I wish I could get divorced all over again just to do it with Alice. A really great mediator and I will definitely be sending her my co-founder disputes in the future. She helped me mediate skillfully with my co-parent. Highly recommended. read more

Alice Shikina is a mediator with incredible professionalism and knowledge in the mediation process. Divorce is hard. Getting to a settlement agreement is even harder! Alice was very perceptive which helped us avoid direct conflict and stay focused on a settlement. When she perceived tension, Alice was able to use her process of breakout rooms to let us individually voice our positions with her and then she would go back and forth with us when discussions all together were not working. She was successful in achieving our goal on agreeing on a settlement that we both could work with despite the animosity we initially felt about what we each wanted. We were able to do this in only two sessions- such a relief! She also helped us avoid the exorbitant cost, time and stress we would have experienced if we had to go through a court process. I highly recommend her as a mediator. Thank you Alice! read more

My husband and I used Alice for our mediation and she really helped make a difficult situation much easier to navigate. She was very knowledgeable and I'd recommend her to anyone needing these services. read more

Alice is a really skilled mediator...just the right amount of support, facilitation, interaction/stepping in as needed. Her approach is trauma-informed and she's very good at applying that lens to interactions. read more

Alice is professional and direct. She is clear, communicative and responsive. She skilled at seeing people through high conflict points with collaboration in mind. I sought mediation with Alice with my kids' coparent after it became clear that therapy was no longer the best option. We needed a swift solution that kept emotional processing out of the equation. We were hesitant to choose mediation due to the increased cost, but the effective nature of the meeting combined with Alice's compassionate ground rules and concise guidance made finding a solution surprisingly easy and fast. We entered our first meeting with Alice feeling like we couldn't communicate or compromise and left with a solution, a signed agreement, a plan for the future AND feeling like we both won. I highly recommend Alice Shikina and will definitely be using her mediation services again. read more

Alice Shikina is highly skilled at getting people out of conflict. She works with couples who are separating/divorcing, families, landlord/tenant and corporate disputes. She is energetic and has a solid protocol and philosophy to help parties reach agreement through contentious and emotionally charged disagreements. She is a pleasure to work with. Her website also has great resources, including a "Design Your Own Divorce" course. Thank you Alice, you have been a valued resource and trusted partner to me professionally! read more

Can I just say, "Wow!" My partner and I were struggling big-time with communication issues and I had never thought of a Communication Coach until... I found out that Alice Shikina offers this service for a very reasonable fee. Therapy? Uhhhh..... Communication Coaching? Bingo! Sooooo much more effective. The meeting was super easy to schedule via Zoom - even weekend and evening slots were available. Alice offered many guidelines and suggestions, sometimes giving real-life, personal examples which are always more powerful and relatable. Alice's style is upbeat, sunny and optimistic, yet realistic and practical. I highly recommend Alice's Communication Coaching for both personal and business purposes. read more

Shikina Mediation and Arbitration - There is nothing more critical for personal and business success than effective communication! - Mediators Near Me - Oakland, California

I started out with Alice taking private sessions years ago for learning techniques for parenting and dealing with family matters. She encouraged me to enroll into one of her negotiation courses and I am so greatful that I did, just I wish I did it 10 years sooner. Taking her course has opened a whole new world for me not only for parenting and difficult situations, but in life itself. It has build my confidence having the know-how and the tools to deal with all situations. From dealing with employees to getting to the bottom of being over charge for medical expenses! There is nothing better than the feeling of being in a difficult conversation or dealing with a difficult person etc....and knowing that you have the Confidence and know how to handle it. You will always have your negotiation tool bag in your head that you can open up at any time and pull from it. I truly encourage anyone reading this To take her course in negotiation skill's and see the life change Possibilities It could bring for you. read more

