Kim Deck was at the forefront of the mediation movement starting as a full-time mediator and fact-finder in 1989. Having shadowed employment mediators and studied resolution techniques early in her career, she developed a passion for resolving specifically employment cases. Since then, she has mediated almost every type of employment dispute including single plaintiff, PAGA, and class action. In addition to often being selected in emotionally charged matters, her experience also includes breach of contract disputes in the entertainment industry.

Kim has successfully settled the vast majority of more than 4,000 plus cases and receives high praise from both plaintiff and defense counsel for being open-minded, objective, responsive, and tenacious in facilitating settlements. Litigants often comment on her personal concern for their client's interests and feelings, her persistence in following up with the parties, and her creative solutions in dealing with the issues.

One client commented, "Kim is a no-nonsense mediator who has settled every case my firm has brought to her. She is masterful, consistently demonstrating the right combination of legal knowledge, aggression, empathy, and honest communication to achieve amazing results." Another client commented, "I am always impressed with Kim's ability to fashion a creative solution."

Practice Areas
  • All Types of Employment Related Matters
  • Business/Contractual
  • Entertainment
  • Personal Injury
Hobbies & Interests

In her spare time, Kim enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children as well as skiing, hiking traveling, and is fluent in Italian.

Website
Legal Career
  • Neutral, Judicate West (2007-Present)
  • Full-Time Mediator, 1998-Present
  • Associate General Counsel and Manager, Employment Dispute Resolution Group, JAMS, 1991-1998
Education & Professional Affiliations
  • J.D. Whittier College School of Law (1991)
  • B.A. St. Mary’s College, Business Administration & International Relations (1984)
  • Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, Member (1991-Present)
  • California State Bar Association, Member
  • California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA), Member
  • Los Angeles County Bar Employment Group, Member
  • Southern California Mediation Society, Member (1995-Present)
  • Disability Rights Legal Center, Board Member
  • Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel, Board Member
  • Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law
Achievements & Awards
  • Ms. Deck has been named by the Daily Journal as a Top Neutral in the State of California (2007).
  • Harvard Negotiation Project-master series for negotiations and managing difficult conversations.
  • Co-Chair of the Dispute Resolution Section for the Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel (AMEC).
  • Peace Maker of the Year Award by AMEC (2013).
Below is a sampling of the various matters Kim Deck, Esq. handled as a practicing attorney or neutral.

Contractual

  • Dispute between family members over right to control family business involving allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition issues

Cannabis Breach Of Contract

  • Manufacture of cannabis v. big retail operation-breach of contract dispute.
  • 7 employees v. retail operation misclassification/breach of contract and discrimination.

Cannabis Industry

  • Employee vs. cannabis manufacturing company.
  • Mediated a case for a company that manufactures and sells a variety of marijuana products.

A D A

  • Successfully resolved hundreds of disability discrimination claims involving failure to provide reasonable accommodation and discrimination for a variety of disabilities including diabetes, mental issues, alcoholism, cancer, neurofibromatosis, HIV positive diagnosis and related issues, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, etc.

Breach of Contract

  • Sales representative from a major company seeks back commissions.

Discrimination

  • Mediated a settlement in excess of $1 million in a racial discrimination case against a Fortune 500 company
  • Resolved several hundred matters involving workers over 40 claiming age discrimination utilizing creative solutions which have included medical insurance, retirement coverage, pension benefits, and other desirable benefits for employees
  • Resolved many gender bias claims with issues involving disparate treatment of multiple plaintiffs, unequal pay, glass ceiling, transsexual and transgender issues
  • Successfully mediated numerous matters involving national origin and race discrimination claims and retaliation for complaining of such

Family Leave Act

  • Mediated hundreds of matters with women asserting pregnancy discrimination

Hostile Environment

  • Successfully resolved several hundred claims of sexual harassment and discrimination involving supervisor's and subordinates, co-workers, multiple plaintiffs, cases with men and women; issues included constructive discharge due to management harassment, claims of favoritism and conflicts of interest because of sexual harassment, same sex sexual harassment, transgender discrimination, assault and rape in the workplace
  • Successfully resolved numerous cases with males and females claiming sexual orientation discrimination and retaliation in the workplace

Sexual Harassment

  • Celebrity accused of rape by a women alleging it happened almost 3 decades ago.

Wage and Hour

  • Mediated a complex wage-and-hour dispute against a Fortune 500 energy company that settled for more than $10 million

Wage and Hour Class Action

  • Settled a wage-and-hour class action case against a top Los Angeles restaurant for $2 million
  • Employment Class Actions: Successfully mediated numerous class action matters for large oil company, restaurant chains, retailers, etc. involving misclassification, wage-and-hour violation cases (including failure to comply with statutory breaks, lunch breaks, and failure to pay appropriate overtime including management and artistic exemptions), and gender bias

Wrongful Termination

  • Wrongful termination in violation of public policy: Successfully resolved hundreds of wrongful termination claims involving allegations of health and safety issues, accounting fraud, wage-and-hour violations, violations of business and professions code
  • Top level C-Suite Executive at major movie studio brings an action for gender discrimination.

Entertainment Issues

  • Studio vs. studio case involving rights and profits
  • Coverage issues between production and bond companies
  • Breach of contract matter involving product placement between film and product companies
  • Claim by actor of breach of contract and discrimination against a studio
  • Famous Pop Star and Manager agree to terminate their management agreement. Mediation involved working out issues regarding contractual interpretation of commissions owed as well as publicity issues.

Breach Of Contract

  • Breach of real estate sales contracts; contractual and equitable remedies including specific performance, rescission, and/or damages
  • Mediation and settlement of numerous brokers' disputes

Buy/Sell

  • Misrepresentations in connection with purchase and sale

Landlord/Tenant

  • Lease disputes on commercial property

Property Damage

  • Contamination to real property, including toxic materials and mold

Real Property

  • Competing purchasers of real property

Transaction

  • Real estate commissions
  • Title insurance, including coverage, malpractice, and handling escrow instructions

Assault and Battery

  • Professional Sports player was accused of sexually assaulting his on and off again girlfriend.

PI Sexual Assault

  • A woman on vacation in NYC orders a massage and is sexually assaulted by the massage therapist.
I love working with Kim. I find her to be very effective, both in getting to a resolution and efficiently using the day.
- Senior Associate at a Global Law Firm
This was my first experience with Kim Deck, Esq. and it was very positive. I would use her again.
- Attorney With Over Two Decades of Litigation Experience
Kim works hard to bring the parties together. She is a straight shooter and I appreciate that.
- Attorney on an Employment Wrongful Termination Case
She made our client feel comfortable in being open and candid. Her desire to resolve the matter seemed open and sincere.
- Attorney on a Real Property Fraud/Misrepresentation Case
Kim as always was an exceptional mediator.
- Attorney on an Employment Wage Hour Class Action Case
Kim is great! She is very effective, very personable, and always makes my client feel heard.
- Attorney on an Employment Wrongful Termination Case
Ms. Deck continued to work with the parties after the mediation session in an effort to reach settlement.
- Attorney on an Employment Wrongful Termination Case
Kim Deck was great in handling the personalities of opposing counsel and co-defendants' counsel. She did a good job of providing enough pressure to the co-defendant's counsel to be able to resolve the case.
- Attorney With Over Two Decades of Employment Law Experience
Kim Deck, Esq.
Based in Los Angeles | Available in All of California
Case Manager: Jenna Schumacher