Veteran litigator Mark Mazzarella leverages over four decades of legal experience, including nearly 100 trials, to assist parties in resolving conflicts through mediation and arbitration. Throughout his career, he has participated in hundreds of mediations and arbitrations, resulting in verdicts and settlements totaling over $330 million and the successful defense of more the $2 billion in claims.
Seasoned Litigator
Of Counsel in Duckor Metzger & Wynne, APLC’s Litigation Department, Mark is known for his ability to win “unwinnable” cases. His success stems from his creativity, his skill in connecting and communicating with juries and his knack for identifying and simplifying key issues in even the most complex cases. His practice has been nearly equally divided between representing plaintiffs and defendants, providing him with a balanced and unbiased perspective that he brings to every dispute resolution. In addition to general business litigation, Mark also handles probate litigation matters.
Before joining DMW, Mark had his own law firm for 32 years and previously worked at two of the largest law firms in California, serving in leadership roles at each. Mark has represented clients in almost every type of litigation, from product liability to real estate. In addition, he is a licensed real estate broker who has personally been involved in the development or renovation of nearly 1,000 residential units in San Diego County.
Mark serves as an expert witness in legal malpractice matters and has collaborated with numerous high-profile individuals and Fortune 500 companies on impression formation.
An active and dedicated member to the San Diego legal community, Mark is a past chair of the State Bar of California’s Litigation Section, a two-term past president of The Association of Business Trial Lawyers San Diego Chapter and was appointed as judge pro tem for the San Diego Superior Court and chair of the ad hoc Committee on Bench/Bar Relations for the San Diego County Superior and Municipal Courts, and the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California.
Mediation, Arbitration and Referee Services
Mark applies the same dedication that brought him success in the courtroom to helping parties navigate and negotiate their way out of costly and exhausting disputes. His unparalleled communication and conflict resolution techniques, along with his creativity, often lead to settlements with non-traditional components that are acceptable to all parties involved. A keen observer of human behavior and a natural deal maker, Mark utilizes these unique skills and his professional experience to significantly enhance his effectiveness facilitating dispute resolution.
Given his diverse legal industry background, Mark approaches mediation and arbitration without any “big firm bias” or “small firm bias,” allowing him to take a well-rounded view of people and situations. With the parties’ consent, Mark serves as a referee for discovery disputes and trial.
In addition to serving as an arbitrator, Mark has served as a pro tem settlement judge for the San Diego Superior court. He has completed a mediation training program through the University of Oregon, qualifying him to serve on the Superior Court’s panel of mediators, as well as numerous other mediation courses. Most importantly, he has participated in hundreds of settlement conferences and mediations during his 47 years in practice, giving him invaluable insight into effective and ineffective mediation strategies.
Mark’s experience with mediation and arbitration service providers over the years has caused him to approach billing for his neutral services differently — prioritizing cost effectiveness and flexibility. His mediation services rates are as follows:
- Half-day (3.5 hours) – $3,500
- Full day (8 hours) – $6,000
- Rates include preparation time and reasonable follow-up, if necessary.
- There are no extra administrative fees or other charges.
- If the first session of the mediation does not result in a settlement, the cost of a second session is 50% of the cost of the initial session.
In addition, if the parties agree that a full-day mediation session would best be paused and rescheduled — to allow for discovery, motion filings or other reasons — any unused hours can be applied toward the second session. This encourages the parties to stay engaged in the process, leading to more successful mediations.
Click here to download Mark’s full resume
Click here to download information about Mark’s Mediation, Arbitration and Referee Services
Honors & Awards
- America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators
- San Diego Super Lawyers, 2007-2024
- San Diego Magazine Top Lawyers, Real Estate Litigation, 2022
- Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent AV-Rated
