Jeffrey Krivis
Jeffrey Krivis

Jeffrey Krivis began his mediation practice in 1989, when lawyer-mediators in Southern California were rare, and litigators had to look outside the state for experienced practitioners. Now, 20 years later and having resolved thousands of disputes -- including entertainment, mass tort, employment, business, complex insurance, catastrophic injury and class action matters -- Krivis is recognized not only as a pioneer in the field, but also as one of the most respected neutrals in the state.

An adjunct professor at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law since 1994, Krivis teaches negotiation and mediation skills to lawyers and judges. His experiences as both a working mediator and academic prompted him to write two books: “Improvisational Negotiation: A Mediator’s Stories of Conflict About Love, Money and Anger – and the Strategies that Resolved Them” and "How To Make Money As A Mediator And Create Value For Everyone (Wiley/Jossey-Bass 2006). Improvisational Negotiation received the 2006 Outstanding Book Award from the CPR Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution.

Krivis is a past president of both the International Academy of Mediators and the Southern California Mediation Association. The Los Angeles Daily Journal legal newspaper named him one of the “top 20 neutrals in the state,” and he continues to appear since its inception on the “Super Lawyer” list published by Los Angeles magazine and Law & Politics Media. In 2010 he was awarded "Lawyer of the Year" for Alternative Dispute Resolution by the “Best Lawyers in America.” The Hollywood Reporter recognized him as one of the "Power Mediators" in the entertainment industry. Krivis received the highest rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell. Jeffrey Krivis has expanded his practice to the scenic and relaxing environment of Monterey,Californa, and regularly handles matters in Northern California.

Print Resume

Books and Publications

Mr. Krivis is the author of two books published by Wiley/Jossey Bass:

Improvisational Negotiation

"Improvisational Negotiation"

How to Make Money as a Mediator

"How To Make Money As A Mediator"

In addition, click here for a list of articles and guides published by Mr. Krivis in the area of alternative dispute resolution.

Previous Workshops and Presentations

Mr. Krivis has presented dispute resolution programs for superior court judges, corporations, federal agencies, insurance companies, law firms and trade associations. The programs include:

