Michael D. Young, a former employment, intellectual property and business litigator and mediator with the national firm Alston & Bird, has been mediating cases since 1989. Building off of his extensive litigation experience, and his training through the nationally acclaimed Straus Institute of Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Law School, Mr. Young assists parties to resolve contentious and complex civil disputes, often in creative and innovative ways that the parties themselves had not previously considered. Mr. Young has extensive experience both litigating and mediating all varieties of employment, intellectual property, and business disputes, including class actions and single-plaintiff matters. On the employment side, these have included wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, disability, public policy, wage and hour, and misclassification disputes, among others. On the IP side, Mr. Young had handled disputes over trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, patents, and restrictive covenants. In addition, in his 25-plus year legal career, Mr. Young has mediated, litigated, and tried hundreds of disputes involving unfair competition, antitrust, and environmental issues (including CERCLA and RCRA cases), among other complex business disputes. Attorney's have praised Mr. Young's creativity and doggedness. Said one attorney following a difficult employment mediation: "Your ideas were very creative, and your no-nonsense approach was exactly right for this case. I've been in over 200 mediations from all perspectives, but the job you did this week really stands out." Commented another: "Mike was very effective in building credibility with both plaintiffs and the defense in an emotionally charged case involving several plaintiffs. He was able to get to the heart of the issues and put the parties on a path to resolution while giving everyone an opportunity to be heard. His tireless follow up and accessibility was crucial to the resolution of the case." Said a third: "I have used mediators for over three decades, and Mike came up with approaches, ideas, and solutions that were new to me. That mediation was a success because Mike Young refused to let it fail."
I appreciated the way he gave our side room to talk and express emotional issues at the beginning but then moved to practical issues to bring the parties to a close.
- Attorney on an Employment/Discrimination Wage & Hour Dispute
Mike got quickly up to speed on a year-long settlement process an hour after stepping in. He did a great job.
- Attorney, Santa Ana, California
Mike was able to overcome strong emotions and animosities that had prevented the resolution of this dispute.
Throughout the process he was calm and professional; and he was able to keep the parties focused on making
progress in the negotiations. I would gladly use Mike Young as a mediator again.
- Attorney, Irvine, California
Mike was very effective in building credibility with both all sides in an emotionally charged case involving
many parties. He quickly zeroed in on the heart of the issue while giving everyone a chance to be heard.
He then set the stage for the path that ultimately led to resolution. I would not hesitate to recommend Mike
and will certainly use him in the future.
- Attorney, Orange County, California
Mike handled a large group of attorneys with very different positions very well.
- Attorney, Los Angeles, California
Mike was fair and understood copyright law better than many other mediators.
- Attorney, Nevada
601 S. Figueroa
Ste 4000
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: 213.223.1113
Fax : 213.223.1114
11601 Wilshire Blvd
Ste 2040
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 310.442.2100
Fax : 310.442.2125
402 W. Broadway
Ste 2400
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619.814.1966
Fax : 619.814.1967
1851 East First Street
Ste 1600
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714.834.1340
Fax : 714.834.1344
100 Pine Street
Ste 1950
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.266.1242
Fax : 415.266.1243
980 9th Street
Suite 2200
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916.394.8490
Fax : 916.394.8495
2017.1.1.290rp