Practice Overview

After practicing with The Mitchell Law Firm for over forty years, primarily engaged in civil litigation matters, Paul Brisso now concentrates on providing mediation services through the firm in an “of counsel” status. While he has withdrawn from the active handling of litigation matters, he is available to serve as mediator as well as arbitrator in binding and non-binding arbitration matters.

Over his career, Paul handled hundreds of civil litigation cases in the state courts of various Northern California counties and in the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Eastern District of California, including over 100 jury trials. In 2009, he completed a 30 hour mediation training program sponsored by the Humboldt County Superior Court in conjunction with the Humboldt State University extended education program. Since that time, he has served as a mediator in numerous cases prior to withdrawing from active litigation management.

He is now focusing on using his unique experience in litigation, case evaluation, knowledge of local courts and jury pools, and settlement negotiation using direct negotiation, mediation, and court mandated settlement conferences to assist parties in reaching mutually agreeable and beneficial resolution to disputes. His experience in representing clients with insurance coverage, and dealing with insurance carrier representatives in litigation and the settlement process, provides a valuable background in mediating cases when settlement by one or more of the parties is controlled by an insurance carrier.

Please visit our Alternative Dispute Resolution page for information.

Practice Areas

• Mediation

• Arbitration

Education

• J.D., With Great Distinction, University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (1978)

• B.A., magna cum laude, Journalism, Humboldt State University (1973)

Admissions

• California

• United States District Court for the Northern and Eastern Districts of California

Awards & Affiliations

• Rated by Martindale-Hubbel as “AV–Preeminent” for over 25 years

• Named by San Francisco magazine as one of Northern California’s “Super Lawyers” each year 2005 through 2020

• One of only two current Humboldt County attorneys elected as a fellow in American College of Trial Lawyers (and one of only four in Humboldt County history so honored)

• Former longtime member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)

• Member of the Board of Directors, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada ( to )

• Humboldt County Bar Association, Past President