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Mark Brian Baer
About Mark
Biography
I believe that people typically contact attorneys and mediators because they are involved in conflicts and disputes and are seeking help solving them. The beginning impacts the end. The "beginning," in this regard, is not that which led to your current situation; rather, it is the "beginning" of how you choose to handle your conflicts and disputes. Your first moves and decisions greatly impact whether the level of conflict increases or decreases, among many other things. I assist people in bridging the gap between them, regardless of the size. I help de-escalate conflicts and facilitate problem-solving. As angry as you may be, keep in mind that fighting and "winning" don't solve problems and that mediators, peacemakers and bridge builders are not needed in times of peace and absence of conflict. Working together, people understand each other's perspectives and reach agreements quickly and efficiently, saving time, money and stress. Rather than merely helping broker a deal, I strive to facilitate mutually acceptable, achievable and durable solutions to problems that take into account the interests and needs of all involved. Before completing college, I had several experiences with different fields of our legal system. On each occasion, I failed to see how anyone could refer to it as a "justice system" with a straight face. When I decided to apply to law school, I never intended on practicing law. Instead, I thought that if I better understood the law and the inner workings of our legal system, I could use my knowledge to help steer people away from getting involved with the system in the first place. Had I known about mediation then, there's no question I would have pursued a career in mediation at that time. My background and life experiences led me to pursue a career in mediation and motivate me to spend the time I spend doing the research and writing I do, using the social media, and otherwise trying to constantly gain more knowledge and improve my skills, while also working tirelessly to try and educate people about the realities of our legal system and the available alternatives. Thomas Trent Lewis, Supervising Judge for the Los Angeles County Family Law Division, has said the following: (1) "Family Court is supposed to be a last resort for family resolution;" (2) "Parental education on the effects upon children in the midst of a family law dispute advances the goal of 'mediate when you can, and litigate only when you must;'" and (3) "When personal safety is not at issue or compromised, mediated and collaborative negotiated resolution of disputes can achieve favorable and more durable outcomes for parents and children." "Mediation" requires a "mediator." Lawyer to lawyer negotiation is not "mediation" because it doesn't involve a "mediator."
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 34 years
State: California
Acquired: 1991
No misconduct found
Location
Mark B. Baer, Inc., a Professional Law Corporation
301 E. Colorado Boulevard, Suite 514, Pasadena, CA, 91101
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Mark Brian Baer's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 9 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | September 29, 2019 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Excellent and Helpful
My fiancé and I hired Mark to mediate our prenuptial agreement. He helped us develop the agreement together from the very start. Mark has a natural ability to understand each person's desires and the emotions that are driving those desires, and then help to mediate to a common ground. Both my fiancé ...
Posted by Linda | May 18, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Really helpful honest lawyer
My mother passed away earlier this year and since Mark had drawn up her living trust I felt it made sense to go to him for all the final paper work and ultimately a will of my own. He was exceedingly kind and easy to talk to and very promptly and thoroughly took care of everything for what I thought...
Posted by Julie | March 9, 2018 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Excellent Attorney
We have just received our much anticipated finalized Living Trust and also our Will, prepared by Mark Baer. His attention to detail, timeliness and professionalism have been so appreciated during this complicated and sometimes emotional process. His hard work and mentoring in the field of bio-ethic...
Posted by Sonja | November 2, 2017 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Divorce Mediation
Mark was very helpful through our divorce process and knew how deescalate tense situations. I appreciate how he was able to explain things and put things into perspective. I also really appreciate that he has the mindset of putting children first. Thank you, Mark!
Posted by David | November 30, 2016 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Exactly What is Needed! Outstanding Attorney!
Mark is the ideal divorce attorney! He is honest to the core and is absolutely passionate about keeping things fair and helping all parties understand that a fair and compassionate dissolution is always best for all parties involved. Mark earns trust from everyone involved and guides you through the...
Mark Brian Baer's Lawyer Endorsements
"Mark practices mediation with a holistic approach that considers each parties' unique needs. Mark offers the clients the opportunity to fashion a remedy to their conflict unattainable in the context of litigation."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mark Baer has a lot of success in his mediation and collaborative divorce practice because he is committed to peacemaking. He tells his clients the reality of the situation rather than just saying what they want to hear. This results in agreements being signed rather than expensive and stressful court appearances."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mark always makes himself available for questions I have in his field, and when I have a client who wants a level headed family attorney, I refer them to him."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse Mark. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I know Mark through his impressive contributions toward advancing mediation and Collaborative Law online, on LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, etc. You would be hard-pressed to find a more tireless and outspoken advocate of alternatives to family law litigation, and his willingness to share his work so publicly is a huge service to the advancement of respectful family law solutions. We are fortunate to have Mark in our community, and I am certain that his clients are equally fortunate to be working with him."
