Judicate West neutrals
Neutral Search

Locations
View our Full-Service Facilities
More >
Sign Up for our Mailings
Type your email here
 

OUR NEUTRALS

Matthew P. Guasco, Esq.
Mr. Guasco is an experienced and respected neutral who began his professional career as a mediator and arbitrator in 1998. A former trial and appellate litigator, Mr. Guasco has mediated and arbitrated over 800 civil disputes, including those involving the following types of cases: real estate, commercial/business, major personal injury, employment and probate/trust/elder law. Additionally, Mr. Guasco is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, where he teaches negotiation and mediation skills courses for law students, lawyers, judges and business professionals throughout the United States, and in Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China. As a mediator, Mr. Guasco is highly regarded for his process skills, including his preparation, legal acumen, patience, persistence and ability to help parties reach agreement in difficult situations. Those who have worked with Mr. Guasco describe him as a “straight shooter” and a good listener. One attorney commented, “He has a calm, even-handed demeanor,” and he “recognizes the emotional issues that are an underlying part of a lot of cases.” As an Arbitrator, Mr. Guasco is described as being particularly adept at evaluating the credibility of witnesses, analyzing complex legal issues, and for rendering awards that have the integrity of a quality judicial decision. “I like him,” commented one lawyer, “He’s a fair arbitrator, who justifies decisions with eloquence and clarity.”
LEGAL CAREER & PRIOR EXPERIENCE
  • Mediator and Arbitrator, Private Practice (1998-Present)
  • Extensive Prior Service as Court-Appointed Mediator, Arbitrator, Settlement Officer, Ventura Superior Court and Santa Barbara Superior Court
  • Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University, School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
  • Director, Mediating the Litigated Case Program, Straus Institute (Irvine Campus)
  • Of Counsel, Norman, Dowler, LLP, Private Mediation and Arbitration Practice (Primary); General Civil Appellate Litigation (Secondary) (2001-Present)
  • Founder and Principal, Innovative Mediation, Private Mediation and Arbitration Practice (1998-01)
  • Associate Attorney, Engle & Bride, General Civil Trial & Appellate Litigation (1993-98)
  • Associate Attorney, Lascher & Lascher, Civil & Criminal Trial Appellate Litigation (1989-93)
  • Trial Attorney, Marin County Public Defender, Criminal Trial Litigation (1985-89)
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law (1984)
  • B.A., Political Science/Economics, University of California, Davis (1980)
  • Judicial Ethics, and Bench Conduct and Demeanor, Ventura Superior Court (2006)
  • Appellate Mediation Training, Second District Court of Appeal (2005)
  • Negotiation and Mediation Training, Pepperdine University, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Basic,1991; Advanced, 1998)
  • Member, Association for Conflict Resolution, Southern California Mediation Association, American Bar Association - Dispute Resolution Section
  • Member, Ventura County Bar Association (1989-Present), President (2008), Founder, ADR Section (Chair, 2005-07), Master, Jerome H. Berenson Chapter, American Inns of Court (President, 2006-08)
ADR EXPERIENCE & SPECIALTIES
  • Business Disputes
  • Complex Commercial
  • Real Estate
  • Employment
  • Probate
  • Trust and Elder Law
  • All types of Personal Injury matters
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS
  • Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV
  • Frequent Author, Lecturer and Educator on the Subjects of Negotiation and Mediation Skills During his free time
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
  • Mr. Guasco enjoys spending his spare time with his family, listening to and playing music, watching baseball, reading, gardening and traveling.
LOCATIONS
  • All of Southern California
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
RECENT ARTICLES


Matthew P. Guasco, Esq.
Mr. Guasco is an experienced and respected neutral who began his professional career as a mediator and arbitrator in 1998. A former trial and appellate litigator, Mr. Guasco has mediated and arbitrated over 800 civil disputes, including those involving the following types of cases: real estate, commercial/business, major personal injury, employment and probate/trust/elder law. Additionally, Mr. Guasco is an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University, School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, where he teaches negotiation and mediation skills courses for law students, lawyers, judges and business professionals throughout the United States, and in Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China. As a mediator, Mr. Guasco is highly regarded for his process skills, including his preparation, legal acumen, patience, persistence and ability to help parties reach agreement in difficult situations. Those who have worked with Mr. Guasco describe him as a “straight shooter” and a good listener. One attorney commented, “He has a calm, even-handed demeanor,” and he “recognizes the emotional issues that are an underlying part of a lot of cases.” As an Arbitrator, Mr. Guasco is described as being particularly adept at evaluating the credibility of witnesses, analyzing complex legal issues, and for rendering awards that have the integrity of a quality judicial decision. “I like him,” commented one lawyer, “He’s a fair arbitrator, who justifies decisions with eloquence and clarity.”
LEGAL CAREER & PRIOR EXPERIENCE
  • Mediator and Arbitrator, Private Practice (1998-Present)
  • Extensive Prior Service as Court-Appointed Mediator, Arbitrator, Settlement Officer, Ventura Superior Court and Santa Barbara Superior Court
  • Adjunct Professor, Pepperdine University, School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
  • Director, Mediating the Litigated Case Program, Straus Institute (Irvine Campus)
  • Of Counsel, Norman, Dowler, LLP, Private Mediation and Arbitration Practice (Primary); General Civil Appellate Litigation (Secondary) (2001-Present)
  • Founder and Principal, Innovative Mediation, Private Mediation and Arbitration Practice (1998-01)
  • Associate Attorney, Engle & Bride, General Civil Trial & Appellate Litigation (1993-98)
  • Associate Attorney, Lascher & Lascher, Civil & Criminal Trial Appellate Litigation (1989-93)
  • Trial Attorney, Marin County Public Defender, Criminal Trial Litigation (1985-89)
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
  • J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law (1984)
  • B.A., Political Science/Economics, University of California, Davis (1980)
  • Judicial Ethics, and Bench Conduct and Demeanor, Ventura Superior Court (2006)
  • Appellate Mediation Training, Second District Court of Appeal (2005)
  • Negotiation and Mediation Training, Pepperdine University, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Basic,1991; Advanced, 1998)
  • Member, Association for Conflict Resolution, Southern California Mediation Association, American Bar Association - Dispute Resolution Section
  • Member, Ventura County Bar Association (1989-Present), President (2008), Founder, ADR Section (Chair, 2005-07), Master, Jerome H. Berenson Chapter, American Inns of Court (President, 2006-08)
ADR EXPERIENCE & SPECIALTIES
  • Business Disputes
  • Complex Commercial
  • Real Estate
  • Employment
  • Probate
  • Trust and Elder Law
  • All types of Personal Injury matters
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS
  • Martindale-Hubbell Rating: AV
  • Frequent Author, Lecturer and Educator on the Subjects of Negotiation and Mediation Skills During his free time
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
  • Mr. Guasco enjoys spending his spare time with his family, listening to and playing music, watching baseball, reading, gardening and traveling.
LOCATIONS
  • All of Southern California
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
RECENT ARTICLES