CAT·ADR
TRAUMA INFORMED. HUMAN CENTERED.
ADVANCING CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
ABOUT CAT ADR
Meet the people behind the process.
A trauma-informed, human-centered approach to conflict resolution, guided by neutrals who understand litigation from every side of the table.
OUR NEUTRALS
Experience from every side of the table, and a shared belief that the way a dispute is resolved matters.
01 · ATTORNEY & FOUNDER
Catherine McBain
EDUCATION
B.S., Industrial & Labor Relations, Cornell University
California Western School of Law
FOCUS
Trauma-informed lawyering, elder abuse, trust & estate, personal injury
ATTORNEY & FOUNDER
Catherine McBain
“To her, justice is priceless.”
Catherine grew up in a small town in Northern California where she distinguished herself early in academics and athletics. She studied Industrial and Labor Relations and earned a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University. While at Cornell, she competed as a Division I pole vaulter and worked to help pay for her education.
After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she gained diverse experience as a compensation and collective bargaining analyst at a prestigious consulting firm, a writer and reporter for the Daily Labor Report, a patent prosecution legal assistant at a premier intellectual property boutique, and an international immigration manager at one of the largest traveling entertainment companies in the world. Feeling ready for law school, Catherine moved to San Diego to attend California Western School of Law.
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Catherine has always been passionate about helping others, especially elders, and started her legal career at Elder Law and Advocacy as a clerk while in school. She held several other positions in law school and provided pro bono services to those in need. After law school, Catherine defended medical malpractice claims and went on to litigate business disputes. She then counseled the San Diego County Retirement Association and went on to litigate complex trust and estate, and elder abuse cases. After that, she joined a class action, mass tort, and personal injury firm where she found her stride representing those who have been gravely injured, abused, or harmed. She prides herself on knowing the ins and outs of qualified settlement funds and distributions, as well as the compromise procedures for minors and adults with disabilities. While Catherine has helped obtain millions for her clients, she prefers not to advertise results because to her justice is priceless. She practices trauma-informed lawyering and demands the world join her with this endeavor.
“Katie” is also deeply committed to giving back to her community, volunteering with several organizations and serving on the boards of multiple community and advocacy groups, reflecting her belief that justice is not just a profession, but a responsibility. It probably goes without saying she loves her cats and proudly supports animal rescues.
BEYOND THE PRACTICE
Running
Yoga
Reading
Surfing
Singing
Creating art
Cracking jokes
Family & friends
Live concerts
Cats & animal rescue
02 · MEDIATOR
Edward “Ed” Burns
EDUCATION
J.D., University of San Diego School of Law
B.S., California State University, Northridge
PRACTICE AREAS
Employment · Business · Sexual Abuse · Personal Injury · Construction · Trademarks
MEDIATION TRAINING
“Mediating the Litigated Case,” Strauss Institute, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Basic & advanced mediation certificates, Los Angeles County Bar Association
MEDIATOR
Edward “Ed” Burns
“Progress is not always about moving faster.”
Known for his affable personality, practical judgment, and ability to connect with people, Edward “Ed” Burns brings more than 25 years of litigation experience to his mediation practice. He opened his mediation practice in 2025 after a career representing individuals and businesses of all sizes in a wide range of civil disputes. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants and tried dozens of cases to verdict, Ed understands litigation from every side of the table, and the risks, pressures, and uncertainty that come with it.
For Ed, mediation is about more than reaching an agreement. It is about understanding the conflict, creating a process in which people can meaningfully participate, and reaching a resolution that works not only on the day of mediation, but afterward. He believes the way a dispute is resolved matters because the consequences of that resolution often extend well beyond the courtroom or mediation room.
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Ed brings a thoughtful, human-centered approach to that process. He listens for what is being said, what is not being said, and what may be standing in the way of resolution. His litigation experience allows him to identify the issues that truly drive a dispute, assess the realities and risks of continued litigation, and help parties have difficult conversations while keeping their larger objectives in view.
That approach is at the heart of Ed’s work with CAT ADR: creating a mediation process that is intentional, informed, and designed with what comes next in mind. Whether working with an individual plaintiff, a corporate executive, an insurance adjuster, or experienced litigation counsel, Ed brings preparation, candor, patience, and practical judgment to every mediation.
In 2024, Ed walked the 790-kilometer Camino de Santiago across Spain. The experience reinforced something he had learned throughout his career: progress is not always about moving faster. Sometimes it requires slowing down, gaining perspective, listening carefully, and finding a way forward. Ed returned from the Camino with a commitment to bring some of that perspective and peace to people navigating difficult conflicts.
Outside of his practice, Ed enjoys spending time with his wife, Pamela, and their two children, Patrick and Colleen. He is active in the Odd Fellows.
