José Gutiérrez is a mediator and seasoned business and real estate professional who assists parties in resolving commercial, corporate, employee, and property-related disputes through a neutral, confidential, and voluntary mediation process.
José brings a rare combination of strategic insight, financial sophistication, and operational experience to the mediation table. His mediation practice is grounded in more than 25 years of hands-on, direct business experience, including real estate investments and brokerage, advisory roles, and corporate operations. He is the Founder and Principal Mediator of Clear Quest Mediation Services, Inc.
U.S. Army Reserve
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
José combines deep business, real estate, and operational insight with the ability to de-escalate conflict and listen with empathy — guiding parties through even the most complex disputes.
His mediation style is tailored to each case, often combining facilitative and evaluative methods, with an emphasis on efficiency, confidentiality, clear communication, and respectful engagement.
José does not provide legal advice or impose outcomes. He creates a structured, respectful, and calm environment, working with all parties to identify mutually acceptable, constructive resolutions and help avoid prolonged litigation.
MEDIATION APPROACH
This direct experience makes José distinctively qualified to serve as a mediator, guiding his clients to navigate and resolve disputes efficiently and constructively.
As a mediator, José brings his diverse business and real estate experience, his ability to analyze risk, and his corporate and legal acumen — but just as importantly, he brings a genuine passion for mediation, guiding parties with a thoughtful, client-focused, and neutral approach.
His dedication to serving others, coupled with his business and real estate experience, shapes a practical and solution-oriented approach to dispute resolution, allowing him to guide parties through even the most complex and high-stakes conflicts with creativity and professionalism.
Over the course of his career, he has been involved in thousands of transactions involving residential and commercial properties, distressed assets, mortgages, investment portfolios, logistics, and non-profits. His diverse background provides him with a practical understanding of how to navigate complex issues that often underlie business operations and transactions.
In addition to his business leadership, José has extensive experience negotiating and structuring transactions with lenders, borrowers, investors, corporate partners, and legal professionals — often in high-impact, time-sensitive situations where clarity, trust, and creative problem-solving are essential.
José also offers Friendly Separations — guiding parties through respectful, mutual transitions, not only disputes — and proudly operates as a veteran-owned mediation practice.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
AWARDS & HONORS
CREDENTIALS & TRAINING
BA in International Economics
Postgraduate — Urban & Transportation Planning
Mediating the Litigated Case
Mediation Intensive Program
Construction Law (Enrolled)
Advanced Mediation Training
Forty-Hour Mediation Training
LOCATION & AVAILABILITY
Centrally located in Old Town Pasadena, CA. Available in-person, online, or by phone. Conference rooms available for joint or separate sessions. Travels to most California counties — soon to be certified in other states.
As a native Spanish-speaking neutral with strong ties to Latin American culture, values, customs, and idioms, José brings a deep cultural awareness to his mediation practice. This cultural fluency and understanding of the values, sensitivities, and perspectives often present within Spanish-speaking communities enables him to communicate effectively with diverse participants — creating an atmosphere of trust and connection where parties feel heard and understood.
MEET JOSÉ
I’m originally from Central California, but have lived in Southern California for the past 19 years. In 2003, I began a career in real estate as a founding member of a real estate investment company focused on the acquisition and disposition of distressed properties throughout California. I obtained my California real estate broker license in 2008 and have since been involved in thousands of transactions. In recent years, I’ve also worked with investors in alternative capital-market investments. As much as I enjoy real estate and business, I am passionate about mediation and dedicated to serving as a mediator.
Before that, I earned a BA in International Economics at UCLA — where I also completed Army ROTC training — and pursued post-graduate coursework in urban and transportation planning at the University of Michigan.
Outside of mediation and business, I love traveling and discovering new places with my wife and kids. Sharing a great meal with family and friends is one of my favorite ways to slow down and enjoy life. I’m also a big college sports fan — especially football — and I still enjoy getting lost in a good book.
I stay deeply engaged in the community, often speaking with young people about preparing for college, navigating campus life, and discovering meaningful career paths. My five years in the Army Reserve shaped my commitment to advocating for veterans and the housing challenges many of them face. I also remain active locally by serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations.
