SAN DIEGO EMPLOYMENT LAW MEDIATOR
About Corey Hanrahan
When attorneys choose a mediator for an employment dispute, they are not just selecting a neutral, they are choosing a partner whose background, instincts, and judgment will shape the outcome. As a top San Diego employment law mediator, Corey Hanrahan brings something rare to that role: nearly two decades of hands-on California employment litigation experience, formal mediation training, and a deep commitment to the people on both sides of the table.
Less Pressure. Better Results.
Hear directly from Corey why his approach to employment mediation is different, and why de-escalation, not pressure, is what gets workplace disputes resolved.
Recognition
2021 – 2026 Super Lawyers, San Diego, Plaintiff’s Employment Litigation • 2016 – 2018 Super Lawyers Rising Star, San Diego, Plaintiff’s Employment Litigation
Education
California Western School of Law, Juris Doctor • University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Mediation Training
Mediating the Litigated Case, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution
Professional Associations
California State Bar Association • American Bar Association • Federal Bar Association • San Diego County Bar Association • Consumer Attorneys of California • Consumer Attorneys of San Diego • Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles • California Employment Lawyers Association
Court Affiliations
United States District Court Central District of California Mediation Panel • Los Angeles Superior Court Mediation Volunteer Panel (MVP) • Resolve Law Los Angeles (these affiliations do not imply any judicial endorsement)
From the Courtroom to the Mediation Table
Corey’s path to mediation was built entirely through employment law. After earning his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego, he began his legal career in 2008 at one of San Diego’s top employment law firms, where he focused exclusively on plaintiff-side employment litigation. In 2014, he founded The Hanrahan Firm, his own employment-focused practice, where he continued to represent employees in cases involving wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower claims, wage and hour violations, and more.
That litigation background is what makes Corey a fundamentally different kind of mediator. He has taken cases to trial. He understands how employment claims are valued, how juries respond, and what discovery and trial preparation actually cost. He knows how plaintiff’s attorneys think about damages and risk, and how defense counsel approaches exposure and resolution. When Corey sits across from the parties at the mediation table, he is not learning employment law from their briefs, he is applying years of firsthand knowledge to help them reach a faster, better resolution.
Corey's Unique Approach to Mediation
What truly sets Corey apart as an employment law mediator is his commitment to de-escalation, an approach that runs counter to the pressure-driven tactics many mediators rely on. In high-conflict employment disputes, the instinct is often to push harder, move faster, and force a number. Corey believes that instinct is wrong, and it is the lazy way to get disputes resolved. Pressure may produce movement in the moment, but it rarely produces closure. When parties feel cornered, they dig in. When they feel heard, they settle.
Corey’s de-escalation philosophy means slowing down at precisely the moments when others speed up. Rather than forcing positions, he works to lower emotional intensity, restore perspective, and help each party regain a sense of control over their own outcome. This approach is not passive, it requires skill, patience, and a sophisticated read of the room. It means knowing when to challenge, when to listen, and when to simply let a moment breathe. The result is settlements that hold, because the parties reached them on their own terms rather than under duress.
Ready to Schedule Your Mediation?
If you are an attorney or party involved in a California employment dispute, employment law mediator Corey Hanrahan is ready to help you find resolution. With deep expertise across the full spectrum of employment claims, formal mediation training from Pepperdine’s Strauss Institute, and a proven de-escalation approach, Corey brings everything you need to the table, except the pressure.
Call (619) 910-1200, use the online booking system, or email us at [email protected] to schedule your mediation today.