San Francisco – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.) has been honored with the award for Outstanding Contribution in the Field of Mediation by The Mediation Society. The award was presented at the organization’s annual event, which also celebrated the introduction of the 2025 cohort of Weinstein JAMS International Fellows, on Sept. 18.
The award honors a Northern California dispute resolution professional for their outstanding contributions to the field of mediation of commercial disputes and civil litigation.
“Judge Westerfield has been a true pioneer in the field of mediation and a dedicated supporter of the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program. She has advanced mediation both nationally and internationally and inspired the next generation of leaders in dispute resolution. We extend our congratulations to her on this honor.”Kimberly Taylor, JAMS CEO and president
Judge Westerfield has been a neutral with JAMS since 1992, following her service on the Kentucky bench. She has mediated and arbitrated thousands of cases across the United States, including complex, multiparty and cross-border disputes. Her experience spans business dissolutions, catastrophic personal injury cases, family estate matters and disputes involving significant insurance coverage. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, Silicon Valley entities and multinational corporations, and is regularly recognized by Chambers USA as a leading mediator.
Known for her tenacity and ability to manage high-stakes matters with cross-cultural dynamics and strong emotions, Judge Westerfield brings both rigor and compassion to her work. She has presented internationally in Asia, Europe and Latin America; has taught at UC Berkeley School of Law and Stanford Law School; and has been deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of dispute resolution leaders through the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program.
More information on The Mediation Society can be found here.
About JAMS – The Way Forward
JAMS is the world’s largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, handling more than 21,000 cases annually. With nearly 500 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS delivers efficient, cost-effective and impartial solutions for business and legal disputes at any stage of conflict. Since its founding in 1979, its distinguished panel has included retired federal and state court judges, former litigators, transactional attorneys and other ADR professionals with deep industry and practice area experience. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services to provide a seamless experience through concierge-level client care, highly skilled case managers and advanced technology.
Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways provides organizations with early conflict resolution, facilitation and training, helping teams prevent disputes before they escalate.
With a legacy of trust and innovation, JAMS helps parties find the way forward so they can focus on what matters most. Learn more at www.jamsadr.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and the JAMS ADR blog.