Barbara brings more than 40 years of legal experience representing insurance carriers, individuals and businesses to her mediation practice. She has litigated and mediated a wide range of civil matters including personal injury, real estate, insurance coverage and bad faith actions. She has participated in hundreds of mediations throughout her career, including as a successful litigator and as the founder and managing partner of her law firm, and the head of her own mediation firm, Mandell Mediation. She also served as a settlement officer in the Resolve Law L.A. Mandatory Settlement Conference Program for the Los Angeles County Superior Court since its inception in 2020 and previously volunteered for many years as a settlement officer in the court’s CRASH Program.
Drawing from her unparalleled experience and expertise in insurance coverage and liability disputes, when mediating, Barbara is able to examine a case from all angles. She takes pride in her analytical yet empathetic approach to the mediation process and has a unique ability to connect with people and understand the underlying issues that motivate parties to settle. A commitment to preparation, focus, and persistence inspires her practice, and she has built a reputation within the legal community as an intelligent, candid, and results-oriented mediator.
Practice Areas
- Business/Commercial
- Construction Defect
- Employment
- Insurance Coverage, Bad Faith, and Subrogation
- Personal Injury
- Real Estate including Landlord-Tenant
Hobbies & Interests
Barbara enjoys spending time with her family, especially her granddaughter. She loves travelling, particularly in Europe, and enjoys watching all sports; especially the LAKERS!
Legal Career
- Full-time Neutral, Judicate West (2024-Present)
- Mediator, Mandell Mediation (2024)
- Of Counsel, Colman Perkins Law Group; specialized in insurance coverage and bad faith, homeowners’ liability, habitability and landlord tenant disputes (2023-2024)
- Managing Partner, Mandell, Damon & Associates; specialized in insurance coverage and bad faith, commercial and personal injury liability suits, including homeowners’ liability, habitability and landlord tenant disputes, premises liability, and subrogation (2015-2022)
- Founder and Managing Partner, Mandell & Associates; specialized in insurance coverage and bad faith, commercial and personal injury liability suits, including homeowners’ liability, habitability and landlord tenant disputes, premises liability and subrogation (2008-2015)
- Partner, Michelman & Robinson; specialized in insurance coverage and bad faith, commercial and personal injury liability suits, including homeowners’ liability, habitability and landlord tenant disputes, premises liability, and subrogation matters (2006-2008)
- Associate Attorney, Partner, Gilbert Kelly Crowley and Jennett; specialized in insurance coverage and bad faith, commercial and personal injury liability suits, including homeowners’ liability, habitability and landlord tenant disputes, premises liability, and subrogation matters (1982-1995, 1999-2006)
- Staff Counsel, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company; specialized in insurance coverage and bad faith (1995-1997)
Education & Professional Affiliations
- J.D., Loyola Law School (1982)
- B.S.W., Adelphi University (1977)
- Mediating the Litigated Case, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine (2019)
- Los Angeles Superior Court Resolve Law, Settlement Officer (2020-2024)
- Los Angeles Superior Court CRASH, Settlement Officer (1990’s)
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member (1982-Present)
- Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, Member (1982- Present)
Achievements & Awards
- California Super Lawyers - Insurance Coverage (2019-2024)
Bad Faith
- Litigated a complex bad faith case arising from an insurance carrier determining that the plaintiff’s vehicle was a total loss, over plaintiff’s objections.
- Litigated a highly contested bad faith case arising from a homeowner’s claim, based on plaintiffs’ claims that all the doors and windows in their house had to be replaced because of a covered event and not because of wear and tear and improper maintenance. Negotiated a settlement for an amount within the policy coverage.
Coverage
- Successfully mediated a UIM claim involving coverage disputes over the nature and extent of the applicable offsets provided by code, as incorporated into the applicable policy.
Property Damage
- Handled numerous mold cases, with both liability and coverage issues.
Landlord/Tenant
- Mediated a habitability case involving a homeowner's insurance policy based on a plaintiff’s claim that the property owner rented out the house which was contaminated with methamphetamine. Parties were too far apart and needed to conduct some additional discovery to resolve some factual issues, after which the case quickly settled.
- As an attorney, successfully negotiated a complex habitability case involving a mold claim brought by two tenant plaintiffs, against the landlord (property owner) and the mold remediation company retained by the property owner, which involved numerous liability, damage and evidentiary issues.
Warranty of Habitability
- Successfully mediated a habitability case involving a homeowner's insurance policy with a very difficult pro-per plaintiff and an equally difficult property owner.
PI Auto
- Successfully mediated a four-vehicle collision involving disputed liability and damage issues.
- Successfully conducted a binding pre-litigation mediation involving three pedestrians with significant injuries competing over allocation of applicable policy limits, which involved several coverage issues.
- Successfully mediated an auto v pedestrian suit involving a number of critical evidentiary issues impacting the settlement value.
PI Motorcycle
- Successfully mediated an auto v motorcycle suit involving complex and disputed liability and damage issues.
PI Sexual Molestation
- Successfully mediated a revived claim against a school district based on claims that a now deceased former teacher/district employee sexually molested the plaintiff four decades ago when the plaintiff was in middle school.
Premises Liability
- Successfully mediated a premises liability/slip and fall case against a large grocery store chain and a property manager for a shopping center, involving serious injuries in the face of questionable liability.
I highly recommend Barbara Mandell. She was the 'go-to' trial lawyer for a major homeowners insurance carrier for decades before retiring. I first worked with her on a Resolve Law LA matter and she managed to settle a pretty contested matter.
- Los Angeles-Based Attorney
Barbara Mandell is an excellent mediator. I have used her both through Resolve Law LA and privately. She is both no-nonsense and compassionate, with a unique ability to quickly analyze the value of a case and uncover what motivates each party and counsel to reach a resolution.
- Partner at a Top-Rated Insurance Law Firm
I have had the privilege of working with numerous mediators, but none compare to Barbara Mandell. Her professionalism, keen insight, and ability to foster constructive dialogue is unparalleled. She consistently creates an environment where all parties feel heard, respected, and motivated to find common ground. Her expertise and calm demeanor turn even the most challenging negotiations into productive discussions. I highly recommend Barbara Mandell to anyone seeking a mediator who not only understands the law but also has the unique ability to bring out the best in all parties involved.
- Attorney at a Premier Southern California Law Firm
