Hon. Read Ambler (Ret.) has successfully resolved hundreds of cases as a full-time JAMS neutral since March 2000 serving as a mediator, arbitrator, private judge, discovery referee, or special master. He has extensive experience in resolving business and commercial, employment, intellectual property, and real property cases. Judge Ambler is recognized by
San Jose Magazine as one of the top mediators in Silicon Valley. He is a member of the JAMS Board of Directors and serves on the JAMS National Arbitration Committee.
As Presiding Judge of the Santa Clara Superior Court, Judge Ambler 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.
As a neutral, Judge Ambler is well known for his ability to adjust easily to handling discovery disputes, mediations, and arbitrations - assignments that require different skills.
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