Curriculum Vitae
Barbara S. Bryant, a full-time provider of mediation and other dispute resolution services, has established an excellent settlement track record as a mediator and dispute resolution professional since 1994. Based on her nineteen years as a litigator with an emphasis on individual and class action employment, discrimination, and sexual harassment cases, she has gained the confidence of both the plaintiff and defense bar through her effective, knowledgeable and even-handed approach to dispute resolution.
Dispute Resolution Experience
- Mediation of more than five hundred state and federal cases involving all areas of employment law, including all areas of discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, unfair competition and trade secrets, wage and hour claims, and other contract, tort, statutory, public policy and constitutional claims; discrimination and harassment cases in housing, educational and other non-employment settings.
- Member of the mediation panels for the U. S. District Court, Northern District of California, the California Court of Appeals, First and Third Appellate Districts, Alameda County Superior Court, Contra Costa County Superior Court, and the Bar Association of San Francisco.
- Discovery Referee and Settlement Commissioner for the Alameda County Superior Court since 1994 in most civil litigation subject matter areas, including business, employment, real estate, professional malpractice and personal injury. Prior Judge Pro Tempore, Berkeley-Oakland Municpal Courts.
- Neutral fact-finder/investigator since 1997 for both public and private employers facing employee claims, including discrimination and harassment.
Speaking/Training on Dispute Resolution
- Mediation coach for the training programs of the California Court of Appeal, First and Third Districts’ Appellate Mediation Programs, and for mediation classes at Stanford Law School.
- Speaker/Trainer on mediation to legal, judicial and dispute resolution groups, including the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program; JAMS; the National Employment Lawyers Association; and the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Mediation Committee.
Teaching/Presentations on Employment Law
- Adjunct professor, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, Sexual Harassment Law (1989-present).
- Adjunct professor, John F. Kennedy University School of Law, Wrongful Termination (1988-1991)
- Extensive speaking experience with judicial, legal, educational, human resources and community groups on issues of employment, harassment, discrimination and bias, to local, national and international audiences.
Professional History (Martindale Hubbell Rating: Highest/AV)
Mediation Law Offices of Barbara S. Bryant (2000-present): Full-time provision of mediation, neutral fact-finding/workplace investigations, neutral evaluations and special master/discovery referee services.
Law Offices of Barbara S. Bryant (1988-1999): Litigation on behalf of employees in the areas of employment law, sexual harassment and discrimination; part-time provision of mediation and other neutral services.
Farnsworth, Saperstein and Seligman (1983-1988): Litigation ofindividual and class action casesandattorneys’ fees petitions in state and federal court on behalf of employees with employment, discrimination and sexual harassment claims. Solano County Legal Assistance (1982-1983): Litigation of welfare rights and domestic violence cases; supervision of administrative law unit.
Law Clerk for the Honorable Marilyn Hall Patel (1980-1981): United States District Court, Northern District of California.
Publications (partial list)
- “Sexual Harassment in India: Courage, Contrasts and Challenges,” CWL News, at 4 (Sp’2006)
- “Negotiating Kilimanjaro,” California Lawyer, at 64 (January 2005)
- Action Guide, Bringing and Defending a Sexual Harassment Action (CEB co-author 2006, 2000, author 1996)
- "Sexual Harassment" chapter in Wrongful Termination Employment Practice (CEB 2000, 1997)
- Consulting Editor, Action Guide and Mentor Pack, Wrongful Termination (CEB 1995, 1994)
Professional Associations (partial list)
Advisory Council, Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice, Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley; Administration Committee, Alameda County Superior Court Mediation Program; Association for Conflict Resolution; Association for Dispute Resolution, Northern California; The Mediation Society; ADR Sections of the Alameda County Bar Association and Bar Association of San Francisco; California State Bar, Labor and Employment Law and ADR Sections; Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom.
Education
J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law (with Highest Honors)
M.S.W., California State University, Social Work, Sacramento
B.A., University of California, Berkeley, Psychology
Prior executive board roles: California Women Lawyers; Alameda County Bar Association; Earl Warren Inn of Court; Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers; Bar Association of San Francisco, Labor and Employment Law Section.
