Forrest (Woody) Mosten

Forrest S. Mosten is an Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution who has been mediating since 1979.  Mr. Mosten is a world class trainer who keynotes conferences and offers professional seminars throughout the United States and abroad. He specializes in high conflict mediations involving divorcing families, partnerships, employment disputes, probate, real estate, commercial disputes and other complex civil lawsuits.

Mr. Mosten is the author of four books: The Complete Guide to Mediation (ABA, 1997), Unbundling Legal Services (ABA, 2000), Mediation Career Guide (Jossey-Bass, 2001), and Collaborative Divorce Handbook (2009, Jossey Bass), and he is Editor of Family Court Review’s Special Issue on Collaborative Practice to be published in April, 2011. His pioneering work in mediation and unbundling has been covered by the LA Daily Journal, LA Times, NY Times, USA Today, ABA Journal, LA Daily News, Chicago Tribune, the Wall Street Journal, Town & Country and other publications all over the world

Mr. Mosten has been honored by the ABA, LA County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association and trains mediators worldwide. He is the recipient of the ABA Lawyer as Problem Solver Award, the Los Angeles County Bar Conflict Prevention Award, and was named Peacemaker of the Year by the Southern California Mediation Association. He was a 2009 ABA Frank Sander Lecturer, teaches mediation at UCLA and PepperdineSchools of Law, and is passionate about encouraging mediators and collaborative professionals on all levels to make peacemaking their day job.

What people have said about him:

“Woody Mosten is to Mediation what Tiger Woods is to Golf!” -Shel Stark, Specialty Programs Director, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Read the review of Woody's book the Collaborative Divorce Handbook by the Harvard Negotiation Law Review published on CuttingEdgeLaw.com 

“Any class that Woody Mosten teaches offers new ways of looking at old and perplexing problems. He presents material in such a way as to encourage excellence in mediation skills and belief in your ability to achieve your highest standard.” -Dvorah Markman, Chair, Los Angeles County Bar Family Law Section (2006-2007)

“I consider Woody Mosten to be one of the world's most creative thinkers and innovative teachers in the field of Mediation Training.” -Dean Jay Folberg, USF Law School, Past President, Association for Conflict Resolution and, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

“Woody Mosten has a gift for helping people to change, evolve, and become better human beings. He enlightened me to an alternate style of resolving conflict and genuinely caring about people and his course changed the way I conduct my business and family conflict resolution issues.” -Diane Raffill, Los Angeles, CA

“Woody Mosten is one of those wonderful people who rejoices in the accomplishments of others, wants to see all of his colleagues prosper, and holds the door open for others. His life's work is to make the world a better place, and he is doing a great job of it.” -David Hoffman, Former Chair, ABA, Section on Dispute Resolution, Atlanta, GA

Additionally, listen to an Interview with Woody on the Doug Noll Show about Collaborative Law.

Currently, Mr. Mosten is teaching Building a Profitable Mediation / Collaborative Practice, Advanced Conflict Resolution Strategies for Mediators and Collaborative Professionals for the AIM Institute.