Mediator • Arbitrator • Neutral
Pragmatic. Trusted. Effective.
Providing Alternative Dispute Resolution for Intellectual Property Disputes with Unique Experience and Perspective
Services
Mediation
Neutral Evaluation
Arbitration
Referee Services
After nearly three decades as a litigator, Stefani Shanberg founded Bend Mediation LLC, a boutique ADR practice dedicated to resolving IP disputes. Stefani provides mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, and referee services with the same tenacity, efficiency, practicality, and creativity that defined her years as outside counsel.
Stefani brings uncommon depth of experience and credibility to her work as a neutral. During her career as a litigator, she represented plaintiffs and defendants ranging from venture-backed start-ups to Fortune 5 corporations in hundreds of cases before federal courts, the ITC, and arbitral tribunals. Stefani has long been recognized as a leader in the IP bar, serving as President of the ITC Trial Lawyers Association, as a Lawyer Representative to the Northern District of California, and as a member of the Northern District’s Patent Rules Committee. She now channels her experience—including the lessons and frustrations of high-stakes litigation—into helping parties identify strategic, business-oriented paths to resolution.
Stefani has mediated competitor patent cases, patent cases involving non-practicing entities, and disputes involving trademarks, copyrights, unfair competition, and trade secrets. Stefani completed formal training with the Northern District of California’s ADR Unit and regularly engages in advanced mediation training. She serves as both a court-appointed and privately retained neutral in significant IP disputes.
Approach
As a longtime consumer and provider of ADR services, Stefani understands what moves the needle in settlement discussions and what frustrates counsel and clients. As your neutral, she promises not to waste your time. She provides substantive engagement, deep preparation, and a disciplined focus on progress. Stefani earns trust and builds rapport to facilitate meaningful dialogue. Parties can be assured that working with her will—at a minimum—provide a clear-eyed understanding of their options and the risks and benefits of continued litigation.
Every case and client is unique; there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Stefani brings a proposed structure and strategy built from experience—a framework that consistently works—while tailoring each mediation to the personalities, issues, and goals involved. She works closely with counsel before the session to shape the most effective process, holding joint pre-session conferences and following up individually to understand the facts, interests, and underlying dynamics influencing resolution.
Stefani’s decades litigating complex IP disputes in federal courts and at the ITC, including matters involving standard essential patents and FRAND issues, give her rare subject-matter depth among neutrals. She knows the law, the practical realities of litigation, and what truly matters to clients. When appropriate, she will engage substantively on the merits and the risks and benefits of continued litigation.
Stefani brings pragmatism and discipline to the process. She knows posturing when she sees it and will not let the mediation day waste away or become an endurance contest. Stefani is mindful of the interests of all stake holders, including principles, attorneys, and insurance carriers. She will start difficult conversations early, often long before the actual mediation session, and remain focused on key issues to provide an efficient process.
Stefani works hard to understand each client’s goals and to craft strategic, creative, and pragmatic deals that let them return to their business priorities. She understands the toll of protracted litigation because she has lived it. She is committed to helping parties find business-oriented resolutions that make sense for everyone involved.
Every case and client is unique; there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach. Stefani brings a proposed structure and strategy built from experience—a framework that consistently works—while tailoring each mediation to the personalities, issues, and goals involved. She works closely with counsel before the session to shape the most effective process, holding joint pre-session conferences and following up individually to understand the facts, interests, and underlying dynamics influencing resolution.
Mediation Experience
Stefani has mediated matters pending in federal, state, and appellate courts; before the ITC and PTAB; and in foreign jurisdictions. She has also served as a neutral evaluator in the Northern District of California’s ADR program. Her matters have ranged across patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and technology-related commercial litigation. Representative examples of cases Stefani has resolved as a neutral include:
Patent
Serial litigation relating to allegations defendant willfully infringed plaintiff's patents involving diagnostic test.
Life Sciences Patent
Long-running competitor case relating to a life sciences patent after neutral evaluation followed by mediation and finally a mediator's proposal.
Trademark
Trademark case in wine industry involving label modification agreement.
Patent & Unfair Competition
Patent and unfair competition litigation between competitors in casino technology industry.
Copyright & DMCA
Copyright case between artist and online platform regarding DMCA compliance.
Trademark
Trademark case relating to dietary and nutritional supplements.
Trademark
Trademark case relating to military shelter systems involving multi-national competitors.
Complex IP Dispute
Competitor case involving claims of patent infringement, trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising relating to recycling systems.
Patent & Trade Secrets
Patent case with trade secret misappropriation counterclaims pending in multiple jurisdictions, including at the appellate level.
ADR clients commend Stefani as an “excellent mediator” who combines careful preparation with deep listening, practical insight, and steady guidance. Clients appreciate that she “works very hard and creatively tries to find common ground.“ They praise her ability to build trust, apply appropriate pressure, and keep even the most difficult discussions productive. As one client put it, she “was able to bridge a very difficult gap between the parties“ and “place the appropriate amount of pressure on both sides to keep both sides engaged throughout the session and then ultimately reach a resolution.” Counsel have also complimented Stefani by returning to her for multiple engagements.
Awards and Recognition
brilliant and tough
very creative
very practical
a thorough leader
sees the big picture in ways that some other attorneys don't
whip-smart and aggressive when she needs to be
- Ranked by Chambers USA in International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337) (2021–2025) and California: Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation (2022–2025)
- Ranked by Chambers Global in International Trade: Intellectual Property (Section 337) (2025)
- Recognized by the Daily Journal as one of the Top Intellectual Property Lawyers in California (2011–2025), Top Women Lawyers (2013–2019), and Top 20 Under 40 (2011)
- Recognized by The Recorder as among Women Leaders in Tech Law (2014–2017)
- Recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as 40 Under 40 (2015)
- Recognized as an IP Star by Managing IP (2013–2023) and Top 250 Women in IP (2013–2019)
- Recognized in Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000 (2022)
- Recognized by Legal 500 US as a Leading Lawyer for Patent Litigation: ITC (2022)
Professional Background and Education
Law Firms
- Perkins Coie LLP – Partner (2022–2025, 2005–2007); Associate (2001–2004)
- Morrison & Foerster LLP – Partner (2017–2022)
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati – Partner (2007–2017); Associate (2000–2001)
- Cox & Smith LLP (San Antonio, TX) – Associate and Summer Associate (1997–1999)
Bar Admissions
- California
- Oregon (Inactive)
- Texas (Inactive)
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, J.D.
- The University of Texas at Austin, B.A.
Contact and Scheduling
Bend Mediation LLC is based in San Francisco, California and Bend, Oregon. Stefani is available to mediate matters nationwide—in person, virtually (via Zoom), or in a hybrid format. For inquiries regarding scheduling and fees, please email .