West Coast Mediations

Kathy Fragnoli, Esq.

President & Founder

Kathy Fragnoli has been a full-time neutral since 1994. She provides ADR services nationwide, and has offices in San Diego and Dallas. Kathy is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Boston College and graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law. She attended the Harvard Law School negotiations program in 1995. Kathy was a senior attorney for American Airlines for 12 years and prior to that a Public Defender. She worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas, Arlington, teaching graduate level employment and labor law classes. She has conducted over 2,700 employment-related mediations and trained over 2,000 students in ADR. Kathy has served under contract with the Pentagon to mediate high profile cases for the Air Force and regularly trains their JAG officers in ADR and interest based negotiation skills. She is often asked to act as a facilitator by organizations experiencing internal discord.

In 2022, Kathy was a candidate for Congress, representing the Dallas /Ft Worth area in the House of Representatives.  The Dallas Morning News described her as having a “skillset which could certainly be helpful on a polarized Capitol Hill”.

Kathy was admitted to the National Academy of Arbitrators in 2010 and arbitrates labor cases nationwide. She has served on several permanent panels including the Houston Police Officer’s Association, Southwest Airlines, the US Postal Service and the State of Alaska.

Ms. Fragnoli is one of 23 mediators in the nation profiled in ADR Personalities and Tips published by the American Bar Association and is the author of Creating Peace at Work: When Work Isn’t Working. Her new book What to Say, How to Say It: How Not to Screw Up Life’s Uncomfortable Conversations will be published next year.

Kathy is president and founder of The Resolution Group, a woman-owned business specializing in ADR training.

Vera Johnson

Manager of Administration

Vera Johnson has worked with Kathy for over 30 years, which includes several years at American Airlines. She has managed all administration for the company including over $3,000,000 in federal mediation contracts.

Defense lawyer in a Title VII case

“Kathy challenges both sides to see the weaknesses and flaws in their cases and encourages them to adjust their settlement expectations.”

Adjuster with Zurich North America

“Kathy did a wonderful job and was able to position the file for settlement. I was very surprised the case settled and believe the adverse party was surprised they settled too.”

San Diego Plaintiff’s lawyer

“Kathy is always superlative in every respect.”

San Diego Plaintiff’s lawyer in sexual harassment case

“Kathy connected well with my clients. They felt confident in her judgment and believed they could trust her.”

Dallas Defense lawyer

“Kathy Fragnoli is smart and tough.”

New York Defense Lawyer

“This mediation session and the process in general was the best that I’ve been involved with in my 16 years of practice. Kathy Fragnoli managed the issues, the egos, and the expectations of the parties in a masterful and professional manner. I would not hesitate to use her on any commercial matter given her expansive skill-set. Truly a diamond amongst a cache of flawed gems”

Dallas Plaintiff’s lawyer in a Title VII case

“Ms. Fragnoli is an exceptional mediator. She quickly developed a good grasp of the issues in our case and did an excellent job communicating hard facts to my client while maintaining empathy and understanding.”

Recent Clients: