Stephen Liacouras

Experienced Mediator

25 years mediating complex civil disputes, including business, employment, civil rights, and insurance matters.

Stephen Liacouras, mediator, in San Francisco

Mediation Experience

  • Full-time mediator since 2001; successfully resolved more than 1,000 complex civil disputes.

  • Chief Circuit Mediator, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2018–2026; Led the nation's largest court-staffed appellate mediation program.

  • Circuit Mediator, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2001–2018.

  • Mediation practice areas include business and commercial, civil rights, insurance, ERISA, employment, environmental and natural resources, intellectual property, personal injury and wrongful death, real property, housing, and financial services.

  • Extensive teaching of mediation and negotiation skills to judges, attorneys, and law students.

About

During 25 years as a full-time mediator in San Francisco, Stephen Liacouras has mediated several thousand cases involving individuals, corporations, government agencies, and tribal nations, ranging from two-party disputes to complex multi-party litigation.

Attorneys describe Stephen as warm and engaging, someone who establishes rapport easily and earns trust quickly. They point to his skill in knowing when and how to intervene, keeping even the most difficult negotiations on track to settlement.

Before he began mediating full time, Stephen practiced civil litigation in San Francisco, worked as general counsel to a technology company in Austin, Texas, and supervised staff attorneys at an appellate court in California. This background enables him to identify litigation risk and understand the business and institutional concerns that affect settlement decisions.

“After all these years mediating, I still love getting to know the people involved in a dispute and learning what matters to them. I keep each side’s perspective in mind as I help them realistically assess their options and reach a resolution that addresses what matters most to each side.”

Representative Matters

Stephen was the mediator in all matters listed below.

What Attorneys Say

The following comments are excerpts from attorneys’ emails and letters following mediations with Stephen.

Among the Very Best

“I have participated in hundreds of mediations and settlement conferences over more than two decades, and Stephen is among the very best mediators I have seen. He made my client feel heard, understood, and treated with genuine consideration. This case simply would not have settled without Stephen’s expert guidance.”

Connects and Earns Trust

“Stephen won the confidence of our clients.”

“He established immediate rapport with our client. He had great credibility and helped us focus on the issues that mattered.”

“Everyone was impressed by his genuineness and familiarity with the issues.”

“His patience, empathy, and unfailing good humor made all the difference.”

Brings Clarity to Complex Cases

“Stephen was extraordinarily skillful in evaluating and resolving a lengthy, legally challenging, hard-fought case.”

“I was impressed by his grasp of the facts and analysis of the legal issues.”

“Creative in his approach to an unusually difficult set of circumstances.”

“Professional, impartial, knowledgeable, and always in control of the process, guiding both parties with remarkable subtlety and effectiveness.”

Expertly Guides the Negotiation

“Without Stephen, the case simply would not have settled.”

“He kept the parties working toward settlement when the whole thing seemed hopeless.”

“His persistence in keeping the negotiations going was the key to ensuring settlement.”

“Many times the negotiations were on the verge of collapsing, but Stephen’s patience and insight kept the process moving toward resolution.”

Professional Background

Chief Circuit Mediator, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2018–2026)
Circuit Mediator, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2001–2018)
General Counsel, Centaur Technology (1999–2001)
Supervising Staff Attorney / Motions Attorney, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (1995–1999)
Associate Attorney, Rosen, Bien, Galvan & Grunfeld LLP (1991–1995)
Law Clerk to Chief Judge Dolores K. Sloviter, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1990–1991)

Education

Yale Law School, J.D., 1990
University of California, Berkeley, B.A., History, 1986 — Highest Distinction in General Scholarship; Phi Beta Kappa

Fees

Mediations are scheduled on a full-day basis. The mediation fee includes preparation, pre-mediation conferences with counsel as appropriate, the mediation session, and reasonable post-mediation follow-up.

Fees are ordinarily divided equally among the parties. Please contact me for current rates and availability.

Mediation Inquiry