Experience
Christine Allen practiced personal injury litigation for over 20 years in Southern California. In the process, she became a huge fan of the mediation process and settled many, many of her cases through mediation. She eventually set up “Mediation Days” at her office, bringing in a mediator and handling two to three cases in one day. As a result, Christine decided to become a mediator herself. She was encouraged by those who knew of her excellent people skills and her extensive litigation background. She completed mediation training at the Pepperdine University Straus Institute in 2004.

Since the majority of Christine’s career has been as a defense attorney for a house counsel firm, she has a good understanding of how insurance companies operate and understands the pressures claims representatives face. She treats claims representatives with respect while simultaneously extending compassion and understanding to plaintiffs. Christine is able to listen well and make sure that everyone feels heard. She is also able to point out the downsides of each party's case, and litigation in general, in a way that is palatable and non-threatening.

Christine started her mediation practice by volunteering on the Los Angeles County mediation panel. She handled numerous pro bono mediations per month, settling the majority of the cases. She consistently received the highest marks on the survey sent by the court to lawyers whose cases she mediated. Many of the lawyers she mediated cases for then began seeking her as a mediator on cases in other jurisdictions. Christine has now mediated over 300 cases, settling approximately 90% of them. Her practice continues to grow as attorneys use her and learn that she is a great mediator at about half the cost.

Why are Christine's rates lower than standard mediation rates? It's simple. Christine is an independent mediator with low overhead. She has no employees and no office. She handles cases from the initial call, which she feels is helpful to the overall success of the mediation. She is able to help the parties schedule the mediation at a time when it is most likely to be successful. She understands that timing can be everything when it comes to settlement.

Although many lawyers she has mediated for have told her that she should raise her rates, Christine is committed to making it possible to mediate cases where it is not economically feasible to pay standard mediation rates. This is not to say that she only handles small cases. Although that is the niche she originally set out to fill, she has now successfully mediated all levels of cases. While she is most knowledgeable about personal injury cases, she has also successfully mediated several other types of civil disputes.

Mediation Style
As one attorney has stated, Christine's style is "authentic, disarming and from the heart." Unlike many mediators, Christine rarely has parties set forth their positions in an open session at the start of the mediation. If the parties strongly feel it is necessary, she will allow it. However, she finds that it normally only serves to alienate the parties at the outset. It then takes longer to get them to come around to being willing to negotiate. She also does not spend much time telling "war stories" about other cases, which she feels rarely helps get a case resolved. Christine is also adept at the use of humor as a tool in mediation. Christine is well aware that litigation and the practice of law is stressful, and she tries to make the mediation a pleasant experience. With very few exceptions, people leave the mediation with a smile on their face.

Click here for a list of attorneys/law firms/insurance companies for whom Christine has mediated.

Testimonials
"Christine Allen is an effective and compassionate mediator. I am confident that my client will not only understand the process, but feel confident that Christine is doing her best to resolve the case. Every time Christine has mediated a case with me, we have settled and both myself and my clients were confident that we had reached the best outcome we could have. She takes the time to listen and understand all positions and will follow up after the mediation, if necessary, to get the matter resolved."   Deanna G.

“Christine Allen is an excellent mediator. She is low key, but effective. She is tenacious and patient. She is an experienced litigator with good ‘people skills’ so she relates well to litigants and counsel. She is direct, but not pushy. She will nudge the parties to get them to move, but she does it with dignity and respect for the parties. I highly recommend her as a mediator.”   John Barber, Barber & Bauermeister

"I have found Christine Allen to be a very effective mediator. Her style is authentic, disarming, and from the heart. She has been successful in resolving each of the cases I have mediated before her." P.A.

"I was impressed with your role as mediator in the employment case you mediated. The mediation was not only fruitful, but also affordable!"
Margaret T.

"I appreciate your help in achieving settlement of a difficult dispute!" Thomas Wheeler

"I wanted to thank you again for your wonderful abilities on resolving this case. I look forward to using you again and again. It was a pleasure to meet you." Ernest Algorri

"Thanks Christine. I was happy with your services. I think you can relate well to clients. I like your style and I’ll keep you in mind in the future."
Devan Mullins

"Christine has a way of making a meaningless mediation, meaningful."   James M.  

“Great mediator with extremely reasonable rates.”   Kelly Migoya, Albetin and Migoya

“Excellent mediator! Christine has settled every case I have taken to her; even ones that I thought had very little chance of settling." J.M.        

Rates
2 parties: $200.00 per hour (split by the parties) with a three hour minimum
3 or more parties: $200.00 per hour (split by the parties) with a five hour minimum

Full payment due at the time of booking. Will travel to the office of one of the attorneys at no charge for most locations. Can also arrange for a location if necessary. Two week cancellation policy: If the case is continued or cancelled within 14 days of the mediation hearing and Christine is able to fill the time reserved, a full refund will be given. If she is not able to fill the time, no refund will be given. This is more lenient than most mediators’ policy. Christine cannot offer such a reasonable rate without this policy.

Biography/Education
Christine was raised in Waterloo, Iowa. She attended Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. She moved to California after graduation. Thereafter, she began law school at Southwestern University in Los Angeles. She later switched to Western State University after moving from Los Angeles to Orange County and graduated near the top of her class. She attended Pepperdine University Strauss Insititute for mediation training in 2004. She is married and has a grown daughter and son.