Ellie K. Vilendrer is an esteemed mediator and arbitrator renowned for her contributions to the field of dispute resolution. Vilendrer has been a dedicated practitioner of ADR over the last several years, as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) Commercial, Technology, Healthcare, Employment, and Consumer panels, and as a mediator with the AAA and the United States District Court, Central District of California. Vilendrer’s dedication to dispute resolution is further demonstrated through her years of leadership in the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Dispute Resolution and her advocacy in Sacramento for effective mediation practices.
Throughout her distinguished seventeen-year legal career, Vilendrer has practiced a wide-range of civil litigation. For over a decade, she has also served technology companies, ranging from startups to publicly traded giants in roles including outside general counsel, intellectual property counsel, and privacy counsel, highlighting her versatility and deep understanding of the tech industry.
Vilendrer holds the distinguished titles of Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) and is the co-author of the privacy law chapter in the Representing the Ongoing Business Deskbook (3rd Edition). In 2013, she co-founded a tech company that pioneered an Artificial Intelligence-powered platform that provided predictive insights for app features and marketing campaigns. Her legal and business acumen gives her unique insight into the strategic thinking of both attorneys and business professionals, allowing her to relate to each of their needs and perspectives as a mediator.
Vilendrer’s mediation approach is defined by thorough preparation, active listening, and the establishment of trust with all parties. She excels at navigating complex legal and financial issues, offering candid insights, and fostering creative, collaborative solutions that promote long-term, mutually beneficial outcomes. Her energy, optimism, and steadfast focus on results set her apart in the field.
Beyond her legal career, Vilendrer and her family have produced award-winning shorts promoting peace and human rights, showcased at the United Nations and international film festivals.
Law Practice Experience
Commercial
- Arbitrated commercial disputes
- Represented Dubai-based distribution companies in multi-million dollar international commercial arbitration alleging fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of contract.
- Represented Plaintiff in lawsuit for breach of contract, breach of oral guarantee, and fraud; obtained unanimous verdict by 11-member jury in client’s favor on all counts in an amount equal to 5x pre-trial best offer of Defendants, plus entitlement to punitive damages and costs.
- Represented insured in lawsuit against insurance company; obtained payment of approximately $1 million for medical bills.
- Obtained court-ordered removal of Personal Representative of estate, on behalf of beneficiaries, for fraud and estate theft, which led to subsequent criminal conviction and order to pay restitution of over $400,000.
- Obtained summary dismissal of Defendant in complex, multi-million dollar class-action lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duties.
- Litigated shareholder derivative and corporate ownership disputes.
- Litigated business disputes between companies and contract counterparts (customers, vendors, suppliers).
- Drafted articles of incorporation/organization, operating agreements, buy-sell, stock purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, and capitalization tables
Employment
- Represented employee in two sequential lawsuits against current employer; Recovered millions of dollars in unpaid sales commissions
- Represented ten charging parties at the EEOC and in federal court against their former employer for religious and racial discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination
- Represented employees in age discrimination, disability discrimination, and sexual assault cases
- Counseled employees and employers on non-compete agreements and restrictive covenants
- Representing employers, responded to wage claims, provided counsel re terminations and classification, drafted offers of employment, employment and independent contractor agreements, invention assignment agreements, employee handbooks, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, non-disclosure agreements, release and settlement agreements
- Mediated race, religious, disability, sex, and sexual orientation discrimination and sexual harassment cases
- Arbitrated misclassification and wage cases
Intellectual Property
- Represented Malaysia-based app development company in international licensing dispute
- Defended shareholder of gaming company in dispute over intellectual property ownership
- Represented parties in trademark and copyright infringement disputes
- Drafted and negotiated software licensing, distribution, and technology transfer agreements
- Served as outside general counsel to medical technology and software companies
- Served as trademark counsel to publicly-traded medical tech company; Filed USPTO and state trademark applications on behalf of many clients
Data Privacy
- Certification: International Association of Privacy Professionals, Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) (2020 – Present)
- Certification: International Association of Privacy Professionals, Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) (2024 – Present)
- Publication: Drafted Privacy Law Primer (chapter in Representing the Ongoing Business Deskbook): Minnesota CLE (2019 & 2020)
- Served as privacy counsel to publicly traded healthcare company
- Drafted HIPAA, CPRA, CCPA, and GDPR compliant privacy and security policies and procedures documents for clients
- Arbitrated privacy claims including California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), Larceny, Invasion of Privacy, and Intrusion on Seclusion
Additional Litigation
- Experience litigating medical malpractice, dental malpractice, and personal injury cases
- Served as settlement counsel in high-profile lawsuits for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault
Education
Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark School of Law, J.D. (2007)
University of California Los Angeles School of Law visiting student (2006 – 2007)
University of Southern California, B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Corporate Finance (2004)
University of Southern California, B.A. in French (2004)
Leadership
Co-Chair, Early Dispute Resolution Committee, ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section (2020 – Present). Led effort on passage of Resolution 500, urging the increased informed and voluntary use of Early Dispute Resolution, unanimously adopted at ABA’s House of Delegates Midyear Meeting on February 5, 2024.