Alice is fantastic, capable, supportive, gentle and highly skilled! I'm in a situation where the other party is unwilling to engage a mediator so I consulted with Alice for negotiation. She took the time to hear the ins and outs of what I am dealing with then provided me with actionable insight into how to handle the matter. She followed up with an easy to understand outline of the conversation and reviewed my materials before sending them to the other party. On top of that, she really cares! She has followed up with me along the way to see how the process is going and if there is resolution. I'm so grateful to have a sound voice helping me navigate something that is very emotional. read more

I had the pleasure to work with Alice twice during tense family court proceedings involving child custody. Alice made sure to get a clear sense of the situation, train me on what the goals of mediation actually are, while encouraging me to work with my former partner to get the best outcome for our child. Her ability to pull from you exactly what you want vs what you think you need and what is actually realistic is AMAZING. I got so much further and way faster than I would have without her coaching. Alice kept me focused on understanding the importance of preparing different scenarios/offers, and staying present during mediation, listening to your body if you get nervous or conflict begins to arise. Alice anticipated (almost verbatim) the negative reaction I initially received from my former partner during the first round of proceedings which helped me stay focused and confident. Her guidance helped me set the tone and keep conflict to a minimum. I felt fully prepared. I absolutely recommend working with and learning from Alice Shikina! read more

We were in a really tough spot as a couple. Alice helped us calm down and reorient around what was important to us, got us to agree on what was important, and make a Memorandum of Understanding so we can be better parents to our son. If you're struggling as a couple, and need help with mediation, don't be afraid to call Allice. She's great. read more

I found Alice Shikina because of her excellent reviews online, and now I'm happy (and relieved!) to be able to add my own to the mix. Alice was able to meet with my home co-ownership trio one time, and send us home with a clear agreement that we all felt okay about.  The first thing that stuck out to me, working with Alice, was her familiarity and comfort with difficult negotiations. One of the hardest things about being stuck in a hard conflict is it's unfamiliar. So talking to someone who deals with these situations every day made an instant impact on the vibe. Resolution seemed impossible to us who'd never negotiated something like this before, but Alice acted like resolution really wasn't far away, and she seemed to know a clear process that should help us get there. In my particular situation, all three parties are close friends, and there were a bunch of misunderstandings and hurt feelings making everything more difficult. Alice is really good at making room for whatever folks are feeling, but also fostering simplicity and forward motion. Everyone feels heard, and things don't get muddy. Terms are clear and explicit, and Alice thinks ahead to clarify all the tiny unexpected details in advance. TL:DR Very fair rate, total veteran and pro, good with lots of personality types. read more

I found her unhelpful, antagonistic & biased. Her interactions were clearly not designed for resolution. It was overpriced and unreasonable. I'm a trained mediator myself & found classic errors in her management of strong emotion. Find someone else to help you. Alice is undertrained or burned out. She simply can't meet the obligations of her role. read more

Didn't know what I was getting into but I'm very happy. Alice is a Miracle worker.... with a very fair price ....5's

Going into Alice's negotiation class, I had expected to gain some negotiation skills for me to practice in my agency. Taking her course has taught me so much about communication in general. I've gained great tools and strategies to help be a more effective listener and a better communicator. I would highly recommend her course! Thanks Alice! read more

I had the pleasure of participating in Alice's negotiation workshop last fall. I consider myself an "educated" negotiator, in the sense that I've read lots and lots of books on the topic, as well as listened to various podcasts on negotiation and influence. Alice's workshop focuses on the emotional side of bargaining and mediation, and thrusts its participants into roleplays that heighten emotions. More importantly, before engaging in these roleplays Alice teaches specific techniques that can be used to regulate your own emotions and de-escalate the emotions of others. These are then practiced under her guidance. This "hands on" approach to training is exactly what I needed to move from being an educated negotiator to a skilled, prudent negotiator. Thanks Alice! read more

