Debra F. Bogaards

Discrimination Mediator

Mediator · Esq.

Debra Bogaards, Esq. has served as a private mediator for more than six years, as well as a mandatory settlement conference officer in San Francisco for more than five years and in Marin County for almost 30 years. Debra's extensive career highlights a remarkable track record of successfully mediating hundreds of cases and achieving a consistent settlement rate above 98%. She brings a distinct advantage to her role, offering a clear and balanced perspective derived from having represented both plaintiffs and defendants throughout her 40-year career. She brings decades of experience managing two insurance defense firms and as an associate, providing her with a profound understanding of how claims representatives set reserves, evaluate cases to determine value, and negotiate settlements. Debra’s subject matter expertise includes a wide range of employment issues in individual and multi-party cases involving: • Wage and hour disputes • Discrimination (across all protected classes) • Sexual harassment • Retaliation • Wrongful termination • Whistleblowing • Defamation • Fraud • Reductions in workforce Additional expertise extends to: • Personal injury matters • Catastrophic injury • Wrongful death • Toxic tort • Sexual abuse • Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) cases • Elder neglect and abuse • Landlord-tenant disputes As a mediator, Debra has earned a reputation as a quick study capable of identifying the key issues in the heart of a dispute. The “secret” to her success lies in meticulous pre-mediation preparation, including a thorough review of all case materials. During the pre-mediation conference, expect a detailed discussion of your case’s strengths and weaknesses, potentially accompanied by additional homework.