Heather Sciacca Smith
3463 State Street, # 363
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
805-886-0086

Heather Sciacca Smith is an Attorney/Mediator with extensive background in civil litigation. She has over 23 years of experience handling a wide variety of cases throughout California.  In 1992, she joined Tharpe & Howell as a litigation associate.  In 1994 she became a General Partner and managed the Santa Barbara branch office.  She has tried over 25 cases to verdict.  In 2003, she became a sole practitioner and is focusing her practice on the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution.  In 2005 she founded South Coast Dispute Resolution, serving Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.  She completed Mediation and Negotiation courses through the Straus Institute and Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement.  She has a command of the Spanish language.

Professional Experience

Sole Practitioner, Private Mediation Practice; 2003
Litigation Partner, Tharpe & Howell, Santa Barbara; 1993 - 2003
Associate, Civil Litigation, Bolte & McCormick; 1991-1993
Associate, Civil Litigation, Law Offices of Errol Berk; 1990-1991

Arizona State University, College of Law, Tempe, Arizona

• Juris Doctorate,  1989

University of California, Santa Barbara

• Bachelor’s Degree, Economics, 1986
• Bachelor’s Degree, Political Science, 1986

Universidad de Madrid, Madrid Spain

• Economics and Political Science, 1983-1984

Professional Organizations

• Santa Barbara Women Lawyers, former Board Member
• Santa Barbara Women Lawyers Foundation, former Board Member/ Treasurer
• Santa Barbara Teen Court Judge
• California Women Lawyers, Board of Governors, District Six, 2008 - 2010

ADR Specialization
Personal Injury, Employment, Real Estate, Insurance, Bad Faith, Business, Breach of Contract