Mr. Petersen is an experienced trial lawyer who has represented both plaintiffs and defendants for almost 30 years in state and federal courts. He began serving as a mediator in 2003, in addition to his litigation practice, and since that time he has acted as a neutral in hundreds of cases. He has mediated disputes involving intellectual property, securities and trade secrets, unfair competition, employment issues, engineering malpractice, construction claims and similar complex commercial cases. Over the years, he continuously studied advanced mediation techniques through the American Bar Association, the Northern District of California, the San Francisco Superior Court, the Bar Association of San Francisco and the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine University. Since 2006, Mr. Petersen has also served as a judge pro tem with the San Francisco Superior Court, conducting settlement conferences, and currently serves as a Mandatory Settlement Conference Officer for the San Francisco Superior Court.Clients cite his expertise and dedication as the reasons for his success: "Mr. Petersen displayed incredible professionalism, skill, knowledge of the issues, and sensitivity." "I credit the settlement to Mark's insight, patience, and willingness to stay with us until it was resolved." "Mark... keenly pointed out to both sides the strengths and weaknesses of their case, and his ability to focus on the key issues and to convince both sides of the value of the case was the driving force in reaching a settlement that seemed highly unlikelyat the start of the mediation."

Practice Areas
  • Complex commercial
  • Intellectual property
  • Trade secrets
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Construction Defect
  • Partnerships
  • Real estate
  • Family Law
  • Personal injury
Hobbies & Interests

Enjoys traveling with his family, fly fishing with his son, running, golf and tennis. He also collects art, and has served on the Board of Trustees of the California College of the Arts, and on the Board of Directors for the Capp Street Project in San Francisco. He earlier served as Chair of the Board for Alameda County Special Olympics.

Legal Career
  • Partner, Farella Braun + Martel LLP (1990 – Present)
  • Bar Association of San Francisco ESP Panelist (2003 – Present)
  • Contra Costa Superior Court EASE Panelist (2003 – Present)
  • Bar Association of San Francisco Mediation Panel (2007 – Present)
  • Northern District of California Mediation Panel (2007 – Present)
  • Judge Pro Tem, San Francisco Superior Court (2003 – Present)
  • San Francisco Superior Court Mandatory Settlement Conference Panelist (2012 – Present)
  • Associate, Farella Braun + Martel LLP (1983 – 1990)
Education & Professional Affiliations
  • J.D., University of California Hastings College of the Law (1983)
  • B.S., United States Naval Academy; served as a nuclear engineer on submarines (1980)
  • Pepperdine School of Law, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, “Mediating the Litigated Case” (6 days, 2013)
  • Bar Association of San Francisco Mediation Committee, Chair (2011 – Present)
  • The Mediation Society of San Francisco, Member (2011 – Present)
  • American Arbitration Association Arbitrator Training (2011)
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Advanced Mediation Training (2010)
  • Association for Conflict Resolution, Member (2004 – Present)
  • Bar Association of San Francisco Advanced Skills for Mediators (2004)
  • American Bar Association Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Skills Training (2004)
  • American Arbitration Association Mediation Training Program (2003)
Achievements & Awards
  • Named a Super Lawyer in Northern California for six years and is listed as an outstanding professional in various publications.
  • Author, Breaking Impasse in Mediation: Tools to Restart – or End – the Process, published by ExecSense in Straight from the Top: Leading ADR Lawyers Discuss Best Practices for Alternative Dispute Resolution (2012)
  • Author, Successfully Mediating Construction Disputes, published by AIPTD, Inc. Publications Volume 2, Issue No. 1
  • Panelist, Mediating Dangerously, a presentation with Steve Sulmeyer and Dana Curtis
  • Panelist, Using Consultants in Mediation, a program with DecisionQuest
Mark keenly pointed out to both sides the strengths and weaknesses of their case, and his ability to focus on the key issues and to convince both sides of the value of the case was the driving force in reaching a settlement that seemed highly unlikely at the start of the mediation.
- Attorney, Northern California
Mr. Petersen displayed incredible professionalism, skill, knowledge of the issues, and sensitivity.
- Attorney, San Francisco, CA
Mark D. Petersen, Esq.
Based in Northern California | Available in All of California
Case Manager: Laura Finley