Alona M. Gottfried
Simmons & Gottfried, PLLC
a Professional Limited Liability Company
8160 E. Butherus Dr., Suite #7
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
Telephone (480) 998-1500   Facsimile (480) 998-6074
Alona@SGLawAZ.com

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Alternative Dispute Resolution:  Mediation, facilitation, collaborative divorce law, training, and employment investigations

Law:  Family, employment and contract law

EDUCATION

Arizona State University College of Law
Juris Doctorate, May, 1995  (Cum Laude)

Honors:
- Williard H. Pedrick Scholar
-  Maricopa County Bar Association Outstanding Student Award
-  Alan A. Matheson Service Award

Arizona State University
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, May, 1992 (Summa Cum Laude)

Honors:
- Phi Beta Kappa

EMPLOYMENT AFFILIATIONS

Simmons & Gottfried, PLLC. (Partner), Phoenix, AZ.  Mediator and attorney. 2009 to present

Unlimited Resolutions Mediation, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ.  Mediator.  2006 to 2008

Owens & Perkins, P.C., Scottsdale, AZ, Attorney. 2006 to 2009

Gillespie & Associates, P.C., Phoenix, AZ, Mediator and attorney. 1995 to 2006

Merge Consultants, Fountain Hills, AZ.  Mediation instructor.  2003 to present

MEDIATION TRAINING

Pepperdine University School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
Advanced Family Mediation Skills. June 22-24, 2006.  18 hours of training

Pepperdine University School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
Advanced Mediation. June 16-18, 2005.  18 hours of training

Merge Consultants Mediation & Conflict Resolution Training
November 4-16, 2002.  40 hours of training

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND VOLUNTEER WORK

Settlement Judge Pro Tem, Maricopa County Superior Court (2004 to present)

International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (2004 to present)

Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Arizona (2004 to present)

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Family and Employment Law Sections of the State Bar of Arizona

Arizona Dispute Resolution Association, Executive Secretary and Board Member (2003  to 2004)

Maricopa County Justice Court Mediator (2003 to 2004)

Ronald McDonald House, Board of Directors (2000 to 2006)

Child & Family Research & Development Program, President (1999 to 2001)

PUBLICATIONS

Alona M. Gottfried, Choosing Mediation over Employment Discrimination Lawsuits. The Caucus, September 2005.

Alona M. Gottfried, From Litigation to Mediation . . . A Lawyer’s Perspective, The Caucus, August 2005.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS /SEMINARS PRESENTED

June 13, 2007  Mediation & Family Law (CLE for Community Legal Services).

March 21, 2006 A Peaceful and Profitable Workplace:  Using Effective Conflict Resolution to Limit Lawsuits and Employee Turnover (The Valley of the Sun Human Resource Association)

2003-2005 Co-presented Mediation & Conflict Resolution 40 hour Training approximately six times (Merge Consultants)

May 19, 2005, Employee Relations Strategies:  Managing Workplace Conflict to Avoid Grievances and Increase Productivity (Council on Education in Management)

May 19, 2005, Leadership and Ethics:  Becoming An Effective Leader While Holding Fast To Your Ethical Standards (Council on Education in Management)

February 2, 2005, Implementing Performance Evaluations That Are A Win-Win For Employers And Employees (Public Sector Employment Law Update 2005)

September 6, 2003, Breaking Impasse (Arizona Dispute Resolution Association Seminar)

Spring/Summer 2003, Advanced Mediation Training (Seminars for Prescott and Sierra Vista Court mediators)

May 13, 2003, Exploring The True Value Of Mediation For Civil Cases And Pre-Litigation Conflict (DeFusco & Udelman Continuing Legal Education)

April 15, 2003, Mock Mediation:  A Case Of Harassment (Arizona Affirmative Action Association 28th Annual Conference:  A Title VII approach to defending your assets & good name)

November 13, 2003, Writing Effective Mediation Agreements (Arizona Dispute Resolution Association Seminar)

December 20, 2002, Understanding Conflict  (The Mediation Agency)

July 17, 2002  Settlement Of Equitable Distribution Issues Through Negotiation And Mediation (National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education)