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Voluntary Early Mediation (VEM) Program

Choosing a Mediator

The parties agree that BASF will administer the case if this mediator is chosen. File the Mediation Consent form (43KB PDF) to initiate the process.

Richard M. Williams

Mediator/Arbitrator


Areas of Experience: Business, Contracts, Construction, Employment, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Medical and Legal Malpractice, Personal Injury, Real Estate, Technology

Richard Williams has over 30 years experience handling complex litigation, including class actions, and has tried over 40 cases to verdict. As judge pro tem, special master, arbitrator, and mediator, he has assisted in the resolution of more than 500 cases. While maintaining his commercial mediation and arbitration practice since 1990, he attended advanced mediation courses at the Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and has been trained by the California Court of Appeal for the First and Second districts as an appellate mediator.

Williams obtained his B.A. from Stanford University in 1971 and his J.D. from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in 1975. He has lectured for the California Continuing Education of the Bar and has taught trial advocacy classes for the Association of Defense Counsel and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has also taught courses to middle and high school students regarding law and the court systems. In addition, he has coached high school football and baseball.

He is on the "Neutral Panel" as a mediator for the Santa Clara County Bar Association, was a member of the California Dispute Resolution Council, and was a founding member of the ADR Alternative program. He holds the highest rating in Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the Litigation and ADR sections of the State Bar. He is a past Governor of the California Trial Lawyers Association. Williams is admitted to practice before all California state courts, the United States district courts, the United States Court of Claims and the United States Supreme Court.

With the background of a civil trial lawyer coupled with the training and experience of a mediator, Williams provides all parties with a fair, objective and optimistic mediation process, encouraging communication and exchange of information.

Hourly Rate: $400