Because I've had several people land on my Negotiation Blog looking for a bankruptcy mediator, I thought it would be a public service to introduce my readers to Buchalter bankruptcy attorney and Judicate West mediator, Benjamin Seigel.

Mr. Seigel has published several articles on the practical aspects of mediation of business disputes and has served as a mediator for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California since 1995. He is the founder and current President of the American Mediation Association, Inc.

Seigel frequently lectures to accounting firms, financial institutions and other organizations on debtor/creditor topics, including the financial and psychological benefits of resolving disputes through mediation.

Mr. Seigel is the founding President and Director of the California Bankruptcy Forum. He is also a Director and former President of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum and past Chair of the Bankruptcy Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Association. Mr. Seigel is a member of the Financial Lawyers Conference and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He served on the Debtor/Creditor Relations and Bankruptcy Committee of the California State Bar . He was the principal drafter of assignment for benefit of creditors legislation enacted in California in 1992 and 1999.

Mr. Seigel is a member of the Executive Board of the California Fashion Association. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Apparel Industries Group of City of Hope and is Chairman Emeritus of the Israel Cancer Research Fund.

Mr. Seigel received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 1958 from the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. He earned his J.D. cum laude in 1974 from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law.