Leyla Balakhane is a seasoned expert in the field of conflict resolution, with a wealth of experience as a family law mediator, facilitator, coach, and trainer. Inspired by a fervent dedication to advancing amicability and fairness, she has made it her life’s work to help families navigate the challenging waters of divorce and family matters. With a steadfast commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a happy, safe, and loving home, Leyla embodies the ideals of compassion and dedication, and stands as a shining example of what it means to truly make a difference in the society.
Leyla’s mediation skills are rooted in empathy and understanding, allowing her to get to the heart of each conflict and alleviate the stress and tension that often accompany separations. Her cooperative approach encourages families to work on rebuilding relationships, promoting positive communication, and making decisions that are in the best interests of their children.
Leyla has mediated high conflict disputes, including divorce, civil harassment, employment disputes, real estate, business, professional malpractice, and commercial disputes. She is a certified mediator for the California Academy of Mediation Professionals (CAMP) and a mediator/mentor and an evaluator for the Center for Conflict Resolution. In addition, she previously served as a panel mediator and an evaluator and coach for the Santa Clara Dispute Resolution Program.
In addition to divorce, Leyla offers mediation services for a range of life issues, including:
- Adoption
- Family businesses
- Guardianship
- Conservatorship and eldercare
- Pre-marital mediation
- Post-marital mediation
- Dissolution of non-marital relationships
- Teen issues
- Parent coordination
- Blended family mediation
- Cohabitation agreements
Education
- Loyola Marymount University, J.D., 1999
- California State University, Dominguez Hills
Licenses & Certifications
- Training on how to manage disputes involving high conflict personalities and personality disorders in mediation, High Conflict Institute, 25 Hour Family Law Training
- National Business Institute (NBI, Inc.), 40 hour of Children & Dependency Mediation·
- USC Law School, 40-hour Mediation Training
- Superior Court, County of Santa Clara, 40-hour Mediator Certification
- Seeds Community Resolution Center
- Pepperdine University School of Law logo, Advanced Mediation Training in Family Law Dispute Resolution
- Pepperdine University School of Law, Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Arbitration Training
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Certification of Training in Mediation and Conflict Resolution
Mediation Experience
- Balakhane Mediation–Family Law Mediator
- Britton White Mediation Services – Family Law Mediator
- Los Angeles Bar Association – Fee Arbitrator
- ADR Panel, Los Angeles Superior Court–Served as a mediator in family law and civil disputes
- LA Mediate, Family Law Mediator Panel –Served as a Family Law Mediator
- Center for Dispute Resolution Panel – Served as a mediator in Los Angeles Superior Court
- California Academy of Mediation Professionals (CAMP) Mediator Panel
- Inglewood Superior Courthouse
- Mosten Mediation Training, Mediation Coach – 40 Hour Divorce Mediation
- USC Gould School of Law, Mediation Coach – Children & Dependency Mediation
- Pepperdine and USC Law School, Mediation Trainer and Coach – Courtroom Mediation Skills
Mediation Training & Education
- USC Law School – 40 hour of Children & Dependency Mediation·
- Pepperdine School of Law – Advanced Mediation Training in Family Law Dispute Resolution
- Seeds Community Resolution Center – 40-hour Mediator Certification
- Santa Clara County Superior Court – 40-hour Mediation Training
- Los Angeles County Bar Association – Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Arbitration Training
- Marina Collaborative Divorce Group – Mediation Training on Collaborative Divorce
- Santa Clara County Superior Court – Advanced Mediation Skills Practicum
- High Conflict Institute – Training on how to manage disputes involving high conflict personalities and personality disorders in mediation
- Santa Clara County Superior Court – Mediation and Negotiation Workshop·
- American Institute of Mediation – Legal Nuts & Bolts Course
- National Business Institute – 25 Hour Family Law Training
- Centinela Youth Services – Mediation Training
- County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs Dispute Resolution Program – Civil Harassment Mediation Training & Advanced Mediation Techniques
- CSUDH–M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution and Peace Building, 2011 – Distinguished Scholar Award
- Loyola Marymount University – B.A. in Psychology, 1999