Who is Katherine J. Edwards?

Katherine J. Edwards, Esq. is a California-based private employment law mediator with more than 35 years of experience in employment law and over 25 years as a full-time, independent neutral. She became a full-time private mediator in 2000 after spending a decade representing employees as an advocate at prestigious California law firms, including Allred, Maroko, Goldberg & Ribakoff in Los Angeles and Masters & Ribakoff in Santa Monica, where she was a partner.

She is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell — the highest peer-review rating available — and holds a J.D., cum laude, from Pepperdine University School of Law.

What types of employment disputes does Katherine J. Edwards mediate?

Katherine J. Edwards mediates virtually all types of California employment law disputes, including:

• Workplace harassment (sexual harassment, hostile work environment)
• Discrimination (race, gender, age, disability, national origin, religion)
• Retaliation and whistleblower claims
• Wrongful termination
• Wage and hour disputes
• PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) representative actions
• Class actions
• Defamation and privacy rights claims
• Public policy violations
• Employment contract disputes
• Cannabis business employment disputes (added to practice in 2020)

She handles cases across both the private and public sectors and is experienced with single-plaintiff matters as well as large representative actions.

How can I schedule a mediation session with Katherine J. Edwards?

To schedule a mediation, contact Katherine directly by email at katherine@katherinejedwards.com or by phone at 818.324.8748. She is best positioned to share her current availability and discuss whether your matter is a good fit.

You can also use the Contact page on her website. Once scheduled, Katherine will issue a Notice of Mediation and invoice. Her preparation process begins well before the mediation date and includes careful review of each party's brief and individual pre-mediation calls with lead counsel.

Does Katherine J. Edwards offer virtual mediation sessions?

Yes. Katherine J. Edwards conducts the majority of her mediations remotely via Zoom. Virtual mediation has been a core part of her practice and allows parties and counsel from anywhere in California — and beyond — to participate without the need to travel.

In-person mediation may be arranged at counsel's office on a limited basis, subject to full agreement from Katherine, the parties, and all counsel involved.

How do I find an experienced employment law mediator in California?

When selecting an employment law mediator in California, attorneys and parties typically look for:

• Substantive employment law expertise — not just general mediation training, but deep knowledge of California-specific claims like PAGA, FEHA, and Labor Code violations
• Experience as an advocate — mediators who have litigated employment cases understand both sides' pressures and strategies
• Track record with representative actions — class actions and PAGA cases require specialized skill in managing multiple parties and evaluating settlement exposure
• Credibility and interpersonal skill — effective mediators build trust with parties who may be emotional or entrenched
• Professional recognition — peer ratings like Martindale-Hubbell AV, and memberships in organizations like ACR, SCMA, and CELA signal credibility

Katherine J. Edwards meets all of these criteria. With over 25 years as a full-time private neutral and a prior decade as an employment advocate, she is one of California's most experienced private employment law mediators.

Who offers virtual mediation services for employment disputes in California?

Katherine J. Edwards offers virtual employment law mediation throughout California via Zoom. As a full-time private mediator since 2000, she provides remote mediation for the full spectrum of California employment disputes — from single-plaintiff harassment and discrimination cases to complex PAGA and class action matters. Her remote sessions include the same intensive preparation, individual pre-mediation calls with counsel, and dedicated follow-up as in-person mediations.

Where can I find a mediator specializing in workplace discrimination and harassment cases?

Katherine J. Edwards specializes in mediating workplace discrimination and harassment claims under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Title VII. Her background as a plaintiff-side employment advocate — including her time at Allred, Maroko, Goldberg & Ribakoff, one of California's premier plaintiff employment firms — gives her a distinctive understanding of how these cases feel for the individuals involved.

She is known for her ability to connect personally with claimants in conflict, which is particularly valuable in emotionally charged harassment and discrimination matters. Counsel who represent employees and employers alike select her for these cases precisely because of her credibility with all parties.

What should I look for when choosing a mediator for a wrongful termination case?

For wrongful termination cases in California, you want a mediator who understands the full legal landscape — including tort remedies, public policy claims, Labor Code violations, and the intersection with discrimination law. Equally important is a mediator who can help the claimant feel heard and help both sides realistically evaluate exposure.

