Profile photo of Hon. Dean D. Pregerson (Ret.)

Hon. Dean D. Pregerson (Ret.)

Arbitrator Mediator Special Master
Los Angeles, CA, United States

About

Following a 27-year tenure on the United States District Court for the Central District of California, this neutral entered private practice to serve as a mediator, arbitrator, and special master. His judicial career involved presiding over thousands of cases across diverse legal sectors, including complex multidistrict litigation and high-profile civil rights matters. Before his appointment to the federal bench by President Clinton in 1996, he spent 17 years in private practice handling significant business litigation and served as a parole commissioner and deputy city attorney.

Practice Areas

Business & Commercial Civil Litigation Civil Rights Corporate & Finance Employment & Labor Energy & Environment Entertainment & Media Government & Administrative Healthcare & Life Sciences Insurance Intellectual Property Personal Injury & Torts Real Estate & Property Technology & Cyber

Professional Experience

Neutral
JAMS (Present)
Judge
United States District Court
Central District of California
Partner
1996–2023
Pregerson
Richman & Luna
Member
1989–1996
U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Defender Services
Member
1998–2004
Los Angeles City Police Commission
President
1994–1996
Los Angeles City Recreation and Parks Commission
Member
1989–1994
California State Board of Correction
Member
1993–1996
Los Angeles County Mental Health Advisory Board
1988–1992
Hearing Officer
Los Angeles County Police Commission
Partner
1988–1994
Wasserman
Comden & Casselman
1985–1989
Sole Practitioner
1981–1985
Assistant Public Defender
Guam (1981)
Associate
Betts
Patterson & Mines
1979–1980
Deputy City Attorney
Los Angeles City Attorney's Office
1978–1979

Publications Leadership

  • Keynote Speaker, MABA 63rd Annual Installation of Officers and Awards Gala (2023)
  • Speaker, 'The Future of Civil Rights Litigation,' Federal Bar Association Symposium
  • Author, various judicial opinions regarding the First Amendment and Intellectual Property
  • Leadership Role, U.S. Judicial Conference Committee on Defender Services

Positioning Takeaways

A highly experienced former federal judge suitable for high-stakes mediation and complex arbitration in California and nationally.

License & Certifications

  • State Bar of California
  • Admitted to practice in Washington State (inactive)

Education

J.D.
University of California, Davis School of Law
1976
B.A.
University of California, Los Angeles
1972

Distinction

Appointed by President Bill Clinton, he served nearly three decades as a federal judge and was recognized by the Los Angeles County Bar Association as the 2023 Outstanding Jurist.

Reputation

He is widely regarded by legal professionals for his deep intellectual engagement with complex legal issues and his fair, balanced temperament during high-stakes litigation. Peers frequently note his ability to manage intricate class actions and sensitive civil rights cases with exceptional judicial skill.