Ron Kelly

Ron Kelly is one of the principal architects of California mediation law, and has played a central role in drafting and enacting the state?s laws protecting the integrity of mediation and arbitration. These include key sections of the California Evidence Code, Insurance Code, Government Code, Business and Professions Code, and others. He served as the expert advisor to the California Law Revision Commission in drafting its legislation creating the main chapter of law governing California mediations. In recognition of his work, Ron has been named Peacemaker of the Year by the Southern California Mediation Association, has been honored with awards from the California Dispute Resolution Council, UC Berkeley, the Mediation Society, and the Northern California Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, and has received both the Sleizer Memorial Award and the American Arbitration Association's Distinguished Service Award.

Mediation & Arbitration Experience:
Ron is a professional business mediator and arbitrator, specializing in real property and construction cases. He's been mediating voluntary settlements since 1970. He also arbitrates through the American Arbitration Association, local courts, state agencies, and his own offices. Ron has over fifteen years of experience serving as a neutral and has helped thousands of people resolve their disputes quickly and fairly. Former Chair of the Design Review Committee for the City of Berkeley, he served eight years reviewing plans and holding hearings on proposed commercial and residential developments for the city. His background also includes training in real estate and construction law, structural engineering, and architectural design. He has held four California Contractor's Licenses (General, Electrical, and Plumbing, and Solar), and has extensive experience in the purchase, design, construction, and sale of real property.

Over the past decade, Ron has provided training to thousands of dispute resolvers, lawyers, judges, property owners, business professionals, and court and agency staff. His trainings cover conflict resolution skills, ethics and law. He trains through the University of California Berkeley Extension, local bar associations, and professional organizations. His training materials are licensed and used by leading universities, bar associations, court systems, corporations, and professional organizations all over the world. He is a frequently-published author and speaker on current issues in the field.

A founder of both the California Dispute Resolution Council and the Northern California Mediation Association, Ron has been elected to the boards of several mediation and arbitration associations. As a fully-accepted member of the California Dispute Resolution Council and the Association for Conflict Resolution, he is pledged to follow the Ethical Standards of Professional Conduct of both orgnaizations. Other professional affiliations include: American Arbitration Association, American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution, Bar Association of San Francisco, ADR Section, Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (Former Board Member, Northern California Chapter), State of California/Office of Administrative Hearings,the Mediaiton Society, and the Univeristy of California (Berkeley Academic Staff, Part-Time, Continuing Education for Judges, Lawyers and Business Professionals).

$360/hour, divided evenly between the parties. One day minimum (8 hours).