Are you confused about what exactly mediation is? This seminar will break down every step of a mediation and explain it in common sense language. Our panel of youth, family, and labor mediators will describe both how simple mediations are and how applicable they are to the everyday problems we all face. If you've ever wondered about mediation or whether it would be useful for your disputes, please join us!

Michael Cantrell is a dedicated labor and employment mediator based out of Los Angeles, who uses his unique experience assisting business start-ups to bring sensible settlements to the labor disputes that may arise in a business. A native to Los Angeles and a Californian to the bone, he graduated with a B.A. in International Studies from the University of California Irvine, received his J.D. from the University of San Diego and has since dedicated his efforts to helping businesses across California. Assisting businesses in his legal practice allowed Michael to understand the everyday dynamics of individuals within organizations of all types, and uses that understanding to bridge the gap between employer and employee during his mediations. Seeing the benefits mediation provides to both businesses and workers but realizing how rarely mediation is actually used, Michael joined SCMA and its board to spread the word about mediation and help other mediators in their journey.

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Claudia Brown-Coulter has been a teacher in public education for nearly two decades. She has held positions both inside and outside the classroom so she has a unique perspective on the needs of schools and their students. As part of her tenure, she has been a Restorative Practices trainer and an Anti-Bullying coordinator so the transition to mediation was a natural one as colleagues and administrators kept coming to her to help them settle disputes between themselves and with parents. She is a natural teacher and infuses conflict resolution training into everything she does. She was also instrumental in helping to bring peer mediation to the district she serves. Coupled with that she is a mediator who received her training from the Straus Institute. In addition to her Master’s degree from Pepperdine Law in Dispute Resolution, she also holds a Master’s in Political Science from Claremont Graduate University, a Bachelor’s in History from California State University, San Marcos, and both a California Teaching and Administrative Services credential.

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Anthony Khoury is a mediator and legal professional with over 20 years of experience in the industry. He is currently serving on the mediation panels for the Mediation Center of Los Angeles (MCLA), Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC), and the American Arbitration Association (AAA), he is also on the AAA Panel of Employment Arbitrators. Anthony will graduate in May 2025 with an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University’s Caruso School of Law.

Previously, Anthony served as a Court Commissioner in Kern County, presiding over a wide array of matters including criminal, civil, family law, and juvenile traffic cases. During his tenure, he initiated innovative mediation and settlement programs to improve court efficiency. Prior to his judicial role, Anthony ran a successful law practice specializing in civil, business, and employment law litigation, earning recognition for his ethical standards and skillful dispute resolution.An active leader in the mediation community, Anthony is a member of the International Academy of Mediators (IAM) Mentorship Program and serves as a co-leader for SCMA’s Employment Mediation and Ventura/Santa Barbara Counties Professional Development Groups. In 2024, he joined the SCMA Board of Directors and served on the Annual Conference Planning Committee. Additionally, Anthony is an Adjunct Lecturer in Law at USC Gould School of Law, where he teaches Arbitration in the United States.

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Schoene Mahmood is a leader in Restorative Justice Practices (RJP) with 20+ years of experience transforming academic communities. As the Restorative Programs Manager at the Western Justice Center, Schoene brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering environments where community members may feel a sense of belonging and significance.

Before LMU, Schoene facilitated over 400 community conferences in Baltimore, collaborating with the Maryland State's Attorney's Office on court diversion for juveniles. Schoene’s work focuses on conflict resolution and building just, compassionate communities.

Schoene