Hon. Zaven V. Sinanian (Ret.)

Hon. Zaven V. Sinanian (Ret.) brings over 30 years of legal experience as a judge and deputy attorney general to Signature Resolution. Judge Sinanian’s background as a superior court judge assigned to the mandatory settlement conference program -where he mediated several thousand civil cases -and independent calendar civil trial courtroom- where he presided over jury and bench trials- has made him a balanced and insightful facilitator of mediations and adjudications.​

Judge Sinanian prides himself on fair and impartial mediation and creatively facilitating resolution to business and commercial contracts, personal injury, employment, professional liability, real estate, and insurance disputes. His approach to mediation is simple, with a focus on active listening, and meaningful dialogue between the parties. While an understanding of legal issues is important, Judge Sinanian prioritizes the power of human connections. ​

Judge Sinanian served as the managing judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court Mandatory Settlement Conference Program from 2018-2023. In this role, he oversaw a diverse range of civil cases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a vital role in implementing remote capabilities, enhancing access and convenience for litigants. Judge Sinanian’s dedication to fostering cooperative relationships with attorneys led to a successful transition from in-person mediations to remote mediations. Judge Sinanian was also a founding member of the LA Resolve remote attorney mediation program and Chairperson of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s ADR committee.​

Before his involvement with the Los Angeles Superior Court’s Mandatory Settlement Conference Program, Judge Sinanian presided over jury and bench trials. Prior to his appointment to the superior court, he served 13 years as a deputy attorney general within the Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice. He also took a sabbatical to help establish Armenia’s Foreign Ministry and served as the minister’s counselor, attending diplomatic conferences and providing expertise in international treaties and constitutional rights. ​

​Judge Sinanian has mediated and settled disputes, among other areas, class actions, PAGA/wage & hour, asbestos personal injury, negligence, products liability, construction defects, insurance coverage/subrogation, insurance bad faith, personal and catastrophic injury, eminent domain/inverse condemnation, mass torts, premises liability, employment, discrimination, sex harassment, legal/medical/professional malpractice, business torts, civil rights, commercial, toxic torts/environmental, Proposition 65, fire damage, traumatic brain injury, entertainment/sports, wrongful death, claims against government entities, wrongful termination, real estate, fraud, partnership, trade secrets, right of publicity, elder abuse, unfair business practices, cannabis, misappropriation, shareholder derivative, whistleblower, lemon law, motor vehicle injury, property disputes, intellectual property, real estate transactions, defamation, church and corporate governance, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual abuse, business/commericial, complex/multi-district disputes and breach of contract.