Judge Vedica Puri (Ret.) brings distinct energy, rigor, and clarity to complex civil disputes. Over the course of a legal career spanning more than three decades, she has served as a trial lawyer, a partner in private practice, and a San Francisco Superior Court judge—experience that places her among the few neutrals who have sat in every seat that matters when cases are evaluated, tried, and resolved. In this episode of Masters of Dispute Resolution, Vedica Puri shares the story of a family torn apart in a dispute over business matters, unable to overcome the considerable cultural and generational impediments standing in their way to resolution without her impressive insights, trust-building, and mediation skills. She knew when to push, when to pull back, and how to handle roadblocks without losing momentum. Listen to a fascinating story, while acquiring information you can use to more effectively mediate, regardless of your role in the mediation process.
Before her judicial appointment, Judge Puri built a formidable litigation and trial practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes matters, with particular depth in insurance coverage and bad faith disputes. She tried dozens of jury and bench trials across a wide range of civil disciplines, gaining first-hand insight into how cases actually unfold in the courtroom—and how juries truly respond to evidence, credibility, and risk. That trial grounding continues to define her work as a neutral.
In 2019, Governor Jerry Brown appointed Judge Puri to the San Francisco Superior Court, where she presided over civil trials, mandatory settlement conferences, law and motion, and probate matters. She was also a member of the court’s Civil Settlement Panel, an assignment she regarded as one of the most meaningful of her judicial career. Known for her preparation, decisiveness, and ability to connect with litigants and counsel alike, Judge Puri developed a reputation for moving entrenched disputes toward resolution. She frequently stayed beyond court hours to continue working with parties, driven by the belief that effective settlement requires persistence, candor, and a clear understanding of both legal and human dynamics.
Throughout her time on the bench, Judge Puri was recognized as a creative and pragmatic problem solver, particularly when confronting novel issues and emotionally charged disputes. During the COVID era, she was selected to handle the first jury trial post-lockdown and became known for innovative decision-making that balanced constitutional rights, public safety, and courtroom realities—an approach that continues to inform her mediation style today. Her evaluations are grounded not in outdated assumptions, but in a clear-eyed understanding of post-COVID California jury psychology, evolving verdict trends, and real-world exposure.
As a mediator, she is particularly effective in settling complex and emotionally charged matters. Her high-intensity, hands-on style is paired with a calm, steady demeanor that keeps parties focused, grounded, and moving toward resolution. Consistent follow-up has helped many parties bridge impasse and reach agreement.
Clients and colleagues consistently describe Judge Puri as fair, perceptive, and decisive. She is frequently selected for disputes requiring credibility with insurers, seasoned trial counsel, and sophisticated decision-makers, as well as for matters involving layered factual records and significant exposure.
Judge Puri mediates and arbitrates cases involving insurance coverage and bad faith, business and contract disputes, employment matters, legal malpractice, personal injury, probate and trust disputes, and real property conflicts. Across all practice areas, her focus remains the same: disciplined evaluation, strategic problem-solving, and sustained engagement until resolution is achieved.
Judge Puri can be reached through her Case Manager, Kathleen Emma, at (415) 772-0900 or by email at [email protected].
