Our Neutrals
Mark Hammes
Founder & Neutral | Early Neutral Resolutions
Mark Hammes is a founder of Early Neutral Resolutions and brings to mediation the perspective of both outside counsel and in-house decision-maker. Mark began his career at a large law firm advising clients on corporate law, commercial transactions and disputes, and other matters. He later served as corporate counsel to a publicly traded company, where he worked closely with executives and business leaders on high-impact legal and operational issues.
This dual experience enables Mark to see disputes through legal, strategic, and practical lenses. He understands how parties assess risk, manage uncertainty, and make settlement decisions in the real world. Known for his sound judgment and ability to grasp complex issues quickly, Mark helps parties move beyond entrenched positions to identify practical, forward-looking solutions.
Mark has a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. He holds a B.S. in Managerial Economics from UC Davis.
Rafael Tumanyan
Founder & Neutral | Early Neutral Resolutions
Rafael N. Tumanyan is a founder of Early Neutral Resolutions and an experienced attorney who has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in employment and consumer actions throughout his career. This dual perspective gives Rafael a practical understanding of how cases are actually valued, litigated, and resolved. He has worked closely with individuals, businesses, and institutional clients, and understands the strategic, economic, and human considerations that drive settlement decisions. Having evaluated disputes from both sides, he brings a balanced, credible voice to the mediation process and is able to quickly identify risk, cut through posturing, and focus parties on fair and realistic outcomes.
Rafael has a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. He holds a B.A. from UCLA.