Martin Quinn settles, arbitrates, and manages complex legal disputes. He is highly regarded by counsel for his ability to understand complex legal issues and human emotions, which puts litigants at ease and makes them feel that they’ve been treated fairly. A trial lawyer for over 25 years and a full-time mediator and JAMS panelist since 1996, Mr. Quinn specializes in resolving business and complex tort disputes. As a major part of his practice, he is appointed as special master or referee in federal and state class actions and other complex lawsuits. Mr. Quinn teaches mediation as an adjunct professor at Hastings Law School.

Representative Matters

• Business/Commercial
Settled a lawsuit over the terms of a partner’s departure from an engineering consulting firm; settled three cases involving damages arising from the termination of beer distributorships; settled a complex landlord-tenant action between the developer of a Bay Area shopping center and the non-profit community corporation that owned the land
• Construction
Settled a construction delay action involving a restaurant complex on San Francisco’s waterfront; settled a construction defect case involving a large condominium project in San Rafael
• Environmental
Settled two Proposition 65 actions involving the State of California and two environmental groups against numerous retailers and manufacturers concerning lead in costume jewelry; mediated a case involving remediation of railroad and industrial contamination in a large area south of San Francisco, and the sale of the property for multi-use commercial development – case settled shortly after mediation
• Health Care
Settled reimbursement dispute between Southern California physician group and a health plan; acts as nationwide compliance officer for settlement of class action between State Medical Societies and a large health insurer
• Insurance
Settled coverage disputes concerning business interruption following a hotel fire, professional errors and omissions, a wrongful termination lawsuit, and liability for a Mexican judgment; settled many claims for disability coverage, both ERISA and non-ERISA
• Intellectual Property
Mediated a patent infringement action involving a medical device; settled a trademark dispute involving bottled water; settled a trade secret dispute involving an internet marketing company
• Professional Liability
Mediated the dissolution of a personal injury law firm; settled several attorney fee disputes; mediated cross-claims for reimbursement and professional negligence involving the architect of a San Diego office complex
• Special Master/Discovery Referee
Specialist in e-discovery issues; served as special master in a multi-district litigation class and individual actions in San Francisco involving antitrust claims against manufacturers of LCD flat panels; served as discovery special master in a multi-district litigation in Los Angeles of 100 patent cases involving interactive telephone technology; served as discovery referee in a corporate governance dispute involving a computer lock business, a wrongful termination and sexual harassment action against a law firm, a construction defect case, and an insurance coverage action involving sexual misconduct of Catholic priests

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Sedona Conference: E-Discovery Dispute Resolution Program for Special Masters & Mediators, January 2010
• Past President, The Mediation Society, San Francisco, 2011-2012
• Past President, Academy of Court-Appointed Masters, 2009
• Member, American Health Lawyers Association
• Adjunct Professor, Hastings College of Law, 2003-2012
• "The value of hustle in dispute resolution," Daily Journal, ADR Profile, November 9, 2012
• "Think there's fruit in your Froot Loops?" Daily Journal, October 31, 2013
• Author of articles on ADR, including:
  • E-Discovery in Arbitration, "Rules for ADR," California Lawyer, May 2011
  • “E-Discovery: Succeeding with a Special Master,” California Lawyer, April 2010
  • “Managing Discovery in Patent Cases: Best Practices,” Law 360, February 2009
  • “Exercise Diligence When Preparing for Corporate Mediation,” Corporate Counsel, September 2006
  • "How to Succeed with Discovery Referees," Association of Business Trial Lawyers of Northern California Report, November 2004
  • "Recipe for Success in Arbitration," The Recorder, March 2004

Background and Education

• Panelist, JAMS, San Francisco, 1996-present
• Partner, Rogers, Joseph, O'Donnell & Quinn, San Francisco, 1981-1996
• Partner and associate, Pettit & Martin, San Francisco, 1971-1981
• LL.B., Harvard Law School, 1967
• B.A., Harvard College, 1964