Hon. Read Ambler (Ret.) has been a full time neutral with JAMS since 2000 and has successfully resolved hundreds of cases. He is a highly regarded mediator, arbitrator, private judge, discovery referee, and special master. He has extensive experience in resolving business and commercial disputes, employment cases, intellectual property matters, and real property disputes. Judge Ambler has been consistently recognized by San Jose Magazine as one of the top mediators in Silicon Valley.
Judge Ambler is highly respected for his legal knowledge, temperament, and ability to handle a diverse variety of case types. As a special master, courts and clients have confidence in his ability to manage discovery in complex cases. As a mediator, he is known for his ability to listen, analyze, and effectively communicate to reach an amicable resolution. As an arbitrator, he is praised for using technology and a strong managerial style to make the process more efficient, and for his fairness and willingness to make tough, well-reasoned decisions.
Prior to becoming a neutral, Judge Ambler was Presiding Judge of the Santa Clara Superior Court and managed both the civil and criminal trial calendars and also served as sole Civil Master Settlement Conference Judge. As Civil Division Supervising Judge, he handled settlement, case management, and civil law and motion in thousands of cases, including intellectual property and other trade secret, employment, discrimination, commercial, medical and legal malpractice, personal injury, fraud, and other disputes. He also had extensive trial experience as an attorney before his appointment to the bench.
Representative Matters
- Trade secret claims by alleged inventor of patented coronary stent technology
- Breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims by limited partner against general partners of hedge funds following massive losses in April 2000 NASDAQ plunge
- Breach of contract dispute between major internet service provider and one of the world’s largest secure global data communications networks
- Misappropriation of trade secret, breach of contract, and related claims arising from license of French company by California corporation to use proprietary technology to provide wafer backgrinding and polishing services to European silicon wafer manufacturers
- Commercial and residential real estate matters, including: lease disputes, purchase and sales disputes, and brokerage or mortgage fraud claims
- Chair of arbitration panel in contractual dispute between two Fortune 500 companies
- Wrongful death claim arising from alleged failure to advise patient of proper dosages of chemotherapeutic drugs
- Wrongful termination, racial and age discrimination, and sexual harassment cases
- Breach of fiduciary duty and other claims against trustee of substantial family trust