History
Brian Nelson was consistently awarded the designation of being one of the nations's most outstanding EEOC Mediators since he assumed the ADR Staff Mediator position in 2009. Brian began his career with the EEOC in 1989. He excelled in the positions of Investigator, Systemic Investigator and Enforcement Supervisor prior to becoming a ADR Staff Mediator. In those earlier positions, he became quite proficient in guiding Charging Parties and Respondents to assist them with resolving many charges through the settlement and conciliation processes. This gave him valuable experience to help him become an extremely effective Mediator. In his highly successful career, he mediated over 1500 charges and successfully resolved 80% of his cases. He has consistently received outstanding reviews from the mediation participants who have praised his knowledge, experience, fairness and neutrality. This success propelled him to start his new mediation practice in 2018. He looks forward to putting his vast experience toward helping clients resolve their cases and avoid costly litigation.
Mediation Style and Practice Area
Brian is deeply committed to helping parties resolve their employment disputes. His extensive enforcement and mediation background gives him a deep understanding that it is almost always preferable for parties to amicably resolve their issues through a mutually agreed upon mediated settlement agreement rather than protracted and costly alternatives such as investigation, arbitration or litigation.
While the EEOC program was mainly geared towards the facilitative mediation process, Brian has had extensive and diverse training and can easily fluctuate between other mediation models such as evaluative and transformative mediation. Brian sees the benefits of having joint sessions at some point during the mediation process and believes that this can be very effective in helping the parties understand the other side's position and facilitate resolution. Separate caucuses with each side have also proved to be very valuable in handling matters that the parties may not wish to share in joint session.
Even when Brian uses his vast experience with employment law to conduct more of an evaluative mediation, he consistently maintains his neutrality while helping the parties assess their risk. Brian has been described by many mediation participants as being an empathetic presence with a calming voice and demeanor which allows the parties to openly express their emotions. This style has been utilized to effect many positive outcomes.
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Mediator Bio
Brian Nelson
From his diverse range of experience at the Los Angeles District Office of the EEOC to opening his own practice in 2018, Brian has worked in the field of labor and employment for 30 years. He has won many awards for his outstanding work and continues to provide the same dedication to all his clients. Brian takes his craft very seriously and regularly attends training and seminars to stay abreast of the law’s frequent changes and perfect his mediation skills.
Education
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY
B.A., Business Administration 1983
Training and Certification
Pepperdine University - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (rated #1 dispute resolution program in U.S.), Multiple courses including: Strategic Negotiation Skills; Advanced Mediation; Preventing Bad Settlement Decisions and Impasse; Tools of Mindful Awareness; and Public Sector Mediation
L.A. County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services Inc. (DRS), Basic Mediation Training Certificate
Professor Mari Frank, Esq., Advanced Mediation Certificate - Mastering Workplace Mediation
Center for Dispute Resolution (by Kenneth Cloke, Director) - 36 hour training in Mediation and Conflict Resolution
Presented and received training at the CA Association of Equal Rights Professionals (CAERP) conference
Presented training at the Cal State University Northridge Pride Center as part of their Trans Awareness Week
Conducted Outreach events on the EEOC's Mediation program to the local offices of Congressman Adam Schiff, Congresswoman Karen Bass and Congressman Howard Berman
Volunteered as Coach for several annual Western Justice Center Foundation Peer Mediation Invitationals (PMI) to encourage students to be peacemakers at their schools
Affiliations and Awards
Southern California Mediation Association, Member
"Hammer" Award from Vice-President Al Gore for participation on EEOC L.A. District Office Partnership Council
Several EEOC Chair's Opportunity to Reward Excellence Awards (CORE) for 2 highly significant national public consent decrees, a large class action sexual harassment investigation and highly regarded outreach training
Numerous District Director Awards for outstanding performance as an Investigator, Supervisor and Mediator while at EEOC
Greater Los Angeles Federal Executive Board 25th Annual Distinguished Public Service Award Program Partnership Award for EEOC Labor Management Partnership Council