BEYOND THE PRACTICE
Overlanding
Hiking
Fishing
Skiing
Surfing
Camino de Santiago
03 · MEDIATOR
Amber Smith Crothall
EDUCATION
J.D., Santa Clara University School of Law
B.A., English, Santa Clara University
CREDENTIALS
Certified Mediator, National Conflict Resolution Center
Partner, Greenman, Lacy, Klein, Hinds, Weiser
FOCUS
Real estate, property and business disputes
MEDIATOR
Amber Smith Crothall
“Find common ground and facilitate settlement.”
Ms. Crothall is a certified mediator by the National Conflict Resolution Center, and Partner with Greenman, Lacy, Klein, Hinds, Weiser. As a mediator, Ms. Crothall strives to assist parties and their counsel to find common ground and facilitate settlement, and to work collaboratively and creatively to pursue resolution of disputes.
Ms. Crothall’s legal background and practice includes a wide variety of real estate and business matters. Since 2003, she has represented clients in property litigation and transaction matters, including residential and commercial real estate contracts, title matters, partitions, easements, neighbor and boundary disputes, breach of contract, negligence and fraud actions, and construction issues. She also works with clients in the areas of business entity formation and operations, including drafting of corporate contracts.
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Ms. Crothall is a native of Oceanside, CA. She received her B.A. in English from Santa Clara University, and her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. While in law school she worked as a judicial extern in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, for the Honorable Jeremy Fogel. She was also a Research Editor for the Santa Clara University Law Review, and a Public Interest and Social Justice Law Scholar. She worked with the firm Miller, Morton, Caillat & Nevis, LLP in San Jose, California specializing in construction and property law before joining Greenman, Lacy, Klein, Hinds, Weiser in 2009.
She is a member of the North County Bar Association, and served on the North County Bar Association Board of Directors from 2014-2016. She is also a Barrister with the Fiorenzo V. Lopardo American Inn of Court. She regularly volunteers in the Oceanside community, and is an attorney coach for Oceanside High School’s mock trial team.
IN THE COMMUNITY
North County Bar Association
NCBA Board, 2014–2016
Barrister, Fiorenzo V. Lopardo American Inn of Court
Oceanside community volunteer
Mock trial attorney coach
WHY CHOOSE CAT ADR
A process built for what comes next.
Resolution is not only about reaching an agreement. It is about how people are treated along the way, and whether the outcome still works long after everyone leaves the room.
01
Trauma-informed by design
Every step is built around emotional safety and dignity, so people can participate fully and be truly heard.
02
Every side of the table
Our neutrals have represented both plaintiffs and defendants, individuals and businesses, so they understand the pressures each side faces.
03
Formally trained neutrals
Training through the Strauss Institute at Pepperdine, the LA County Bar Association and the National Conflict Resolution Center.
04
Resolutions that last
We design for what comes next, so agreements keep working long after the mediation ends.
05
Candor and practical judgment
Honest assessment of risk and reality, delivered with patience and preparation.
06
Rooted in community
Based in Oceanside, with neutrals who serve on boards, volunteer locally and give back.
AREAS OF EXPERIENCE
Depth across the disputes that matter most.
Our neutrals have represented plaintiffs and defendants, individuals and businesses, giving every party a mediator who understands their side.
Employment
Workplace disputes, mediated by Ed Burns
Sexual Abuse
Handled with care, safety and dignity
Personal Injury & Mass Tort
Including qualified settlement funds and minor’s compromises
Elder Abuse
Protecting dignity for elders and families
Trust & Estate
Complex probate and estate disputes
Real Estate & Property
Title, easements, partitions and boundaries
Business & Contract
Disputes between businesses of all sizes
Construction
Construction issues in property matters
Civil Litigation
A wide range of civil disputes
Facilitation & Training
For teams, organizations and communities
HOW IT WORKS
Intentional, informed, and never rushed.
1
Reach out
Tell us about the dispute and the people involved. We listen first.
2
Prepare with care
We identify the issues that truly drive the conflict and design a process that fits.
3
Mediate
A safe, structured space for difficult conversations, with larger objectives kept in view.
4
Move forward
A resolution designed to work not only on the day, but afterward.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Clarity, before you take the first step.
What is trauma-informed mediation?
Trauma-informed mediation recognizes the human impact of conflict. We design each process around emotional safety, dignity and meaningful participation, so people can reach a resolution that works after the mediation, not just on the day.
Who are CAT ADR’s neutrals?
Catherine McBain, attorney and founder; Edward “Ed” Burns, a mediator with more than 25 years of litigation experience; and Amber Smith Crothall, a mediator certified by the National Conflict Resolution Center.
What types of disputes do you help resolve?
Our neutrals bring experience in employment, business and contract, sexual abuse, personal injury and mass tort, elder abuse, trust and estate, real estate and property, and construction disputes, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Where is CAT ADR located?
CAT ADR is based in Oceanside, California.
How do I schedule a mediation?
Email hello@catadr.com or call 530-382-9576 and our team will help you take the first step.
Every conflict begins somewhere.
Every resolution begins with a first step.
Let's build a more peaceful future together.