Mediation
Robert H. "Bob" Fairbank
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
After 37 years as a successful litigator and trial lawyer, Robert Fairbank established Fairbank ADR in 2014 as an Alternative Dispute Resolution entity that specializes in the mediation of multi-million dollar, complex civil matters, resulting in settlements of 7, 8 and 9 figure amounts. Bob has been recognized as a Star Individual Nationwide Mediator by Chambers USA for 2025. He was ranked in Band 1 in 2024 and 2023, Band 2 in 2022 and 2021, Band 3 in 2020, and noted as a Recognized Practitioner in 2019. Bob also is a member of the California Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. To date, Fairbank ADR has facilitated settlements of over $2.6 billion.
Bob’s essential approach to mediation is relentless persistence to achieve a settlement through merits-driven, in-depth analysis of the legal and practical dynamics unique to each case, aided by a full-time attorney and Assistant Mediator, Kimberly West. Bob has been praised by parties and counsel for his “extraordinary skills as a mediator” in “exercising outstanding professionalism, commitment, and patience necessary” to resolve the most difficult and protracted disputes in numerous practice areas and industries.
Bob obtained extensive and diverse experience in major civil litigation in his nearly 40-year litigation career. Fairbank ADR is the successor to Fairbank & Vincent, which Bob co-founded in 1996 after beginning his career as an associate and partner of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (1977-1996). From 2002 to 2009, Bob served as an independent consultant for the Regents of the University of California in the Enron, Worldcom, AOL Time Warner, and Dynegy federal securities cases, as part of a team co-headed by the Hon. J. Lawrence Irving. In addition to this independent role, Bob successfully represented prominent corporate and individual (Director and Officer) defendants in a variety of civil disputes, and served as co-counsel for plaintiffs in major class actions.
In addition to his mediation practice, Bob has been an adjunct professor at USC Gould School of Law since 2004, teaching a seminar on Corporate Fraud. He is also the co-author of California Practice Guide – Civil Trials and Evidence (The Rutter Group), the leading treatise on California civil trial practice.
Please see the "Additional Information" tab for a summary of Fairbank ADR's Major Mediation Practice Areas & Examples of Representative Settlements.
Overview
- English
- New York University, J.D., graduated 1977
- Stanford University, Bachelor of Arts, graduated 1972
- English
- New York University, J.D., graduated 1977
- Stanford University, Bachelor of Arts, graduated 1972
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Mediation, Los Angeles (2022)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Mediation
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Litigation - Securities
News & Media
Insights
Additional Information
- Major Mediation Practice Areas & Representative Settlements
Breach of Contract or License Agreement
- 9-figure confidential settlement of contract dispute re default Internet search engine for web browser
- 8-figure settlement of dispute involving technology development partnership agreement in agricultural industry
- $28.6 million post-trial settlement of business dispute between Chinese companies involving joint venture for manufacture & sale of appliances
- 8-figure settlement of breach of uranium supply contract in nuclear industry
- 7-figure settlement of license agreement dispute involving luxury hotel brand and associated trademarks
Environmental and Mass Tort
- $750 million settlement of 13-party administrative proceeding and related federal class action involving costs arising from premature shutdown of San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in California
- Various settlements, including two 8-figure settlements, of individual landowner claims against Southern California Edison arising out of December 2017 Thomas Fire and November 2018 Woolsey Fire
Business Torts, Fraud, and Misrepresentation
- $37.8 million cash settlement of nationwide certified fraud class action in trucking industry, with court deeming total settlement value at $96 million (Roberts v. CR England)
- 8-figure settlement of numerous fraud claims relating to alleged inducement of syndication investments in commercial real estate properties
- 7-figure settlement of business tort claims involving cyber-security company's flagging of website content as fraudulent “bot” traffic
Disputes Involving Founders & Original Investors of Start-Up Companies
- 9-figure settlement of confidential dispute over majority/minority ownership stake in popular app
- 24 million share settlement of shareholder dispute between early investors in cannabis retail company MedMen and founders/company (estimated $6.72 million value)
Intellectual Property: Copyright Infringement / Patent Infringement / Patent Royalty Disputes / Trade Secret Misappropriation
- 7 and 8 figure settlements of multi-party dispute over patent and trade secret rights in licensing and testing of molecular compound for use in consumer products
Entertainment
- Settlement of profit participation dispute between two major studios
- Settlement worth $8.7 million in consumer class action against movie studios for unfair and deceptive practices re box sets of James Bond films (Johnson v. MGM Holdings and 20th Century Fox)
Legal Malpractice / Professional Negligence
- 7-figure settlement of action against elite law firm for alleged conflicts of interest in handling family trust and estate matters
Securities Class Actions
- Zaghian v. THQ Inc., et al. ($2.6 million settlement of federal class action against videogame developer for alleged false and misleading statements re likelihood of success of new videogame product)
- Quiksilver Securities Litigation ($1.5 million settlement)
Shareholder Derivative Actions & Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- 7-figure settlement of action alleging failure to oversee corporate compliance procedures and internal reporting controls of government contractor
Oil & Gas Industry
- $19 million settlement of shareholder class action challenging majority shareholder’s acquisition of oil and gas company (“going private” transaction)
Insurance Disputes
- 8-figure settlement of insurance coverage dispute relating to allocation of defense cost fees
- 7-figure settlement of action against fine art insurance broker by purchaser of famous artworks
Consumer Class Actions
- $3.5 million settlement of class action against a major cosmetics company for false advertising and deceptive marketing practices
Pharmaceutical / Health Care
- See Intellectual Property
Antitrust (Direct and Class Actions)
Whistleblower Retaliation / Wrongful Termination
Real Estate Disputes
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