Speaker Information
Sarah F. Burke
Burke ADR
Sarah Burke is a full time mediator, discovery referee and special master. She regularly resolves cases involving construction defects, delay and non payment and brings firm and fair leadership as a Special Master and Discovery Referee. She also frequently mediates personal injury and wrongful death cases, landlord/tenant disputes, insurance coverage disagreements, employment, copyright, contract, real estate/disclosure, professional liability and myriad other disputes. Sarah is a member of the approved ADR Panels of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Sonoma Counties. Sarah is past chair of the Alameda County Bar Association ADR Executive Committee, past Chair of the Marin County Bar Association ADR section and past President of the Mediation Society.
Barbara S. Monty
Resolution Remedies LLC
Barbara Monty is well known for her practical, get it done approach to resolving disputes. Her quick intelligence, persistence and inherent kindness makes her an excellent choice as a neutral. As a successful trial attorney for 35 five years Barbara has represented defendants and plaintiffs alike. She has worked inhouse for national insurance providers, as general counsel to several corporations, and an international aviation company. This has given Barbara a keen understanding of business concerns in addition to having compassion for injured individuals.
Barbara began mediating even before she became a lawyer. In the early 1980s she was chosen by the City of San Francisco to be part of the seminal Community Boards Project to resolve neighbor conflicts and reduce gang violence. She was also appointed by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission to mediate human rights violations of the LGBTQ community.
As a successful neutral, Barbara Monty brings her technical legal knowledge, energetic negotiation abilities and strong intuition, to the resolution of thorny legal issues and challenging personalities.
Prior to coming to Resolution Remedies as a full time neutral, she was a founding partner of Monty White LLP, helping to build a highly successful statewide law firm. At Monty White, she frequently served as Judge Pro Tem, arbitrator, mediator, and special master. She is the author of numerous legal and mediation articles and has taught nationally on topics including trial skills, handing complex construction claims, sexual harassment, landslides, and insurance coverage. As one of the few attorneys in the country certified as a forgiveness coach, she teaches forgiveness skills to lawyers, law students and mediators.
D. Michael Schoenfeld
Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP
Mike Schoenfeld’s practice actively involves all aspects of the construction industry, both federal and state, from drafting and negotiating of contract language, licensing issues, bid protests, consultation during construction and through dispute resolution. Mike’s clients include public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, construction managers, and consultants. Matters frequently involve issues concerning contract claims, delay, loss of productivity, liens, stop notices, and bond claims. Mike has a particular interest and expertise in ADR processes, both as an advocate as well as an active mediator and arbitrator.
Mike has successfully acted as an arbitrator and mediator on more than 150 matters. Virtually all of the cases have concerned the construction industry, with many involving multiple parties. As an advocate, virtually all of the matters for which Mike is retained as counsel resolve themselves through the mediation process. Overall, Mike has participated in well over 300 mediations and arbitrations and successfully negotiated several takeover agreements with sureties related to general contractor and subcontractor defaults. Additionally, Mike is a certified Arbitrator with the Public Works Contract Arbitration Program. He serves on the American Arbitration Association Panel as both an arbitrator and mediator.
Mike is listed in the 2007 through 2023 editions of The Best Lawyers in America, the 2007 through 2022 editions of Northern California Super Lawyers, and in Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers List in 2015 through 2022. He was named in Sacramento Business Journal’s Best of the Bar List in 2017 and 2019, which recognizes top local attorneys who have been nominated by their peers and vetted by a panel of their peers. He is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.
Mike has four times been named Best Lawyers’ Sacramento Lawyer of the Year. He was named Sacramento Lawyer of the Year for Construction Law in 2015, 2017, and 2019, and was named Sacramento Lawyer of the Year for Construction Litigation in 2022.