"Mark is a frequent publisher within the Collaborative Law Community on Linked In. His articles are timely, thought provoking, and I always take away something useful from dialogue with him that I can use to help my own clients in Texas."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mark has proven to truly care about his work and his clients. He is always reaching out and offering great advice and help to others including through social media. He has always treated me with respect and is an attorney I would recommend and be happy to work with."
"I do not know Mr. Baer personally but I do know him from another site. There are many things the two of us seem to disagree on but, I do admire his tenacity. I aso read his publications on the Huffington Post and there is no question he does understand family law. Personal differences are one thing, but on a professional level, Mr. Baer is an attorney I can endorse."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mark is ahead of his time. Unlike many other family law lawyers, Mark understands the true underlying relationship issues, often times nuanced and complex, that are involved in many divorce matters, especially custody disputes. Thus, he helps the parties establish a parenting plan that makes sense for all involved. I.e., he fully comprehends the lasting effect on the "family" long after court orders have been established, which are dependent on the arrangement of the parenting plan. Suffice it to say, Mark is not your typical family law lawyer who prods a case along in a mediocre manner just to collect a fee. He cares about his clients at an extraordinary capacity. As such, he is able to steer the case in a direction to achieve the best result for the family. Mark is well respected by those in the family law community that have a high level of expertise and experience with resolving difficult family issues in the best manner possible. He is, in fact, of that same caliber."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Mark is an outstanding and well respected attorney whose solid reputation in the legal community is well earned. He is extremely knowledgeable in all areas of family law, as well as estate planning. Not only is Mark a strong advocate for his client but he is also an extremely dedicated and caring attorney who considers his clients’ whole family situation when representing them. I strongly endorse Mark."
"Mark is a fantastic lawyer. He is articulate, kind, and thoroughly thinks through how to proceed in a way that is best for his client. He really believes in what he is doing and it shows as evidenced by the remarkably positive feedback he is receiving from his keynote speech in Detroit. Most people don't know this, but Mark puts a tremendous amount of work into his writing and his representation of his clients. And, he's not afraid to ask for feedback. He actually listens to what people have to say and tries to understand their points of view. I've spoken with Mark about ways to approach difficult cases and was really impressed (which is something I don't usually say) with the creative, thoughtful, and effective ways that he has handled some very difficult cases. The fact that he is so personable and makes a real effort to reach out to lots of people from all walks of life probably has a lot to do with it. The world needs more lawyers like Mark."
"Mark is an extremely creative and innovative lawyer. (See for example his article referring to the costs of raising children and how the minimum child support levels don't even come close to meeting those costs.) He also is a true "family" lawyer -- not just a "divorce" lawyer -- in that he strives not to permit tactics that will harm the children and the parents for many years to come."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Selected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, American Bar Foundation
2017
Family Lawyer of the Year - North America, Corporate LiveWire's Global Awards
2017
Southern California Super Lawyer in ADR, Super Lawyers
2016
Best Litigation and Dispute Resolution Attorney - Pasadena, Corporate LiveWire's Global Awards
2016
2016 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
2016
Selected as a Member of the Nation's Top One Percent, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2016
Included as a Top 100 Lawyer in California, The National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers
2016
Best of Los Angeles Award 2016 for Mediation, Official Best of Los Angeles
2016
Southern California Super Lawyer in ADR, Super Lawyers
2015
Global Awards recipient as best Family Law attorney - Pasadena, Corporate Live Wire
2015
2015 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
2015
Included as a Top 100 Lawyer in California, The National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers
2015
Best of Los Angeles Award 2015 for Mediation, Official Best of Los Angeles
2015
Selected as a Member of the Nation's Top One Percent, The National Association of Distinguished Counsel
2015
2015 Southern California Super Lawyer in the family law category, Super Lawyers
2014
2014 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
2014
Included as a Top 100 Lawyer in California, The National Advocates Top 100 Lawyers
2014
Best of Los Angeles Award 2014 for Mediation, Best of Los Angeles Award
2014
2014 Southern California Super Lawyer in the family law category, Super Lawyers
2013
2013 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
2013
2013 Southern California Super Lawyer in the family law category, Super Lawyers
2012
2012 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
2012
2012 Southern California Super Lawyer in the family law category, Super Lawyers
2011
2011 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
2010
2010 Top Family Law Attorney, Pasadena Magazine
Work Experience
1993 - Present
Attorney, Mark B. Baer, Inc., APLC
1992 - 1993
Attorney, Frye & Alberts
1991 - 1992
Attorney, McKinley & Capleoto
1990 - 1991
Attorney, Buxbaum & Chakmak
Associations
Beverly Hills Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Member
Pasadena Bar Association
Member
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association
Education
1990
Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University
JD - Juris Doctor
1987
University of California - Los Angeles
BA - Bachelor of Arts
1987
University of California - Los Angeles
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2016
RPM Mortgage’s 3-day training for its mortgage brokers
A Comparison of Family Law Litigation, Mediation and Collaborative Law
2016
Bruin Professionals Lawyers Affinity Group meeting
The power of empathy in our work as lawyers.
