Hon. Sheila Prell Sonenshine (Ret.)

Hon. Sheila Prell Sonenshine (Ret.) has over 50 years of legal and business experience, including 13 years as a full-time neutral with JAMS. She has been recognized by The American Bar Association, State Bar of California, Orange County Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association Appellate Law Section and the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers for her major family law accomplishments.

She is a sought-after mediator, arbitrator, judge pro tem, and neutral evaluator in a broad range of practice areas including business and commercial, family law, employment, real estate, probate and trusts, professional malpractice and appellate disputes.

Justice Sonenshine served on the Orange County Superior Court, where she was the Presiding Judge of the Family Law Panel. One of the original four justices appointed to the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three, she heard thousands of cases and published a multitude of significant opinions. Justice Sonenshine resolved hundreds of cases at appellate settlement conferences, pursuant to the state's first mandatory appellate settlement conference program she inaugurated.

She has dealt with family law issues from the ordinary to the unique and complex. Justice Sonenshine's trial and appellate experience, knowledge of the law, business acumen and practical approach make her the ideal person to assist in the determination of these cases.