  • Professor, "Improvisational Mediation," 3-Day Program for trial attorneys and judges, Summer Skills Program, Pepperdine Law School/Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Professor , "Advanced Mediation," Pepperdine Law School, 2006-2009
  • Trainer, "Mediating The Litigated Case," 6-Day Program for senior level attorneys and judges, (Irvine, Encino and Los Angeles), Pepperdine Law School/Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, 1994-present
  • Professor, "Specialized Mediation," Summer Skills Program emphasizing Employment, Personal injury and Medical malpractice disputes at Pepperdine Law School/Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, 2004 - present (Malibu and Vermont)
  • Trainer, "Using Improvisational Techniques In Mediation," San Diego Association of Realtors, November 21, 2009
  • Workshop Leader, "Improvisational Negotiation: Adaptive Mediation Techniques For Advanced Practitioners," San Diego Superior Court, November 12, 2009
  • Presenter, "Successfully Mediating A Class Action Case," 2nd Annual Class Action Symposium, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Oct. 23-24, 2009
  • Presenter, "Mediating Entertainment Disputes," Texas Bar Association Entertainment Law Institute, October 2, 2009
  • Workshop Leader, "Improvisation for Trial Lawyers," Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, January 2009
  • Presenter, "Decision Making In The Insurance Industry," International Academy of Mediators, November 11-13, 2008, San Diego, California
  • Presenter, "Improvisation and Negotiation," Southern California Mediation Association, November 3-4, 2008, Malibu, California
  • Keynote Speaker, "The Mind of The Advocate In Mediation,"Utah Bar Association, March 15, 2008
  • Presenter, "Improvisational Skills for Trial Lawyers," Arab-American Bar Assn, January 2008
  • Workshop Leader, "Advanced Mediation Skills," Resolute Systems, Memphis, Tennessee, May 2007
  • Workshop Leader, "Biggest Mistakes I Made In A Mediation," International Academy of Mediators, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 2007
  • Presenter, "Top Ten Pet Peeves In Mediation," Chicago, Illinois, Defense Research Institute (Life, Health, Disability & Erisa) seminar, March 2007
  • Interview, "How To Make Money In Mediation and Create Value For Everyone," Houston Bar Association, March 2007
  • Workshop Leader, "Advanced Negotiation Skills for Mediators," New Orleans, Mediation and Arbitration Professional Services (MAPS) May 2006
  • Presenter, "Improvisation and Mediation," Harvard Law School, April 2006
  • Workshop Leader, "Improvisational Negotiation," American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, Atlanta, Georgia, April 2006
  • Trainer, "Advanced Skills for Mediators," CEDR, London, England, February 2006
  • Professor, "Advanced Mediation Course," Pepperdine Law School, January - April, 2006
  • Workshop Leader, "Mediation Advocacy Skills," California State University office of General Counsel, November 2005
  • Workshop Leader, "Mediation Skills Program-ABA Dispute Resolution Conference," Los Angeles, April 2005Trainer, "United States District Court Mediation Program," , Los Angeles, California, March 2005
  • Presenter, "Mediation In The Insurance Industry," Eastern Claims Conference, New York, February 2005
  • Presenter,"The Reputation of the Mediator," International Academy of Mediators," Cancun, Mexico, November 12, 2004.
  • Workshop Leader, "Closing Techniques for Mediators," Southern California Mediation Association, Pepperdine Law School/Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, November 4, 2004.
  • Presenter, "Mediation: It's Saturday Night," International Claims Association, Nashville Tennessee, October 2004.
  • Presenter, "Disputes with Especially Difficult People," Beverly Hills Bar Assn., September 2004.
  • Presenter, "Preparing For Mediation," Defense Research Institute (Life, Health & Disability section), April 2004, Washington, D.C.
  • Presenter, "A View of Mediation in America," Lamport Hall Group, London, England, April 2004.
  • Presenter, "How To Be A Closer," California State Bar, January 23, 2004, Santa Monica, California
  • Presenter, "Winning Strategies for Mediation," Southern California Defense Counsel, January 21, 2004, Century City, California
  • Presenter, "Strategies For Breaking Impasse," San Fernando Valley Bar Association, October 9, 2003.
  • Workshop Leader, U.S. Federal Magistrate Mediation Program, September 13, 2003, Lake Arrowhead, California.
  • Professor, "Advanced Mediation," June 2003, Summer Skills Program, Pepperdine Law School/Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
  • Presenter, International Academy of Mediators conference, May 2003, St. Louis.
  • Trainer, "Los Angeles Superior Court Mediation Skills Training," 2000-2002, (Glendale, Pasadena, Palmdale, Long Beach, Encino, Culver City and Pomona)
  • Trainer, "Federal Court Mediation Program," April, 2002 (Los Angeles)
  • Workshop Leader, "Mediation Skills for Judges," Judicial Council of California/CJER, January and March 2002 (Long Beach and Monterey; August 2002 (San Diego)
