John Derrick, Esq.
Mediator/Arbitrator
John Derrick has a background in law and business. A dual national who came to the US from the UK over 30 years ago, he is naturally skilled at helping people from all sorts of backgrounds resolve a wide variety of disputes that previously proved intractable.
Mr. Derrick is by character diplomatic and has a calm, civil demeanor. He can see issues from different perspectives. He is empathetic and can establish rapport with a wide range of people. He is both patient and persistent. He listens. But, when necessary, he can tell people things they may not want to hear.
Mr. Derrick’s ADR practice draws in part on his experience over 20 years as an accomplished appellate lawyer. Before entering the legal profession, he co-founded, operated, and eventually sold a specialized information publishing business. He has degrees from two of the world’s top five universities.
Practice Areas
- Business/commercial/contract
- Partnership disputes
- Real estate
- Employment
- Personal injury
- Other torts
Conflict Resolution Experience
John Derrick’s journey into mediation began in the appellate system in 2008 when he went on the Court of Appeal mediation panel in Los Angeles, on which he continues to serve. Today, he is a full-time mediator and arbitrator handling cases at all stages of the litigation timeline throughout Southern California and beyond.
Organizations & Achievements
- Panel member, American Arbitration Association (Commercial and Consumer national rosters).
- Mediation panel, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Los Angeles).
- Mediation panel, Second District Court of Appeal (Los Angeles).
- Settlement Master, Santa Barbara Superior Court.
- Former Chair, California State Bar’s Standing Committee on Appellate Courts.
- Certified Appellate Specialist, California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.
- Litigated over 200 appeals and writs, many resulting in published decisions, and consulted in countless others.
- Former Editor-in-Chief, California Litigation.
- Co-Chair, ADR Section of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association.
- Former member, Executive Committee of the Litigation Section of the California Lawyers Association.
- Member, ADR Sections of the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles Bar Associations.
Education & Training
- J.D., U.C. Berkeley School of Law.
- B.A., University of Oxford (UK) (First Class Honours).
- Pepperdine/Straus Institute-trained in mediation; AAA/ABA-trained in arbitration.
CONTACT US
We Handle Complex Dispute Cases Of All Kinds
Reach out to us now to schedule a consultation. Our experienced and professional team is here to provide expert guidance through your legal issues.
Testimonials From People We’ve Helped
Very professional place to mediate a legal matter. Many places to have a private conversation, comfortable surroundings
Linda L Mitchell
Honorable Mary Thornton House mediated over our impossible case. I never thought this could get resolved, as we were stuck on both sides for almost 4 years. Honorable Mary Thornton House listened to both sides and was able to communicate in a way that both sides understood. She was tenacious, diligent and had attention to details with the accounting and figures presented. We went back and forth into the night. But, she was able to calmly able to get a resolution on both sides. The honorable judge said that in ruling a case in court. You have an instant friend and a permanent enemy. In this case, I received a fair resolution. Grateful, that I did not have to go to court. Glad that our case got resolved. I highly recommend honorable Mary Thornton House