Types of Employment Related Matters
- Business/Contractual
- Entertainment
- Personal Injury
Hobbies & Interests
In her spare time, Kim enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children as well as skiing, hiking traveling, and is fluent in Italian.
Website
Legal Career
- Neutral, Judicate West (2007-Present)
- Full-Time Mediator, 1998-Present
- Associate General Counsel and Manager, Employment Dispute Resolution Group, JAMS, 1991-1998
Education & Professional Affiliations
- J.D. Whittier College School of Law (1991)
- B.A. St. Mary’s College, Business Administration & International Relations (1984)
- Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, Member (1991-Present)
- California State Bar Association, Member
- California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Employment Group, Member
- Southern California Mediation Society, Member (1995-Present)
- Disability Rights Legal Center, Board Member
- Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel, Board Member
- Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law
Achievements & Awards
- Ms. Deck has been named by the Daily Journal as a Top Neutral in the State of California (2007).
- Harvard Negotiation Project-master series for negotiations and managing difficult conversations.
- Co-Chair of the Dispute Resolution Section for the Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel (AMEC).
- Peace Maker of the Year Award by AMEC (2013).
Below is a sampling of the various matters Kim Deck, Esq. handled as a practicing attorney or neutral.
Contractual
- Mediated a dispute between family members over the right to control family business involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition issues.
Cannabis Breach Of Contract
- Mediated a manufacture of cannabis v. big retail operation-breach of a contract dispute.
- Mediated a case involving 7 employees v. retail operation misclassification/breach of contract and discrimination.
Cannabis Industry
- Mediated a case involving an employee vs. a cannabis manufacturing company.
- Mediated a case for a company that manufactures and sells a variety of marijuana products.
A D A
- Successfully resolved hundreds of disability discrimination claims involving failure to provide reasonable accommodation and discrimination for a variety of disabilities including diabetes, mental issues, alcoholism, cancer, neurofibromatosis, HIV-positive diagnosis and related issues, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc.
Breach of Contract
- Mediated a case in which a sales representative from a major company seeks back commissions.
Discrimination
- Mediated a settlement in excess of seven figures in a racial discrimination case against a Fortune 500 company.
- Resolved several hundred matters involving workers over 40 claiming age discrimination utilizing creative solutions which have included medical insurance, retirement coverage, pension benefits, and other desirable benefits for employees
- Resolved many gender bias claims with issues involving disparate treatment of multiple plaintiffs, unequal pay, glass ceiling, transsexual and transgender issues.
- Mediated numerous matters involving national origin and race discrimination claims and retaliation for complaining of such.
Family Leave Act
- Mediated hundreds of matters with women asserting pregnancy discrimination.
Hostile Environment
- Successfully resolved several hundred claims of sexual harassment and discrimination involving supervisors and subordinates, co-workers, multiple plaintiffs, and cases with men and women; issues included constructive discharge due to management harassment, claims of favoritism and conflicts of interest because of sexual harassment, same-sex sexual harassment, transgender discrimination, assault and rape in the workplace.
- Successfully resolved numerous cases with males and females claiming sexual orientation discrimination and retaliation in the workplace.
Sexual Harassment
- Mediated a case involving a celebrity accused of rape by a woman alleging it happened almost 3 decades ago.
Wage and Hour
- Mediated a complex wage-and-hour dispute against a Fortune 500 energy company that settled for more than eight figures.
Wage and Hour Class Action
- Mediated a wage-and-hour class action case against a top Los Angeles restaurant for seven figures.
- Successfully mediated numerous class action matters for large oil companies, restaurant chains, retailers, etc. involving misclassification, wage-and-hour violation cases (including failure to comply with statutory breaks, lunch breaks, and failure to pay appropriate overtime including management and artistic exemptions), and gender bias.
Wrongful Termination
- Successfully resolved hundreds of wrongful termination claims involving allegations of health and safety issues, accounting fraud, wage-and-hour violations, violations of business and professional code.
- Mediated a case in which a top-level C-Suite executive at a major movie studio brought an action for gender discrimination.
Entertainment Issues
- Mediated a studio vs. studio case involving rights and profits.
- Mediated a coverage issues case between production and bond companies.
- Mediated a breach of contract matter involving product placement between film and product companies.
- Mediated a claim by an actor of breach of contract and discrimination against a studio.
- Mediated a case in which a famous pop star and manager agreed to terminate their management agreement. Mediation involved working out issues regarding the contractual interpretation of commissions owed as well as publicity issues.
Property Damage
- Mediated a case involving contamination to real property, including toxic materials and mold.
Breach Of Contract
- Mediated a case with breach of real estate sales contracts; contractual and equitable remedies including specific performance, rescission, and/or damages.
- Mediation and settlement of numerous brokers' disputes.
Buy/Sell
- Mediated a case involving misrepresentations in connection with purchase and sale.
Landlord/Tenant
- Mediated a case involving lease disputes on commercial property.
Real Property
- Mediated a case involving competing purchasers of real property.
Transaction
- Mediated a case with real estate commissions.
- Mediated a case with title insurance, including coverage, malpractice, and handling escrow instructions.
Assault and Battery
- Mediated a case in which a professional sports player was accused of sexually assaulting his on and off again girlfriend.
PI Sexual Assault
- Mediated a case involving a woman on vacation in NYC who orders a massage and is sexually assaulted by the massage therapist.
Kim was great!
- Attorney on an Employment Wrongful Termination Case
Kim Deck was very experienced, and we enjoyed mediating the dispute with her!
- Attorney on an Employment Negligent Hiring Case
Challenges presented in both rooms, kept the parties there, talking and working constructively even with a lot of tensions present. Kept a very practical focus on the issues. Never got emotional, never pressured or pushed hard, but just gave sound advice and identified who in each room to work primarily with to achieve the result.
- - Attoney on a Employment Wrongful Termination Case
Ms. Deck’s strong understanding of employment law was helpful in demonstrating to the other side that our case was strong and settlement was in their best interests.
- Attorney on an Employment/Discrimination Case
This was my first time utilizing Kim Deck as a mediator for an alleged sexual harassment claim. She was very effective. My client, who was very nervous about the process, was made to feel at ease and Ms. Deck was very diplomatic. She got the job done, and I will certainly be using her again in the future.
- Attorney on an Employment Sexual Harassment Case
Ms. Deck bridged the gap of demand and offer, and listened to all parties’ concerns.
- Attorney on an Employment ADA Case
Kim Deck was straightforward, honest, and spot-on, as to her perception of the case. Kim was always professional and without a doubt, the reason this case reached a settlement. Kim thinks outside of the box, as to proposed settlement terms and conditions, then adjust such terms and conditions to fit each case. Kim allotted the time for the parties and their counsel to present case information as to their position, which enabled the litigates to express their feelings and feel heard. In the end, Kim was able to bring the parties together, which resulted in a case settlement.
- Senior Attorney on a Personal Injury Sexual Assault Case
Kim Deck is by far my favorite mediator! She is always my first choice!!
- Attorney on an Employment Wage & Hour Case
