Irene Takahashi

Mediation – Arbitration – Special Master – Discovery Referee

Counties Served
Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.

Civil Litigation Experience
General liability practice including personal injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, crimes committed on private/commercial property, landlord-tenant, fire technical claims, property damage, employment and eminent domain.

Fees
$490/hour

Ms. Takahashi has been a trial attorney for 40 years, having prosecuted and defended hundreds of cases as both a state and federal prosecutor and civil litigator.  While a prosecutor, the criminal defense bar nicknamed her “the D.A. with a heart.” Her reputation in the legal community is stellar.  She is regarded by judges, mediators, the plaintiff’s bar, and defense counsel as hard-working, trustworthy, and reasonable.  Her background provides a solid foundation and a unique perspective from which to assist the parties in reaching a settlement of disputes. If requested, she can offer an objective prognostication of what may be of concern to the trier-of-fact.

As litigators know, most cases settle; however, the road traveled to final resolution is often long, circuitous, costly, and stressful. Caseloads keep building while litigants become increasingly dissatisfied as they stand on the sidelines of the court system. Whether the goal is to reach an early resolution or settle after experts’ depositions, Ms. Takahashi provides a fresh approach as well as a candid and unbiased assessment of the case at hand.

Memberships and Affiliations

• Alameda County Bar Association
• Alameda County Bar Association, Women’s Section
• Alameda County Bar association, ADR Executive Committee
• California Women Lawyers
• Contra Costa County Bar Association
• Contra Costa County, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara Arbitration and Mediation Panels
• Contra Costa County Bar Association, Women’s Section
• Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
• Marin County Bar Association

Education

• University of California at Berkeley: Bachelor of Arts 1973
• University of California at Davis School of Law: Juris Doctor 1976
• Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution: Feb. 2015
• Mediation Training,  Mediation Offices of Steve Rosenberg 2017

Speaking Engagements

• “Young Women in Excellence”   November 2017
•  Mediation – Alameda County Bar Association, Women’s and Mediation Sections- “Does Gender Matter in Civil Litigation Mediations?” March 2018

Professional Activities

• 2018 – 2019    Assistant Coach, Contra Costa County (High School) Moot Court Competition
• Mar. 2019    Judge, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, Representation in Mediation Competition, Berkeley Law

2001 – 2016	Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith – Partner
1998 – 2000	Santochi Gable Dwyer & Takahashi – Managing Partner
1996 – 1998	McLemore Collins & Toschi – Partner
1991 – 1996	Kincaid Gianunzio Caudle & Hubert – Senior Associate
1989 – 1991	Contra Costa County Municipal Court – Judge Presided over civil and criminal cases, Law & Motion, settlement conferences, case management, community forums, and educational outreach to youth, women, and minorities
1982 – 1989	County of Contra Costa – Deputy District Attorney
1980 – 1982	Private Practice – Criminal defense in Alameda County
1978 – 1980	United States Department of Justice – Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Prosecution of federal offenses; wrote and argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
1976 – 1978	County of Alameda – Deputy District Attorney