  • Dialogue Leader, "Technology in ADR, A New Wave or The Perfect Storm," The Masters Forum, Pepperdine University, March 14, 2002.
  • Trainer, "Mediation Advocacy" American Arbitration Association (Los Angeles), March 13, 2002.
  • Workshop Leader, "The Business of Mediation," International Academy of Mediators conference, Hilton Head, South Carolina, November 2001.
  • Presenter, "The Truth About Deceit In Mediation," Consumer Attorneys of California, September 2001.
  • Workshop Leader, "Mediation Skills for Judges," Judicial Council of California/CJER, August 2001, San Diego
  • Presenter, "Technology and ADR" ABA Dispute Resolution Section, April 2001, Washington, D.C.
  • Presenter, "Resolving Environmental Disputes," Los Angeles County Bar Association, February 2001.
  • Presenter, "Managing The Emotional Litigant In Mediation,"Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, November 2000.
  • Facilitator, "Resolving Employment Disputes," presented in association with www.law.com, September 2000.
  • Trainer, "Mediation Skills," Universidad Panamerica (Guadalajara, Mexico), September 2000.
  • Presenter, Masters Forum at Pepperdine Law School/Straus Institute For Dispute Resolution, (Resolving Personal Injury Claims; From Trial Lawyer to Successful Mediator), October 2000
  • Presenter, "Mediating In Cyberspace," International Academy of Mediators Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, November 2-4, 2000.
  • Facilitator, "How To Deal With The Emotional Distress Claim In Employment Disputes," Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, November 9, 2000
  • Trainer, "Mediation: A Skills Building Program" Continuing Judicial Studies Program/Judicial Council of California, August 2000, Dana Point, California
  • Trainer, "Negotiating Litigated Cases" Los Angeles Superior Court, April 2000
  • Presenter, "The Uniform Mediation Act" International Academy of Mediators Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, May 8, 2000
  • Presenter, "Employment and Workplace Mediation" Southern California Mediation Association, April 15, 2000, Long Beach, California
  • Presenter, "Using Mediation To Create Value In School Related Disputes" Millenium School Law Annual Conference, County Counsel's Association, Feb 4, 2000, Monterey, California
  • Presentation, "Cross Cultural Negotiations," Los Angeles Superior Court, January and February, 2000
  • Presenter, "Negotiation Strategies In Mediation" Annual Conference, Consumer Attorneys of California, November 1999, San Francisco
  • Presenter, "Getting The Other Side to the Table," Annual Convention of the Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, October 1999, Las Vegas
  • Presenter, "Negotiating The Litigated Case," Los Angeles Superior Court, April 21 and June 29, 1999
  • Presenter, International Academy of Mediator Conference, San Diego, California "Defining The Parameters of Evaluative Mediation"
  • Presenter, ABA Techshow Conference, "Using Technology to Resolve Disputes,"
  • Presenter, 1999 Orange Cty Mediation Week Conference "Case Evaluation, Risk Management & Loss Assessment," March 1999
  • Presenter, Mentor Program, San Fernando Valley Bar Association, March 6, 1999
  • "Dispute Resolution - Catch The Next Wave," American Bar Association, Panel Workshop on Tort and Insurance Issues in Mediation, February 5-6, 1999.
  • SCMA Employment/Workplace Disputes - Luncheon speaker on "Creating Value For Disputants In Employment Mediations," December 7, 1998
  • 10th Annual SCMA Conference - "Marketing Your Mediation Practice," November 21, 1998
  • Trainer, San Fernando Valley Bar Assn Mediation Training
  • Employment Issues for Human Resource Professionals -Guest Speaker (Sidley & Austin)
  • Mediation Advocacy for Securities Lawyers, August 24, 1998, San Diego, CA, NASD
  • "Legislative Update," California Dispute Resolution Council, July 1998
  • "Mediation Advocacy for Lawyers," Los Angeles County Bar Association, May 1998
  • "Annual CDRC Program -Recent Developments In ADR Legislation," Los Angeles, April 1998
  • "Recent Legislative Developments In ADR," California Dispute Resolution Council program, March 27, 1998, Los Angeles, California
  • "ADR - How To Use It To Your Advantage," 5th Annual ALI-ABA Course of Study, San Francisco, California, March 19-20, 1998
  • "Mediating Employment Discrimination Cases," 10th Annual SPIDR San Diego conference, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad, California, January 31, 1998
  • Southern California Mediation Association, Hotel Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, September 13, 1997
  • "From The ADR Toolbox: Using The Internet to Settle Disputes," American Bar Association annual conference, August 1, 1997, San Francisco, California
  • "Convening The Mediation," National Association of Securities Dealers, May and June, 1997
  • Mediation Skills, Visiting Professor Hamline Law School/Dispute Resolution Institute, June 1997
  • "ADR In Insurance Bad Faith and Tort Litigation," American Conference Institute, March 18, 1997