Vice Chair, Orange County Bar Association Legislative Resolutions Committee, Originated SB 1141 in resolution form at the Conference of California Bar Associations and testified at the CA State Senate where it passed 38-0, and CA State Assembly (2023-2024)
Appointed Member, Committee on Committee Development and Oversight, ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section (2023)
Co-Chair, Mediation Week, ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section, Awarded Best Program of the Year (2022)
Certifications & Qualifications
Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT), International Association of Privacy Professionals (2024 – Present)
Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US), International Association of Privacy Professionals (2020 – Present)
Qualified Neutral under Rule 114, Minnesota General Rules of Practice (2013 – Present)
Training
ABA Arbitration Training Institute (2024)
American Arbitration Association, Arbitration Fundamentals & Best Practices (2023)
Stanford Law School Advanced IP/Tech Mediation and Arbitration, Course Certificate (2023)
Orange County Superior Court Judicial Training (2020, 2023)
Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals annual meeting (2024)
Carlson School of Management Executive Education, Certificate, Power & Influence (2021)
Harvard University, Executive Education at PON, Certificate, Advanced Negotiation Master Class (2015)
CIArb, A Guide to Arbitration Award Writing (2023)
ABA Advanced Mediation Skills Institute (2022)
ABA Dispute Resolution Spring Conference (2020 – 2024)
FINRA Arbitrator Training (2021)
Dale Carnegie course on High-Impact Presentations (2022)
Community Mediation and Restorative Services 30-hour mediation training (2013)
ADR Experience
Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association; Commercial, Technology, Healthcare, Employment, and Consumer Panels (2023 – Present)
Arbitrator, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (2021 – Present)
Member, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals (2023 – Present)
Mediator, United States District Court, Central District of California Mediation Panel (2023 – Present)
Mediator, American Arbitration Association (2023 – Present)
Mediator, Orange County Superior Court Mediation Panel (2023 – Present
Mediator, Minnesota Department of Human Rights (2020 – 2024)
Mediator, Community Mediation and Restorative Services (2013 – 2020)
Mediator, Mediation and Restorative Services (2020 – 2022)
Member, California Dispute Resolution Council (2023 – Present)
Member, Southern California Mediation Association (2023 – Present)
Law Practice Experience
Commercial
- Represented Dubai-based distribution companies in multi-million dollar international commercial dispute alleging fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of contract venued at the London Court of International Arbitration.
- Represented Plaintiff in lawsuit for breach of contract, breach of oral guarantee, and fraud; obtained unanimous verdict by 11-member jury in client’s favor on all counts, plus entitlement to costs and punitive damages, in an amount equal to 5x pre-trial best offer of Defendants.
- Represented insured in lawsuit against insurance company; obtained payment of approximately $1 million for medical bills.
- Obtained court-ordered removal of Personal Representative of estate, on behalf of beneficiaries, for fraud and estate theft, which led to subsequent criminal conviction and order to pay restitution of over $400,000.
- Obtained summary dismissal of Defendant in complex, multi-million dollar class-action lawsuit alleging breach of fiduciary duties.
- Litigated cases involving ownership disputes among corporate shareholders, LLC members, and business partners.
- Litigated business disputes between companies and contract counterparts (customers, vendors, suppliers).
