Laura Kass-Moreno

Laura Kass-Moreno

Commercial & Civil Mediator | Complex Multi-Party, Employment & Business Disputes

San Diego, California | Mediating Since 1999 | 40+ Years of Civil Litigation Experience

Professional Overview

Laura Kass-Moreno is a California credentialed mediator and retired civil litigation attorney with more than four decades of litigation experience and over 25 years of mediation experience. Since beginning her mediation practice in 1999, she has facilitated negotiations involving complex commercial, employment, real estate, insurance, and other civil disputes, including multi-party matters where resolution has proven particularly challenging.

Throughout her legal career, Laura represented both plaintiffs and defendants, developing a broad understanding of litigation risks, competing legal perspectives, and the practical considerations influencing settlement decisions. Her background also includes six years as in-house counsel for a publicly traded company, providing firsthand experience with the business and organizational realities that often underlie commercial disputes.

Laura is particularly experienced in mediations where negotiations have stalled, parties have become entrenched in their positions, or multiple competing interests make settlement difficult. Her approach combines preparation, patience, persistence, and creative problem-solving to help participants identify opportunities for resolution that may not have been apparent earlier in the process.

In addition to her mediation practice, Laura has served as a mediation instructor, trainer, and organizational conflict resolution facilitator, contributing to the development of effective negotiation and communication skills among legal professionals and other participants.

Mediation Approach

Laura believes that as long as parties remain willing to communicate, opportunities for resolution may still exist.

Her approach is particularly suited to complex or high-conflict disputes requiring sustained engagement, careful listening, and the ability to move negotiations beyond previously unsuccessful settlement efforts.

Drawing upon decades of experience representing opposing sides of civil litigation, Laura helps participants evaluate their positions, recognize underlying interests, and consider the legal, financial, and practical consequences of continued litigation.

Her mediation approach emphasizes:

• Persistence in difficult negotiations: Maintaining productive engagement when settlement discussions become challenging or appear deadlocked.
• Creative problem-solving: Exploring settlement options that address underlying interests rather than focusing exclusively on stated positions.
• Balanced perspective: Applying her experience representing plaintiffs and defendants to understand competing litigation positions.
• Multi-party coordination: Helping participants navigate disputes involving multiple parties, stakeholders, and competing interests.
• Practical resolution: Encouraging informed decision-making and agreements that address the realities of the dispute.

Laura's objective is to provide a structured, neutral environment where parties and counsel can engage in meaningful negotiations, evaluate their alternatives, and work toward mutually acceptable outcomes.

Mediation Practice Areas

Commercial & Business Disputes

Laura mediates disputes involving businesses, commercial relationships, contractual obligations, and financial disagreements, including:

• Business and commercial litigation
• Contract and breach-of-contract disputes
• Business torts
• Creditor and debtor matters
• Complex multi-party commercial conflicts

Employment & Civil Rights

Her employment and workplace mediation experience includes:

• Employment-related disputes
• Workplace conflicts
• Civil rights matters
• Organizational and institutional disagreements

Real Estate & Construction

Laura also mediates disputes involving property rights, real estate transactions, and construction-related disagreements, including:

• Real estate disputes
• Homeowners association conflicts
• Construction disputes
• Landlord and tenant disagreements

Insurance, Personal Injury & Professional Liability

Her civil litigation and mediation background also encompasses:

• Insurance claims and coverage-related disputes
• Personal injury matters
• Professional liability disputes
• Civil litigation involving disputed liability and damages

Professional Background

Before focusing on mediation, Laura practiced civil litigation for more than 40 years, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in business, employment, real estate, insurance, and professional liability matters.

Her experience includes six years serving as in-house counsel for a publicly traded company, where she gained additional insight into corporate decision-making, organizational responsibilities, and the financial considerations that influence business disputes.

This combination of private litigation and corporate legal experience informs her work as a mediator, particularly in cases where legal positions, business interests, and practical settlement considerations intersect.

Mediation Training & Professional Leadership

Laura's dispute resolution experience extends beyond individual mediation sessions to professional training, teaching, and organizational conflict management.

Her background includes:

• Trainer and Mentor: National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC)
• Mediation Skills Instructor: University of San Diego School of Law
• Mediation Training: Theory and Practice of Mediation programs through NCRC
• Organizational Facilitation: Conflict management and communication programs for universities, government agencies, corporations, and community organizations
• Professional Development: Training and facilitation involving workplace communication, organizational conflict, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

Her teaching and facilitation work reflects a longstanding commitment to helping individuals and organizations develop more effective approaches to managing and resolving conflict.

Geographic Service Area

Based in the San Diego, California area, Laura provides mediation services involving commercial, employment, real estate, insurance, and other civil disputes.

Her professional background and affiliations establish substantial connections to the San Diego legal and dispute resolution community. Additional geographic availability and virtual mediation arrangements should be confirmed directly.

Laura Kass-Moreno brings together more than 25 years of mediation experience, four decades of civil litigation experience, and a persistent, hands-on approach to resolving difficult disputes. Her combination of legal, corporate, and mediation training experience provides a distinctive perspective for parties and counsel seeking resolution of complex, multi-party, or seemingly deadlocked matters.