Mediation & Arbitration · Orange County, CA

Resolve your dispute — without the cost and burden of litigation.

Trial-tested alternative dispute resolution across Southern California. Whether you want to negotiate your own settlement through mediation, or have a neutral hear the evidence and decide through binding or non-binding arbitration, Chris Waters helps you resolve disputes faster, more privately, and at a fraction of the cost of trial.

Book a Free 30-Minute Consultation →

Two people seated at a table beneath a balance scale

Our Approach

Everyone deserves to be heard

Most disputes — between business partners, spouses, or companies — aren't really about the money or the contract. Underneath, someone doesn't feel heard. By the time it heads toward a courtroom, people are often more frustrated about being dismissed than about the issue itself.

That's where a neutral makes the difference. As a mediator, Chris's first job is to make sure every party is genuinely heard — without interruption, without judgment, without one side drowning out the other. It's remarkable how often resolution becomes possible once people finally feel listened to.

And cost should never be the thing that stands in the way. Being heard shouldn't be a luxury reserved for those who can afford a courtroom or big-firm rates — which is why Chris keeps it transparent and accessible: $250 an hour, a free 30-minute consultation, and pro bono mediation for those who qualify.

Schedule your free consultation →

01 / What We Offer

Two paths to resolution.

Mediation puts the outcome in your hands. Arbitration puts it in the hands of a neutral who decides. Chris offers both — and helps you choose the right one for your dispute. Many contracts already require arbitration; either way, you avoid a crowded public courtroom and a judge who sees your dispute for only a brief window of time.

Service 01

Mediation

A confidential, voluntary process where Chris serves as a neutral facilitator, helping the parties negotiate their own resolution. You stay in control of the outcome — nothing is decided for you, and it is non-binding until you sign a settlement agreement.

You decide. The parties craft an agreement a court could never order.
Preserves relationships. Ideal for partners, family, and ongoing business.
Confidential & flexible. Private, creative, and faster than litigation.

Service 02

Arbitration

Chris serves as a neutral arbitrator — a private judge — under the parties' agreement or the arbitration clause in their contract. He hears each side's evidence and issues a decision, which can be binding or non-binding depending on what the contract or agreement provides.

Binding arbitration. A final, enforceable award — conclusive, like a court judgment, but private and faster.
Non-binding arbitration. An advisory decision that shows both sides the likely outcome and often drives settlement.
Clause-based. Many commercial and construction contracts already name arbitration — Chris can serve as your agreed neutral.

02 / The Advantage

A neutral who knows how it plays out at trial.

Chris Waters, Mediator and Arbitrator at Trials & Tech, Orange County

Chris Waters — Mediator & Arbitrator

For more than 25 years, Chris Waters has worked inside the legal industry — and he built that experience into a mediation and arbitration practice designed to help people resolve disputes without the cost, delay, and burden of litigation.

Chris brings something most neutrals can't: real trial experience. Having seen how cases actually unfold in front of a judge and jury, he can quickly read each party's position, pressure-test it against how it would likely play out at trial, and help everyone understand the real risks they face.

Whether he is facilitating a settlement as a mediator or weighing the evidence as an arbitrator, that courtroom insight moves matters toward practical, durable resolutions instead of years of expensive conflict.

And because Chris works in the courtroom every week through Trials & Tech, his read on how a case will actually play out isn't a memory from years on the bench — it's current.

Transparent Pricing

$250/hour and $2,000/day, published up front — no “call for rates.”

Direct Access

You work with Chris himself — not a panel or a case manager.

Trial-Tested & Current

An active trial technologist who sees how cases land with juries today.

Book in Minutes

Schedule online, synced to our calendar — no phone tag.

Free 30-Min Consult

Find out whether ADR fits before you spend a dollar.

03 / Practice Areas

Disputes Chris resolves.

Mediation and arbitration across the conflicts that most often pull individuals and businesses toward costly litigation.

Small Business Disputes

Partner and ownership conflicts, buy-out disagreements, and vendor or customer disputes — resolved privately so you can get back to business. Learn more →

Startup & Business Disputes

Co-founder disagreements, equity and vesting disputes, and investor or operating-agreement conflicts — handled with discretion. Learn more →

Family Disputes

Sensitive, confidential resolution of family, inheritance, and family-business conflicts — preserving relationships wherever possible. Learn more →

Contract Disputes

Breach-of-contract and business-agreement disputes across industries — including matters governed by an arbitration clause. Learn more →

Residential Construction Disputes

Homeowner and contractor disputes — defects, delays, change orders, payment, and scope — resolved efficiently and fairly. Learn more →

Not sure if it fits?

If your dispute could end up in court — or your contract requires arbitration — a free 30-minute consultation will tell you straight.

04 / Why ADR

There's a better way to settle a dispute.

Most people assume that when there's a serious disagreement — with a business partner, a contractor, a family member, the other side of a contract — the only option is to “lawyer up” and go to court. It isn't. For most disputes, mediation or arbitration gets you to a resolution faster, more privately, and usually for far less money — and in mediation, with far more say over the result than a courtroom allows.

Court files are public record; mediation and private arbitration keep your business, your finances, and your dispute confidential. A contested civil case can take one to three years to reach trial; mediation often resolves in a single session or a few, and arbitration in weeks to months. And partners, neighbors, family, and ongoing business contacts can often keep working together afterward — a lawsuit usually burns that bridge.