I took Alice's negotiating class to learn some of the techniques professional negotiators use. It paid immediate dividends. Seemingly ordinary interactions, when viewed as a negotiation, result in better outcomes. For instance the conversation with a hotel clerk that wanted my entire family to return to the lobby to get wristbands for the pool, because it was policy for him not to give them to me, but to put them on himself. I got the wristbands. But given higher stakes, these techniques and tools really show their power. Alice guided me, using what I had learned along with a little coaching, in a negotiation with a prospective employee. This person had turned down our job offer to take a higher paid position elsewhere. Rather than wish them luck, which was my first instinct since we could not match salary, Alice coached me into getting a follow up meeting. Then I used my new skills to give non monetary concessions and come to a compromise that the employee and I were both excited about. She started last week. This is just a sampling, but suffice it say that the class I took has already paid for itself many times over, both in small interactions and larger negotiations. I'd recommend this class to anyone who regularly interacts with members of the public and colleagues at work, or finds themselves sometimes in uncomfortable conversations. In other words, everyone. read more

Alice blew my mind and empowered me to go after what I needed and wanted after only one call. I'm looking forward to joining her classes. I highly recommend Shikina Mediation and Arbitration. read more

One call. One hour. Alice worked with me to develop 5 negotiation options and simple strategies for a difficult situation, all of which provide a win-win, and will have a significant positive outcome for the futures of two people. She's thoughtful and straightforward. If you're looking for help to improve your negotiations, I highly recommend Alice. read more

Not responsive to email or phone. I was referred to her for very specific arbitration assistance. She stated she had no experience in the matter, but proceeded to list her rates for... advice? read more

Alice is an extremely experienced and accomplished professional mediator. She assists many of my clients as they negotiate their own divorce agreements, saving my clients loads of time and also loads of money. Alice can help you come to agreements about parenting, assets and debts, and income splitting in issues of divorce. If you think that you have an issue that cannot be resolved with mediation, think again, and call Alice to help you come to a resolution. read more

Alice had the perfect combination of listening and moving the negotiation along. I came into mediation not willing to budge and I was able to move off my position with relative ease. She has an upbeat presence and made everyone feel heard. read more

Alice Shikina was highly effective with an emotionally charged situation with which she saved the day. She came in as a neutral party to help the two people I referred transition from a true stalemate to a balanced and fair conversation that was actually productive. She guides parties to stay on track through difficult conversations. I will definitely be sending more her way. read more

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Mediations with Alice Shikina are very productive. Alice prepares herself by getting to know the facts and the reasons behind each person's claims. Most importantly Alice helps the parties reach the right decision, a settlement. read more

Alice has some incredible knowledge of PTSD and coping tools at her disposal! I am always amazed at her ability to actually hear what I'm saying and respond so gently and supportively. She isn't afraid of challenges or hard work, and she has always been responsive, engaging, and able to negotiate and present eloquently - she makes it look effortless, but again, always exceeds my expectations. read more

I've had the great pleasure of working with Alice on a non-profit board. We are on the membership committee together and all of the personal challenges in the nonprofit come to us. Time and time again I've been impressed by Alice's great skills and navigating difficult problems and conflicts. We have come to rely on her steady strengths and skills. When you have a conflict between people who you cannot fire think of Alice Shikina. read more

This was a small claims action between two siblings that concerned the death of their father. First off I was unaware Alameda County offers this service at the beginning of the hearing. There is no charge. If the matter settles great, if not, the parties can return and have their case heard. Obviously this was a very personal matter because it involved my sister and the terms of my father's will. To jump to the chase Alice took an explosive, volatile and personal matter and through her hard work and patience was able to resolve the matter. She also allows the parties to vent but will step in if things get out of hand. My only suggestion is that she not allow non-parties that are not parties to the action to remain in the mediation unless it is approved by all parties. I felt as if I was at a disadvantage as my sister's long term domestic partner was allowed to participate in the mediation. His opinion is biased and oftentimes I felt as though I were at a disadvantage. Admittedly part of that is on me and I should have put my foot down and told him to leave but I was thinking on raw emotion. I work for a law firm and my co-workers were surprised she allowed a non-party to sit in during the mediation. Thank you settling the matter Alice. read more