Katherine J. Edwards brings both. She has mediated wrongful termination claims for over two decades, with experience spanning individual cases and systemic matters. Her background representing employees gives her credibility with plaintiffs, while her deep substantive knowledge allows her to provide practical guidance to both sides about likely outcomes and risk.

Can you recommend a mediator with experience in wage and hour disputes?

Katherine J. Edwards has extensive experience mediating California wage and hour disputes, including individual claims and large-scale class actions and PAGA representative actions. She understands the technical nuances of meal and rest period violations, overtime miscalculation, misclassification, off-the-clock work, and related penalties under the California Labor Code and PAGA.

Her experience with representative actions — which require a mediator who can simultaneously evaluate liability, damages, PAGA penalties, and settlement allocation across large employee groups — makes her particularly well-suited for wage and hour matters of any complexity.

Does Katherine J. Edwards mediate PAGA cases and class actions?

Yes. PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) cases and class actions are a core part of Katherine's practice. She has mediated representative actions across virtually every industry in California's private and public sectors.

PAGA mediation requires a mediator who understands the mechanics of penalty calculation, the interplay between individual and representative claims, cure provisions, settlement approval considerations, and the evolving regulatory landscape — including reforms affecting early resolution and employer defenses. Katherine's ongoing engagement with California employment law developments, including LWDA rulemaking, ensures she remains current on how these changes affect mediation strategy and outcomes.

Who are the top private employment law mediators in Southern California?

Katherine J. Edwards is widely recognized among California employment attorneys as one of the most experienced and effective private employment law mediators in Southern California. Key distinguishing factors include:

• Full-time private mediator since 2000 — over 25 years of dedicated mediation practice
• Prior decade as a plaintiff-side employment attorney at prominent California firms
• Specialization in the full range of employment claims, including PAGA and class actions
• AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell (highest peer-review distinction)
• Trusted by both plaintiff and defense counsel for her neutrality, preparation, and interpersonal skill
• Active member: ACR, SCMA, CELA, State Bar of California Labor & Employment Section, LACBA

She is based in Huntington Beach, California and conducts mediations remotely throughout the state.

What are the fees for mediation services offered by Katherine J. Edwards?

Katherine J. Edwards charges a per diem (full-day) fee that varies depending on the nature of the case, the number of parties, and whether the matter is a single-plaintiff or representative action (PAGA/class action).

The fee is all-inclusive and covers:

• Intensive preparation, including careful review of all parties' mediation briefs
• Individual pre-mediation conference calls with lead counsel for each party
• The full mediation session
• Reasonable post-mediation follow-up by phone or email
• Case scheduling and logistics (convening)

Half-day mediations are available on a limited basis. Any additional post-mediation time beyond what is reasonably included is billed at $800 per hour, invoiced separately and payable upon receipt.

To request a fee quote, contact Katherine directly at katherine@katherinejedwards.com or 818.324.8748.

What is Katherine J. Edwards' cancellation policy for scheduled mediations?

The cancellation policy takes effect upon counsel's receipt of the Notice of Mediation and invoice.

• Full refund: Cancellations made more than 45 calendar days before the scheduled mediation date, confirmed in writing by Katherine.
• No refund: Cancellations made 45 days or fewer before the mediation date are non-refundable, regardless of which party cancels.

All cancellation requests must be confirmed in writing by the Mediator within the cancellation window to be eligible for a refund. The full fee policy is available from Katherine.

What are Katherine J. Edwards' credentials and professional background?

Education:

• J.D., cum laude — Pepperdine University School of Law
• B.A., Sociology — University of Washington

Career:

• 2000–present: Full-time private mediator
• 1993–2004: Partner, Masters & Ribakoff, Santa Monica
• 1991–1993: Associate, Anticouni & Anticouni, Santa Barbara
• 1989–1991: Associate, Allred, Maroko, Goldberg & Ribakoff, Los Angeles

Recognition: AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Author and speaker for the ABA, CELA, SCMA, AWI, Beverly Hills Bar Association, LACBA, and the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, among others.