- Drafted articles of incorporation/organization, operating agreements, buy-sell, stock purchase agreements, asset purchase agreements, and capitalization tables
Employment
- Successfully represented employee in two sequential lawsuits against employer; Recovered approximately $2.4 million dollars in unpaid sales commissions
- Represented ten charging parties in administrative charges against their former employer for religious and racial discrimination, sexual harassment, and retaliation
- Represented employees in age discrimination and disability discrimination cases
- Representing employers, drafted offers of employment, employment and independent contractor agreements, invention assignment agreements, employee handbooks, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, non-disclosure agreements, release and settlement agreements
Intellectual Property
- Represented Malaysia-based app development company in international licensing dispute
- Defended shareholder of gaming company in dispute over intellectual property ownership
- Represented parties in trademark and copyright infringement disputes
- Drafted and negotiated software licensing, distribution, and technology transfer agreements
- Served as outside general counsel to medical technology and software companies;
- Served as trademark counsel to publicly-traded medical tech company; Filed USPTO and state trademark applications on behalf of a multitude of clients
Privacy
- Served as privacy counsel to businesses including publicly traded healthcare company
- Provided analyses regarding the application of HIPAA to healthcare companies
- Drafted HIPAA privacy and security policies and procedures documents; Drafted and negotiated Business Associate Agreements
- Drafted comprehensive General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)-compliant privacy policies for healthcare and medical technology companies.
- Provided analysis and determination of whether events triggered data breach or security incident notification under HIPAA and Business Associate Agreements.
- Advised on data breach notification procedures under state and federal law.
Additional Litigation
- Experience litigating medical malpractice, dental malpractice, and personal injury cases
- Served as settlement counsel in high-profile lawsuit by survivor of sexual abuse
Select Distinctions
American Bar Foundation Fellow
Selected to Southern California Super Lawyers list (2023, 2024)
SoCal Super Lawyers Rising Star, Super Lawyers (2016 – 2022)
AV Preeminent® rating, Martindale-Hubbell (2015 – Present)
Co-Chair, Mediation Week of ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section, awarded Best Program of the Year (2022)
Vilendrer Family awarded 2nd Place (8 and Under) in the Peace in the Streets Global Film Festival for Justice for All, broadcasted at the United Nations in New York (December 15, 2020)
Vilendrer Family awarded 3rd Place (8 and Under) in the Peace in the Streets Global Film Festival for Nurturing the Seeds of Peace, broadcasted at the United Nations in New York (November 6, 2019); Official Selection at International Peace and Film Festival in Florida (January 2020)
Attained best outcome in scored negotiation among 60 professional negotiators from around the world at Havard Program on Negotiation (2015)
Semi-finalist in high-tech division of Minnesota Cup, nation’s largest new venture competition, with over 1,500 applicants (2016)
Lawyer Monthly category winner of Labor & Employment USA (2022)
Top Attorney, The Top 100 Magazine (2020)
Top-Rated Litigator, Legal Leaders (2020 – 2021)
Woman Leader in the Law, ALM (2018 – 2019)
35 and Under Young Entrepreneurs, Minnesota Business Magazine (2017)
Top Women Attorneys in Southern California, Los Angeles Magazine (2017, 2018, 2021)
Bar Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court (2012)
California (2007)
Minnesota (2011)
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota (2011)
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin (2011)
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2007)
U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2007)
Selected Presentations
- Testified at California State Assembly in favor of SB 1141, Mediation; Amount in Controversy (July 2, 2024)
- Speaker, Expert Views on ADR (June 19, 2024)
- Moderator, Mastering Early Mediation: Strategies for Success, Joint Program between ABA TIPS and Dispute Resolution Sections, (June 4, 2024)
- Testified at California State Senate in favor of SB 1141, Mediation; Amount in Controversy (April 30, 2024)
- Interviewee on Think Resolutions, Advancing Mediation in California: A Discussion with Ellie Vilendrer (April 24, 2024)
- Moderator, Building Your ADR Practice: Insights from ADR Professionals, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference (April 11, 2024)
