How Employment Cases Actually Settle: Psychology, Anchoring, and Strategic Negot

Stacie Feldman Hausner, Esq. has mediated full time since 2015. She has successfully mediated thousands of cases in the areas of employment, real estate, personal injury, civil rights, business, insurance coverage, construction defect, malpractice, entertainment, and intellectual property law. She has an exceptionally high settlement rate due to her tenacity, calm and friendly demeanor, creative “out of the box” thinking, and keen insight. Ms. Hausner received an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, and she has been teaching at Pepperdine School of law, every semester for the last 8 years. She also spends considerable time training mediators for the Central District Court, SCMA and through the “Mediating the Litigated Case” program at Straus. Ms. Hausner is a proud Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, which is comprised of top mediators from around the world.

With over 25 years of legal and leadership experience, I bring expertise in employment law, workforce dynamics and negotiations to conflict resolution. I’m passionate about facilitating open and productive dialogue and believe that collaboration can lead to transformative solutions. My strengths lie in actively listening, identifying common ground, and working tirelessly to find innovative solutions. As a mediator, I am committed to ensuring an efficient process and compassionate approach to dispute resolution.

Previously, as Senior Vice President, in-house counsel for Fox’s film, television, sports and interactive media companies, I managed labor and employment disputes company-wide, including nationwide class actions, single and multi-plaintiff employment cases and administrative claims. I negotiated senior executive employment contracts, settlement agreements, severance programs and other high-stakes deals.

Building on my legal expertise, as Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Warner Media (now WBD), I led a team that designed and implemented initiatives that were instrumental in achieving the most diverse and inclusive workforce and productions in the company’s history.

My journey from in-house litigator to mediator has been guided by a passion for understanding and connecting with people, and fostering enduring resolutions to the most vexing and entrenched employment disputes.