"We had a terrific experience with Judge Wood. She did important groundwork ahead of the mediation to identify and facilitate issues that required more briefing. She was narrowing and moving issues towards resolution days before we arrived at the mediation. From the outset my clients liked and trusted her. She moved the negotiations along and when the other side wanted to respond with no further offer early on, she convinced them to do otherwise. As the gap for settlement narrowed, she used several helpful techniques that led to resolution. I will definitely recommend Judge Wood when proposing mediators in the future and look forward to working with her again."
"Overall, we are very pleased with Judge Wood. She was well-prepared and had a detailed understanding of the issues by the pre-mediation meeting. Most impressive is her ability to speak to the heart of the matter with the clients, and quickly break through the barriers that stood in the way of resolution. She did not leave my office until midnight, after the MSA was signed. Having worked with Judge Wood during her time on the bench, I am not surprised by this experience and think it is only a matter of time that her reputation solidifies with the family law community."
"I was impressed by Judge Wood’s as a mediator, but that didn’t surprise me. I’ve appeared in front of her before when she was on the bench and she displayed similar skills. She’s patient, communicates sincerely with the principals, knows when to go to an attorneys-only conference, and guides the process, at least in this most recent case, in a skillful, and ultimately successful manner."
"Judge Wood recently mediated a real property case where I represented the estate of a decedent who had signed a promissory note to settle a palimony case 35 years ago. We contended that the debt had either long since been paid or forgiven, but the defendant was adamant that she had never received payment and was entitled to 35 years of interest in addition to the unpaid principal. I found Judge Wood to have an exceptional grasp of not only the facts and applicable law of the case but also the emotional dynamics of the case that were impeding the ability to settle the matter. We were ultimately successful in resolving the case thanks in large part to the ability of Judge Wood to tactfully navigate the emotions of both parties (the defendant and the family of the decedent). I would highly recommend her as a mediator and intend to use her again."
“I had the pleasure of working with Judge Wood in a very high conflict custody case. The case was on its way to a lengthy and painful trial and I am confident it would not have settled had Judge Wood not stepped in. Judge Wood gave us two days of her (already heavily impacted) time, read and absorbed everything that was submitted to her, was thoughtful and commonsensical in her approach, directive when useful, skillful at explaining the various outcomes awaiting the parties without being heavy-handed, and always compassionate. Tempers frequently flared in chambers—Judge Wood was a cool and steady presence, the consummate “adult in the room.” She took great care to assure that everyone felt heard and never took her eyes off the ultimate issue—what was best for the parties’ children. ADR is fortunate to add Judge Wood to their list of family law neutrals.”
"My first experience with Judge Wood was such a positive one. I appeared in her Napa County courtroom prepared to proceed with a trial involving domestic violence, child custody, visitation, and support, for what were highly contested issues. With Judge Wood's expertise, as well as her compassionate and empathetic approach to both my client and my opposing party, the case settled before the end of the morning. I would highly recommend Judge Wood for any ADR dispute resolution. My office will be keeping her in our arsenal and resources that my office can tap into in order to reach the best outcome available for my clients."
"Judge Wood approaches every matter with fairness, kindness and sharp legal acuity. She leaves litigants feeling respected and understanding of the compromises that were necessary to resolve the issue. Judge Wood is sure to be an asset to the ADR community."
"Judge Wood has a knack for proposing creative solutions in the midst of a pressure-filled family law dynamic where emotions are wound tight. She is both compassionate and realistic; this mindset resonates with clients and inspires trust and a willingness to compromise."
"Judge Wood’s numerous qualities that make her successful in mediating and settling high-conflict family law cases include her ability to analyze complex legal issues, her keen knowledge of the law, her extensive experience in various capacities as a judge, her caring nature toward the involved parties, and her concern for the well-being of minors. Judge Wood specializes in finding solutions to difficult problems and possesses the intelligence, level-headedness, and demeanor to navigate the most challenging cases through to a resolution that heals and restores equanimity in families."
"Judge Wood came onto a case that I thought would never settle. The parties were very far apart and had been fighting for years. One of the parties was self-represented. She was patient with the parties. Walking them through their distrust to reach a resolution and move on with their lives. It took time, but Judge Wood held in there with her patience that made all the difference. I wouldn’t hesitate to use her expertise to help on any case, but especially one with high conflict and deep distrust between the parties."
"Judge Wood is an excellent mediator. Her understanding and compassion towards complex legal and emotional matters results in positive outcomes, even with the most skeptical of litigants. She offers unique solutions to resolve matters while keeping parties focused on compromise and resolution. I have utilized her in several matters, and highly recommend her for dispute resolution."
Hon. Victoria Wood (Ret.)
100 1st Street, San Francisco, California 94105, United States
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