- Speaker, What I Do, Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals (March 8, 2024)
- Panelist, How to Talk to Rapidly Unite Rather than Divide, Beverly Hills Bar Assocation (February 27, 2024)
- Panelist, Early Dispute Resolution, Southern California Mediation Association, (October 28, 2023)
- Debated in favor of passing Resolution 03-05-2023, a legislative resolution requiring an early settlement discussion, Conference of California Bar Associations (September 22, 2023)
- Speaker, Proposing ABA Resolution Urging the Increased Use of EDR, ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section Council (August 4, 2023)
- Speaker, National Study on Dispute Resolution, ABA’s Commercial and Business Litigation Committee (July 19, 2023)
- Panelist, The Role of DEI in Mediation, Alameda County Bar Association (July 6, 2023)
- Moderator, Mediation Week’s Panel Discussion, American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section
- Interviewee, Resolutions, American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Podcast
- Interviewee, How to Apologize and Why Apologies Matter, Scott Levin Chief Peacekeeper video channel
- Presenter, Effective Apologies (Early Dispute Resolution Committee of the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section, December 1, 2020)
- Invited Panelist, Achieving Gender Parity in Tech (OC Tech Happy Hour, March 19, 2019)
- Produced 1-hour CLE webinar entitled Winning Negotiation Strategies for the Professional Deal-Maker (2017)
- Invited Guest Lecturer, Advising the Start-up Entrepreneur (Corporate Institute at University of Minnesota School of Law, November 1, 2017)
- Invited TV Talk Show Guest, Entrepreneurship & Corporate Law (Law Talk, July 18, 2017)
- Invited International Radio Show Guest, Entrepreneurship, Corporate Law, & Dispute Resolution (Johnny Mandolin Show, June 5, 2017)
- Invited National Presenter, Essential Negotiation Strategies to Optimize Outcomes (Clear Law Institute, February 14, 2017)
- Invited National Presenter, Become a Better Negotiator in 60 Minutes (American Law Institute, November 16, 2015)
- National Presenter, Negotiating by Persuasion: The Art of Deal Making (Legal Expert Series: Advancing and Protecting Your Business, October 15, 2014)
- Invited National Presenter, Negotiating by Persuasion: The Art and Ethics of Deal Making (Commercial Law Web Advisor, April 8, 2014)
- Written Materials, Allina Medical Staff Leader Training (September 12, 2012)
- Invited Presenter, Mock Trial: Minnesota Society for Healthcare Risk Management Spring Seminar (June 3, 2011)
- Invited National Presenter, What Every Software Developer Should Know Before Entering Into a Contract: 360 Flex (March 8, 2010)
- Presenter, What Every Software Developer Should Know Before Entering Into a Contract: Los Angeles Flash (January 20, 2010)
- Presenter, What Every Software Developer Should Know Before Entering Into a Contract: Orange County Flex (December 3, 2009)
- Presenter, What Every Multimedia Professional Should Know Before Entering Into a Contract: Orange County Multimedia Association (November 17, 2009)
Selected Publications
Introducing EDR: The Future of ADR (April 2023)
What does the Data Say? Creating Value for Clients in Resolving Conflict is Early Dispute Resolution: American Bar Association, Just Resolutions (May, 2022)
Privacy Law Primer (chapter in Representing the Ongoing Business Deskbook): Minnesota CLE (2019 & 2020)
How to Win a Negotiation: Corporate Counsel (June 19, 2013)
See over 35 published articles here
Community Activities
President, School Site Council, E.E.S. (2019 – 2020, 2021 – 2023)
Head Soccer Coach, 10u (Division Champions) and 7u, AYSO (Fall 2021)
Leader, Minority Women Lawyers Association (2013 – 2018)
Planning Committee Member, Dispute Resolution Section of American Bar Association’s Mediation Week (2022)
Planning Committee Member, Minnesota Closely Held Business Conference (2015)
Minnesota Bar Exam Essay Grader, Minnesota Board of Law Examiners (2014)
Judge, American Bar Association Regional Law School Negotiations Competition (2013)
Volunteer Lawyer, Tubman Family Alliance, Pro Bono Safety Project (2012 – 2013)
Volunteer Lawyer, Volunteer Lawyers Network, Conciliation Court Clinic (2011 – 2013)
Volunteer Lawyer, Orange County Bar Association/KOCE Call-a-Lawyer Community Event (2009)
Member, University of Southern California Chess Club (1999 – 2003)
Member, University of Southern California Track Team (1999 – 2002)
University of Southern California Representative, PAC-10 Student-Athlete Conference (2000)
Member, University of Southern California Cross-Country Team (1999)
Languages
Bilingual proficiency in Persian
Professional working proficiency in French
- Diploma of Business French I, Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Paris (2004)
- Certificate of Professional French, Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Paris (2004)
