Larry Alan Burns

Judge Burns joined Judicate West as a mediator and arbitrator following 27 years of distinguished service as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, including two years as Chief Judge. Known for his extensive litigation experience, he is widely regarded as an outstanding trial lawyer, an effective settlement judge, and a scrupulous and efficient trial judge. As a lawyer, he tried more than 150 cases to jury verdict and argued 40 cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. He spent the first several years of his judicial career as a civil settlement judge, helping parties settle hundreds of cases. As a trial judge, he presided over more than 300 federal jury trials including high-profile cases involving elected officials, complex business and tort litigation, and multi-district and class action cases. He also supervised receivership actions, including a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme case in which investors eventually recouped over 95% of their investments.

Throughout his judicial career, he served as a visiting trial judge in civil and criminal cases nationwide, including in New York City, Tampa, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Tucson, Boise, Coeur D'Alene, and Salt Lake City. He also sat by designation with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, authoring eight reported appellate decisions. Before taking the bench, he was engaged in the corporate sector, serving as Corporate Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of a publicly traded company. His corporate and business experience includes shareholder securities actions, banking and regulatory enforcement, and employment litigation.

Judge Burns views mediation as assisted negotiation. “Preparation, patience, and persistence are the keys,” he notes. “By listening, questioning, and understanding the importance of pacing, a mediator focuses attention on the important aspects of a dispute and helps parties achieve a resolution.“