Mediator · Southern California
More than three decades of litigation and trial experience, now focused entirely on one goal: helping parties reach resolution.
William O. "Woody" Woodland brings more than three decades of litigation and trial experience to his work as a mediator. Over a 32-year legal career, he has served as a civil litigator and trial attorney handling matters throughout Southern California, taking numerous cases to jury verdict and resolving many more through mediation and arbitration. Having navigated the full life cycle of complex civil litigation—from early investigation, pleadings, motion practice, and discovery through trial and post-verdict resolution—Mr. Woodland brings a practical understanding of the strategic, financial, and human dynamics that often drive settlement decisions.
Mr. Woodland's litigation practice has encompassed a wide range of civil matters, including general liability, automobile litigation, first-party insurance claims, insurance bad faith, homeowners' liability, premises liability, and products liability. While he has handled cases across the full spectrum of exposure, his particular strength lies in high-stakes and high-value disputes. Throughout his career he has represented individuals, employers, transportation companies, rideshare entities, insurance carriers, construction developers, entertainment companies, and public entities in both tort and civil rights litigation.
Well known within the Southern California legal community, Mr. Woodland is respected by attorneys on both sides of the bar as approachable, thoughtful, and highly effective at diffusing tension and identifying creative paths toward resolution. His decades of courtroom and negotiation experience have sharpened his ability to manage expectations, provide candid and objective feedback, and help parties realistically evaluate risk and opportunity in a litigation setting.
Mr. Woodland's mediation approach is further informed by his experience representing both defendants and plaintiffs during his litigation career. This balanced perspective, combined with his participation in hundreds of mediations as an advocate, allows him to quickly identify the dynamics that move cases toward resolution—and those that impede progress. He is particularly effective in complex matters involving multiple parties, multiple insurance carriers, and competing litigation strategies.
Respected by attorneys on both sides of the bar as someone who diffuses tension and creates space for productive negotiation.
Particular strength in high-value matters — including multi-party cases, multiple carriers, and competing litigation strategies.
Sharpened by decades in courtrooms and negotiation rooms — skilled at helping parties realistically evaluate risk and opportunity.
