Robert J. Kaplan, Mediator

First-Hand Impressions of
Mediator Robert J. Kaplan

From San Diego, former President of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, says:

"Rob has the patience of Job, the judgment of Solomon and the persistence of the Devil. "

From San Francisco, a well-known plaintiffs' lawyer with a number of high-profile, seven and eight-figure settlements and verdicts says:

"Rob is definitely the best mediator I have ever used . . . Very personable, very smart, very aggressive without shouting or offending. Doesn’t give up. No wasting time.

[I recommended him] to a very prominent trial attorney here in S.F. for a products wrongful death case he described as extremely difficult to settle. . . He called back after the mediation to thank me and told me Kaplan was 'great!' I also know that at least one defendant and its defense attorneys believe Kaplan is the best mediator they have ever used."

From Los Angeles, a partner in one of the largest defense firms in California says:

"I have had the pleasure of working with Rob Kaplan as a mediator on one of my more difficult and very contentious coverage matters. When the mediation commenced, the parties were millions of dollars apart. Although we did not resolve the case at mediation, it was settled shortly thereafter due primarily to Rob's insight and persistence. Rob is probably one of the most insightful, creative, and hard-working mediators I have ever had the pleasure of working with."

From Orange County, a 30-year solo practitioner who does a wide array of plaintiff and defense work says:

"I can't say enough about Robert Kaplan's mediation skills. I expect a mediator to be tireless. I expect a mediator to be prepared. I expect a mediator to challenge the evidence and legal reasoning of both sides. . . I've experienced some, but not all, of those attributes in past mediations, but ALL of those attributes in the mediation with Robert Kaplan."

From San Diego, a former president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel says:

"Rob has extraordinary intuition. He raises the creativity bar in the dispute resolution process to new heights."

Home Office Director of a major department at one of the largest insurance companies in the world says:

"Rob got us to a place I know we couldn't have gotten to on our own. "

One of the defense attorneys in an 8 figure probate dispute says:

"Rob, I just wanted to thank you very much for a job well done. You worked really hard yesterday to get this case resolved and I know it was no easy task. . . There was one point in the later afternoon (around 4:00 p.m.) when I started having some serious doubts about this case actually settling. . . How dare me!"

A former President of the California Trial Lawyers Association says:

"When we began this mediation I thought there was a 10-20 percent chance of this case settling... Rob's grasp of the substantive law played a critical factor in assisting us in evaluating the case. But, the mastery really came from his intuitive sense and credibility that was essential if the parties were going to compromise their self-perceived value of the case."

A plaintiff attorney in Orange County, who is one of less than 100 California attorneys who are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a civil trial specialist, says:

"I had a contentious [sexual assault] case with multiple defendants, complex coverage issues, liability disputes, and an exceptionally disturbed, irrational plaintiff with unreasonable expectations. I figured it was going to trial. . . . Rob pushed all the right buttons. He listened, he perceived the obstacles to resolution, he candidly shared personal experiences with the plaintiff to develop rapport and then he relentlessly did everything necessary to achieve settlement. His services were a bargain. In the jargon of car salespersons, he is truly a 'closer.'"

Following the settlement of a multi-million dollar Wrongful Death case, the claims person (who had flown out from the East Coast to attend the mediation) says: 

"I believe Rob's insight, professionalism and neutrality was outstanding and produced a result simply not obtainable prior to his participation."

You should know that attorney claims representative was extremely impressed as well. You started off by demonstrating that you read and understood the briefs, and honed right in on the key issue. He was also impressed by your assessment of this matter and your creativity in getting the deal done. Of course, none of this is news to me!

A plaintiff attorney in Los Angeles says:

"I represented the [seriously brain damaged] plaintiff in the mediation which began as scheduled at 9:00 a.m. [and] concluded at 11:00 p.m.! There were several parties, numerous attorneys, insurance adjusters, etc. Ultimately, through Rob's Herculean efforts, settlement was reached that was in the best interests of all concerned. . . I have participated in many mediations, with various mediators over the years. This is the first time that I have ever prepared and sent an unsolicited letter at the conclusion of a mediation."

In-house counsel for a major insurance company says: 

"Rob, you did a great job on a difficult case and I am spreading the word. . . . I look forward to working together again on future cases. You set the bar high!"

A partner in a defense firm with multiple offices in California says:

"Dear Rob: Thanks for your hard work. I've already told my associates in the office to put you on our list of "go to" mediators."

A named partner in an Orange County firm that does both defense and plaintiff work says:

"Rob's skills in dealing with the "human dynamic" were, in my view, solely responsible for the parties [in my case] being able to resolve this litigation."

Dear Rob:  I wanted to thank you again for your persistence in resolving our case.

From San Diego, a plaintiffs' lawyer says:

Dear Mr. Kaplan:

One of the attorneys involved in 5 cases mediated by Mr. Kaplan says:

"Our recent mediation with Robert J. Kaplan, Esq. involved five civil cases from various states and federal court districts. And a divorce action. And administrative proceedings. And parties with intensely powerful emotional investments who were asserting purportedly principal 'money is no object' contentions on all sides.

A neutral who used the wrong approach at any point would have quickly driven one or more of the various parties or their counsel away from the bargaining table. Mr. Kaplan's manner, character, personality and persistence combined to craft a solution to a veritable blizzard of disputes that seemed (to the lay and professional people involved, and even to the federal court judge who referred us to Mr. Kaplan) simply insoluble. I almost still don't believe he did it. "