Barry M. Appell
Mediating Employment and Civil Disputes Throughout California
ABOUT US
Barry Appell has 28 years of experience representing both employees and employers in employment litigation in trial and appellate courts, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings. Barry also has experience counseling employers for compliance with employment laws, conducting trainings and workplace investigations, and preparing handbooks.
Barry began mediating in 2018, and in 2021, he left his employment law practice to mediate full-time. From 1994-2004, he represented employers exclusively. From 2004-2021, he represented both employees and employers, although primarily employees.
Barry’s considerable experience representing both employees and employers allows him to understand disputes from the unique perspectives of each side. Barry’s substantial knowledge of employment law issues, along with his straightforward approach, has resulted in Barry achieving a very high success rate in getting cases resolved.
Barry is proud to be on the neutral panel of Alternative Resolution Centers, LLC (ARC).
He is available for mediation throughout California, and through online dispute resolution by Zoom.
Practice Areas
Barry has substantial experience mediating employment law disputes including harassment and discrimination, failure to accommodate, retaliation, leave laws, wrongful termination, wage and hour, employment contracts, unfair competition, and privacy claims.
He also has significant experience mediating class actions and representative actions, such as under PAGA.
Barry is also experienced in mediating personal injury, breach of contract, and a variety of other consumer and tort claims such as fraud and misappropriation of likeness.
Organizations
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Employment Law Section
• San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Employment Law Section
• Southern California Mediation Association
• Named to “Southern California Rising Stars” (2004) and “Southern California Super Lawyers” (2005- 2022 as Employment Attorney, and 2024 as Mediator, Super Lawyers, Thompson Reuters)
Approach to Mediations
Barry conducts extensive preparation for each mediation. He uses his substantial experience and knowledge of employment law to provide an evaluative approach to disputes. Barry stays on top of current developments in employment law so that he can provide a thoughtful and persuasive evaluation of disputes. He is also persistent and follows up in those instances where a dispute does not resolve on the day of mediation.
Education & Training
• J.D., University of California, Hastings College of the law, 1994
• B.S., California State University Northridge, Business, 1991, cum laude
• Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law, Mediating the Litigated Case, August 2015
• Mediator, Center for Conflict Resolution, 2016-2019
• Mediator, Small Claims, Los Angeles Superior Court, 2016-2019
• Mediator, Ventura County Superior Court, ADR Panel, 2018 to 2020
• Mediator, Mediation Center of Los Angeles, 2019 to present