Barbara Spector, a 28-year civil trial attorney, is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.  Her trial work focuses on commercial, employment, real estate, and personal injury matters in both state and federal courts, and includes argument before the California Supreme Court.

A significant portion of Barbara’s practice today is focused on alternative dispute resolution: arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation and special master services.  Barbara has conducted more than 300 mediations, arbitrations and settlement conferences, and has been selected to serve in various alternative dispute resolution capacities by the City of Saratoga, Santa Clara County Superior Court, California Court of Appeal, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.  She holds Mediator and Negotiator certifications from Harvard University.

In addition to a long and distinguished career as a litigator and ADR facilitator, Barbara currently serves on the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission, is the Vice Mayor of the Town of Los Gatos and served for eight years on the Los Gatos Planning Commission.

Recent Successful Mediations

• Employment case involving alleged wrongful termination based on a
  medical condition
  
  
• Business matter involving disputed purchase and sublease agreements
  
  
• Construction contract dispute
  
  

Professional Activities

Barbara is an active member of the Santa Clara County Bar Association, which bestowed upon her in 2004 its highest honor: the Bryl Salsman Award for outstanding volunteer service to the legal profession and to the community.  Barbara also was selected by her peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics and San Francisco Magazine as a “Northern California ADR Super Lawyer” in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  Barbara is a frequent lecturer, having presented programs on behalf of The Rutter Group, the State Bar of California, California Continuing Education of the Bar, and Santa Clara County Bar Association on such topics as discovery, law & motion, pretrial litigation strategy, elimination of bias in the legal profession, negotiation skills, and alternative dispute resolution.

Admissions

Barbara is admitted to practice in all California State courts and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.