I engaged Alice to help with a very complicated and emotionally fraught mediation involving difficult legal questions and long-standing family enmity. She handled every person and every communication over several tense hours with calm, compassionate understanding and guidance. In the end, we walked away with an agreement everyone in the room felt good about and the clients on both sides of the table were able to avoid the expense and additional challenges of contentious litigation. read more

I was ready to book with another mediator, but my ex partner suggested we go with Alice Shikina whom he had met through his connections. I was skeptical at first and was concerned she may be biased. First time I spoke with her on phone I felt she knew exactly what I needed without much explanation. During mediation, she was fair and incredibly effective at keeping the discussions civil and productive as we worked out the best agreement. Alice is experienced and professional, most of all, she made both my ex and I feel at ease and comfortable discussing personal issues. read more

I had the pleasure to meet Alice and work with her since 2018, as she is a pro-bono mediator for the Superior Court of California, Alameda County. She is a very skilled mediator and was able to resolve many cases at the court. In numerous occasions, litigants would let me know how great of a job she did to help settle the conflict through mediation. Alice has a specific blend of empathy, authority and customer service, that is rarely found in the field of mediation. I was able to experience her efficacy in closing 98% of the cases assigned to her in court. read more

Alice is simply superb. Me and my wife reached out to Alice for mediation on a disagreement that we had. A disagreement we couldn't get past on our own. Alice listened, gave us feedback, and shared strategies that we are now practicing. Before connecting with Alice I was nervous of being judged or not fully understood, this was all alleviated when Alice began talking. I highly reccomend Alice. read more

Alice has been very helpful in guiding me through some challenges I was having with my ex, we were not officially divorced so we did not have a lot in writing and could not come to an agreement on a parenting schedule. Alice was so thoughtful and really helped me ask the right questions to find out what was motivating some of the decisions. She is balanced and makes sure both sides have an opportunity to be heard. Mediation really helped and saved us a lot in attorney fees. I hope we have resolved our challenges, but if other issues come up I won't hesitate to request Alices services. read more

I recently co-mediated a very difficult case with Alice. I was impressed with her sensitivity to both the emotional and professional issues that arose in the dispute and her intuitive knowledge that sometimes imediators should just step back and listen deeply. I look forward to working with her again. read more

I have attended Alice's mediation training course and want to recommend it to anyone who will use this skill in a high-stakes negotiation. Alice creates an immersive environment where you will gain knowledge and courage through experience. Practicing negotiation scenarios with her gives you the confidence to face the real world. Surrounded by peers, you will witness different perspectives and get instant and in-depth feedback! read more

Alice worked with me and got my issue, with an attorney who didn't want to pay me, resolved. I was comfortable that after Alice spoke to the attorney he would pay me and he did. Matter resolved and case dismissed. read more

Alice is a versatile mediator, and an outstanding listener. She pays attention to all of the details, which is critical to effective mediation. She's a delight to work with, and I recommend her highly. Her fees are very reasonable, and I would not hesitate to use her services again. read more

Having not going through a mediation before, I didn't know what to expect, but Alice was calm and fair on both sides, even allowing us to break into virtual rooms to discuss privately. Her mediation made it considerably more comforting and focused, which is definitely what both sides needed. Thanks for making a potentially combative situation into a better, calmer experience. And...she was able to get us to reach an agreement! read more

I recently co-mediated a landlord -tenant case with Alice and she was fabulous and I highly recommend her. She jumped right in with very little notice and got up to speed quickly with the nature of the conflict. During the mediation, Alice was present, engaged and very artful in helping the parties communicate effectively and we reached an written agreement. I look forward to working with Alice again. read more

Alice helped my fiancé get through a difficult conversation when we not able to able to work out an emotionally challenging time. It was worth every penny to use her services. read more

Alice made the difference in reaching an agreement in the most challenging situation in my life. She was instrumental in the negotiations which were emotionally charged. She listened carefully and she did not show any impartiality or favor to one side. Alice was also very accommodating on time and place of meeting times. I would definitely recommend her, and would not hesitate to use her services again. She's a nice person as well. read more