About Perspective ADR: Experienced Professional Mediator
Meet Aaron Wais
Aaron Wais is a seasoned attorney with a career spanning over two decades and marked by significant achievements in the realms of intellectual property, entertainment, employment, consumer class actions, and commercial business litigation. His tenure at prominent law firms, including Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp and Lathrop GPM, saw him representing a wide range of clients—from early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies to high-profile clients like James Cameron and Katy Perry—and at all stages of litigation, including through trial. And as the Senior Vice President and Head of Global Litigation for the Motion Picture Association, Aaron spearheaded complex legal strategies and litigation to protect the interests of the major studios in film, television, streaming, and live sports.
Read Aaron’s CV for a Deeper Look at his Professional Experience
Aaron’s career has allowed him to analyze, develop, and implement strategies for litigating and resolving complex legal issues from multiple viewpoints—as outside counsel, in-house counsel, and as a consensus builder for an industry. Regardless of his role, his approach to the practice of law has always been characterized by diplomacy, empathy, pragmatism, and the ability to listen and communicate. Antagonism was left for those instances in which it was needed.
Moreover, at all stops in his career, Aaron believed in the value of mentorship and coaching. Whether new associates learning the ropes, more experienced associates working to make the leap to partner, new partners navigating the challenges of being a partner, or junior in-house counsel trying to build their skills and experience, Aaron patiently listened and gave advice that allowed his colleagues to advance their careers, while still remaining authentic to themselves.
These traits serve him well in his personal life; as a husband and father of three wonderful—albeit strong-willed—daughters, Aaron has had to mediate his fair share of disputes at home and help guide his children in their growth as individuals.
On a more personal level, Aaron’s family has lived in Culver City, California for over a decade and share their home with a rescue dog and two rescue cats. When not working, he maintains an active lifestyle through tennis, running, cycling, and Training Mate sessions, which are necessary to support his continual tour of the breweries and smash burger joints in the Los Angeles area. He is an LAFC season ticket holder, as well as a long-suffering Miami Dolphins fan and longer-suffering Detroit Lions fan.
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“I always recognized that my style was not that of the stereotypical litigator. I was levelheaded, diplomatic, and sought to foster good working relationships, even with opposing counsel. I think those I litigated against would describe me as someone who was tough but fair and capable of seeing the human side of disputes. My personal growth led me to the realization that my diplomacy, practicality, and empathy are best suited for resolving disputes and guiding careers. My experience in doing so has only reinforced this conclusion.”
— Aaron Wais, Founder of Perspective ADR