2015
San Gabriel Valley Family Law Study Group
De-Escalating Parental Conflict Through Service Delivery
2015
Michael Levine’s Monthly “City Talk”
How to Resolve Conflict
2015
Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt & Klein, LLP’s monthly lunch continuing legal education meeting
De-Escalating Conflict Through Service Delivery
2015
American Bar Association Section of Family Law 2015 Fall CLE Conference
The Ethical Do’s and Don’ts of Knowing When 3’s a Crowd
2013
American Bar Association Section of Family Law 2013 Spring CLE Conference
Navigating the Emotional Currents of Collaborative Law
2013
2013 California Psychological Association Convention
The Cutting Edge of Psychological Practice: Mental Health Professionals and Dispute Resolution
2012
The State Bar Family Law Section CDR Standing Committee (South)'s 2012 Spring Symposium
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something True: Guerilla Marketing- Using new technology and traditional marketing to promote our practices for maximum impact with limited resources
2012
The Divorce Expo (a program offering resources and information to the Detroit Metro community)
Selecting the Right Attorney
2012
The Divorce Expo (a program offering resources and information to the Detroit Metro community)
What Mark B. Baer Predicts Family Law Will Look Like in the Future and Why
2012
San Gabriel Valley Chapter of Bruin Professionals
Industry Trends and My Professional Perspective on the Future of Divorce Practice
2012
May 2012 meeting for the Financial Planning Association of the San Gabriel Valley
Are Attorneys and the Legal System Facilitation the Creation of Post-Divorce Functional or Dysfunctional Families?
2012
May 2012 meeting for the Encino Family Law Study Group
(1) Different styles of mediation and what styles are most effective in family law cases; and (2) How to enroll clients in the prospect of mediation when they are initially opposed
2012
May 2012 meeting for the Collaborative Divorce Professionals of the Inland Empire
Industry Trends and My Perspective on the Future of Divorce Practice
2012
Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Monthly Meeting
Facilitating Rational Problem-Solving In An Otherwise Destructive Divorce Process
2012
2012 California Psychological Association Convention
What About Family Values? Facilitating Rational Problem-Solving In An Otherwise Destructive Divorce Process
2011
Pasadena Kiwanis Lunch Meeting
Collaborative Divorce – A Constructive Way of Handling an Emotionally Charged Situation
2011
Pasadena Host Lions Club Lunch Meeting
Collaborative Divorce – A Constructive Way of Handling an Emotionally Charged Situation
Publications
2017
Psychology Today
Trying to Help People Help Themselves Can Be Challenging
2017
Psychology Today
Your Biases And Beliefs Are Impacting Your Decision-Making
2017
Psychology Today
In Mediation, Is Empathy Enough or Even Necessary?
2017
Psychology Today
Don't Let Emotion Choose You
2017
Psychology Today
Are Illusory Agreements The New Trend?
2017
Psychology Today
The Choices We Make Create History, So Choose Wisely
2017
Psychology Today
Authoritarianism Comes with a Huge Price
2017
Psychology Today
Let’s Make an Effort to Be More Reflective and Less Reactive
2017
Psychology Today
You Think You’re Helping, Do You?
2017
Psychology Today
When Hiring a Lawyer or Mediator, Buyer Beware
2017
Psychology Today
How Are False Beliefs Harming People?
2017
Psychology Today
Shouldn't Lawyers Understand the Art of Persuasion?
2017
Psychology Today
Is Willful Ignorance a Good Quality in an Attorney?
2017
Psychology Today
What's "Best" Varies, Depending upon the Needs Involved
2017
Psychology Today
Empathy Is the Key to Conflict Resolution or Management
2016
Psychology Today
As Debbie Reynolds Tragically Reminded Us, Stress Kills
2016
2016
Divorce Magazine
Make Your Dreams Come True, Not Your Fears!
2016
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
The Importance of Empathy in the Legal Profession, Part III
2015
HuffPost
The Greek Comedy We Call Litigation
2015
HuffPost
When Divorcing, Beware of Meddlers!
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
2015
The Good Men Project
Beware of the Viking-or-Victim Worldview
2015
2015
2015
2014
American Journal of Family Law
The Perfect Storm: Lawyer Limitations and the Adversarial Model in Family Law
2014
HuffPost
The Power of Empathy
2014
HuffPost
Select the Mediator Carefully
2014
2014
2014
2014
Blogs on Divorce
The Hidden Agenda Behind the Making of “Divorce Corp.”
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
2014
Maria Shriver
3 Things To Think About Before Filing For Divorce
2014
2014
2014
2014
2013
Moving Past Divorce
Tips for Improving a Co-parenting Relationship
2013
2013
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
A Comparison Between Actual War and Family Law Litigation(Link)
2013
2013
HuffPost
What’s Truth Got to Do With It?
2013
Blogs on Divorce
Inconsistency on the Bench
2013
2013
2013
2013
HuffPost
Things to Consider Before Litigating
2013
2013
2013
HuffPost
Divorce and the Grieving Process
2013
HuffPost
The Power of Words
2013
2013
2013
2013
2013
HuffPost
What Does Mediation Really Mean?
2013
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
The Importance of Empathy in the Legal Profession, Part II
2013
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
The Importance of Empathy in the Legal Profession, Part I
2013
Inside the Minds - Strategies for Family Law in California - Leading Lawyers on Understanding Developments in California Family Law
Strategies for Family Law in California: A Comparison of Dispute Resolution Methods Available in Family Law Matters
2013
DR Currents (State Bar of Georgia)
When the Law is Involved, Do Feelings and Notions of Fairness Matter?
2013
The Huffington Post
The Personality and Philosophy of Attorneys Impact the Results
2013
The World of Collaborative Practice Magazine
Navigating the Emotional Waters within Collaborative Family Law(Link)
2012
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Domestic Violence as a Tragic Toll of Divorce
2012
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Judicial Bias in Family Court
2012
2012
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
How to Help Insure the Best Outcome in Your Family Court Case(Link)
2012
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Fighting More Than “Fairness”
2012
2012
ACT OF COMMUNICATION®’s newsletter
Litigation and Family Don’t Mix
2012
The Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal
Changing the default for resolving family disputes in America(Link)
2012
The World of Collaborative Practice Magazine
Are You Facilitating the Creation of a Post-Divorce Functional or Dysfunctional Family?
2011
Los Angeles Daily Journal
Why the US Family Law System is Barbaric
2011
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
Psychology & Family Law Legal Philosophy
2011
The San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
An Uncivilized, Unenlightened and Barbaric System: The U.S. Family Law Court
2011
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
The Misconception That Collaborative Attorneys Fail to Protect Their Clients
2011
The San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
Why Today's Lawyers Are Better At War Than Peace
2011
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Selecting a Positive Solution-Oriented Attorney
2010
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Mediation Selection Process Based on Mediation Style
2010
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
"Pit Bull" Attorneys and Family Law
2010
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Processes of Divorce - A Comparison
2010
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Psychology and Family Law - Is There a Penatly for Perjury?
2010
The San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
The Real Problem with the Department of Children and Family Services
2010
The San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association's Newsletter
The Historical Shift in the Role of Attorneys
2010
Valley Lawyer magazine (SFVBA)
Cost of Raising a Child Calculation Tool
2009
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Quality of Judges
2009
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Communication
2009
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Assocation Newsletter
Trust
2009
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Interviewing an Attorney
2009
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Mediation
2009
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Mediation Selection Process and Cost
2008
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Marital Russian Roulette
2008
San Gabriel Valley Psychological Association Newsletter
Psychology and Family Law as Symbiotic Partners
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Family Law Question: Custodial parent lying.
26 Feb 2010
Q&A
How do I subpoena payroll and bank records in a California divorce?What forms do I use and where di I obtain them?
25 Feb 2010
Q&A
If a will says those who contest get nothing, does that refer to a trust set up in the will also?
21 Feb 2010