Lower Cost

A fraction of the price of litigation and trial.

Faster

Resolve in weeks, not the years a lawsuit can take.

Confidential

A private process — no public record.

You Decide

In mediation, the parties craft the outcome.

Finality

Binding arbitration ends the dispute with an enforceable award.

Relationships

Resolve the conflict while preserving the relationship.

05 / What It Costs

What it actually costs — court vs. us.

Going to court is expensive in ways people don't expect until the bills arrive. Here's the honest comparison.

	Litigation (court)	Mediation / Arbitration (Trials & Tech)
Hourly fees	~$300–$600+/hour, per side, for attorneys	$250/hour — the neutral's fee, typically shared by the parties
Procedure & add-ons	Filing fees, full discovery, depositions, experts, motion practice	Mediation: none. Arbitration: discovery scope is set at the outset and generally follows California rules — usually more limited than full litigation
Timeline	Commonly 1–3 years to trial	Mediation: one to a few sessions. Arbitration: weeks to months
Typical total	Frequently tens of thousands per side — more in complex cases	Mediation: often a few thousand total. Arbitration: $250/hour for preparation plus $2,000/day for hearing days
Privacy	Public record	Confidential
Who decides	A judge or jury	Mediation: the parties, by agreement. Arbitration: the arbitrator's final determination (binding or non-binding per the agreement)

Actual cost always depends on the complexity of the dispute and how cooperative the parties are — but the gap between court and ADR is rarely small.

Our pricing is published on purpose: mediation is $250/hour, arbitration hearing days are $2,000/day plus $250/hour for preparation, and your first 30-minute consultation is free. Most neutrals make you call to find out what they charge. We'd rather you knew up front.

06 / How It Works

A clear path to resolution.

Free Consultation

A complimentary 30-minute call to understand your dispute and the best process.

Choose the Process

Mediation, or binding/non-binding arbitration — including under your contract's clause.

Session or Hearing

Chris guides a focused, confidential mediation or conducts the arbitration hearing.

Resolve

Reach a signed settlement, or receive a reasoned arbitration decision or award.

07 / Pro Bono

Pro Bono Mediation

Resolution shouldn't depend on the size of your bank account. Trials & Tech sets aside a limited number of pro bono mediation sessions for individuals and families who qualify based on financial need — so the chance to resolve a dispute fairly isn't out of reach for those without the means to pay. Every request is reviewed confidentially and considered case by case. If cost is the only thing standing between you and a resolution, we encourage you to reach out.

Request Pro Bono Mediation →

Get Started

Book your free 30-minute consultation.

$250/hour after the complimentary first 30 minutes. Tell Chris about your dispute — and whether your contract requires arbitration — and find the fastest path to resolution.

Open Scheduler in New Tab →Or request by email

Mediation and private arbitration are confidential. Please don't send confidential details prior to a conflicts check being cleared. As a neutral, Chris does not represent either party as an attorney.

08 / FAQ

Mediation & arbitration questions.

What's the difference between mediation and arbitration?

In mediation, a neutral helps the parties negotiate their own voluntary settlement — nothing is decided for them, and it's non-binding until they sign an agreement. In arbitration, the neutral acts like a private judge, hears the evidence, and issues a decision that can be binding or non-binding depending on the parties' agreement.

What's the difference between binding and non-binding arbitration?

In binding arbitration, the arbitrator's award is final and enforceable, much like a court judgment. In non-binding arbitration, the decision is advisory — it shows both sides the likely outcome and often leads to settlement, but the parties aren't required to accept it.

Can you arbitrate under our contract's arbitration clause?

Yes. Many commercial and construction contracts contain an arbitration clause. Chris can serve as the agreed neutral arbitrator under those clauses and conduct binding or non-binding arbitration as the contract provides.

What types of disputes do you handle?

Small business, startup and co-founder, family, contract, and residential construction disputes between homeowners and contractors. If your matter could end up in court — or your contract requires arbitration — reach out for a free consultation.

How much does it cost?

Mediation and billable arbitration work are $250 per hour — the neutral's fee, typically shared by the parties. Arbitration hearing days are billed at $2,000 per day. The first 30-minute consultation is free. The total depends on complexity, but it's consistently a fraction of the cost of going to court.

How long does it take?

Mediation is often a single session or a few. Arbitration is typically weeks to months — compared with one to three years for a contested court case to reach trial.

Is there discovery in arbitration?

Often yes, but more streamlined than in court. In California, arbitrators generally follow California discovery rules, and the scope is usually set at the beginning of the arbitration.

Do I still need my own attorney?

The neutral doesn't represent or advise either side. You're welcome to have your own attorney involved, or review any agreement before signing — many people do, and it still costs far less than litigating.

What if the parties don't fully agree in mediation?

That's common. Anything resolved in mediation still saves time and money, and the rest can be decided elsewhere. Partial agreements are valuable.

Is the process confidential, and where does it take place?

Yes — both mediation and private arbitration are confidential. Sessions can be held in person in Orange County, or online by Zoom or phone for parties anywhere in Southern California, with documents reviewed and signed remotely.

What if I can't afford it?

Trials & Tech offers pro bono mediation for individuals and families who qualify based on financial need. Reach out and we'll review your request confidentially.