  • "Using ADR To Resolve Employment Disputes," Counsel Connect, January 1997
  • "Skills Training For Mediators," Ventura County Dispute Settlement Services, October 1996
  • "Evaluative v. Facilitative Mediation," Society of Professionals In Dispute Resolution, Annual International Conference, October 1996
  • "Negotiation Training," Ventura County Dispute Settlement Services, September 1996
  • Panel Member and Presenter at "Court Annexed Mediation" program at annual SPIDR Conference, Oct. 1996. Other panel members included: James Alfini, Robert Baruch Bush, John Heyman, Robert Dulberg, Janice Small
  • "Expand Your Law Practice With The Use of Facilitated Negotiations," Beverly Hills Bar Association, June 1996
  • "Mediation Advocacy For Trial Lawyers," Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles, May 1996.
  • "ADR For Intellectual Property Lawyers," Los Angeles Intellectual Property Lawyers Association, May 1996.
  • "Online Interview with Judge Bert Glennon," Lexis Counsel Connect, January 1996.
  • "The Continuum of Conflict," California Association of Realtors/Risk Management Institute, January 1996
  • "Mediation Training," Faculty Member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, November 8, 1995
  • "Dispute Resolution in Excess and Surplus Lines Insurance," American Bar Association, Los Angeles, Oct 26, 1995
  • Online Interview with Ken Andrichik, Director of Mediation for NASD, ADR Forum, Lexis Counsel Connect, September, 1995
  • "Mediation Skills Training," The Dispute Resolution Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 24-27, 1995
  • "Marketing Yourself as a Professional Mediator," ADR Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, July 22, 1995
  • "Mediation In The Workplace," American Society of Trainers and Developers, Annual Conference, Dallas Texas, June 1995
  • "An ADR Protocol For The Insurance Industry," American Bar Association Litigation Section, Tucson, Arizona, March 1995
  • "Mediation As An Affirmative Business Strategy In The Real Estate Industry," Pepperdine Institute For Dispute Resolution/Southern California Mediation Association 6th Annual Conference, November 19, 1994
  • "Mediation In The Real Estate Industry," Presentation to selected retired Judges at Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services, October 19, 1994
  • "Mediation As A Business Strategy In The Real Estate Industry," Legal Affairs Forum, California Association Realtors Convention, September 23, 1994
  • "Mediation Training for Superior Court Mediators," Presented in September and October, 1994 in association with the Los Angeles Superior Court Mandatory Mediation Program and the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Association
  • "How To Avoid Lawsuits," Regular seminars at real estate brokerage offices throughout California on ADR,and legal updates. Regular Continuing Education Seminars at Law Firms throughout Los Angeles
  • "The Business of Mediation," (3 workshops-Southern California Mediation Association, December 1993; January 1994 and February 1994)
  • "I Create Solutions," Two Day workshop for lawyers and claims personnel on winning strategies using dispute resolution techniques.Willis Corroon Administrative Services, Nashville, Tennessee (March 1993)
  • "ADR, It's Here and It's Now," American Prepaid Institute, Palm Springs, (March 1993)
  • "Mediation of Insurance Disputes," Southern California Mediation Association, Pepperdine University-Malibu, November 1992
  • "Cooperation Agreements," Defense and Dispute Resolution Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, November 1992
  • "Integrating ADR Into Claims Handling," West Valley Claims Association, Woodland Hills, June 1992
  • "Working With ADR," San Gabriel Claims Association March, 1992
  • Presenter, Workshop for Neutrals, First Mediation Corporation, 1991

Additional Information

Mr. Krivis has served as the President of the International Academy of Mediators and the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA). He has served on the Board of Directors of the California Academy of Mediation Professionals, the Economic Alliance and the California Dispute Resolution Council. He is on the Board of Visitors of Pepperdine Law School. He is a member of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section where he has participated on various committees and programs.

Mr. Krivis and First Mediation Corporation are approved providers of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) for the California State Bar. His MCLE presentations are in the areas of Improvisation Techniques in Negotiation, Ethics, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation Advocacy.

Past Presidencies

International Academy of Mediators
International Academy of Mediators

Southern California Mediation Association
Southern California Mediation Association

Personal Background

Birthdate: March 8, 1956
Family: Married (Amy), two children Hannah (age 23) and Rachel (age 20)
Education: Southwestern University School Of Law (1980), San Diego State University (1976)