1 Last Revised July 14, 2025
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10 San Francisco Division
11 STANDING ORDER FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES BEFORE
12 MAGISTRATE JUDGE LAUREL BEELER
Northern District of California
United States District Court
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14 Parties must comply with the procedures in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the local
15 rules (including the ADR rules), and this standing order.
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17 SCHEDULING
18 Scheduling conferences are held by videoconference on Thursdays, following the 11:00 a.m.
19 civil case-management calendar. Settlement conferences are scheduled on Tuesdays and
20 Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
21 Before the scheduling conference, lead counsel must discuss with their clients and each other:
22 • The optimal time for a settlement conference;
23 • Their mutually available dates;
24 • The availability of insurance;
25 • Individuals with settlement authority and their attendance;
26 • Information to be exchanged before the settlement conference;
27 • The time needed to evaluate demands and responses; and
28 • Any other relevant issues.
STANDING ORDER FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
1 At the scheduling conference, the court will discuss these matters and set the settlement
2 conference. The court’s calendar is typically booked 120 days in advance, but earlier dates may be
3 accommodated if suitable for the case. The parties must email their preferred dates to
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[email protected] at least two days before the scheduling conference, including the emails
5 of all participants in the scheduling conference.
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7 PARTICIPANTS AT THE SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
8 Lead trial counsel, all parties, and individuals with full authority to negotiate and settle the
9 case must attend the settlement conference.
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11 1. Corporation or Other Non-Government Entity
12 A party that is not a natural person (e.g., a corporation or association) satisfies the attendance
Northern District of California
United States District Court
13 requirement if represented by a person (other than outside counsel) who is knowledgeable about
14 the case and has final settlement authority. If settlement authority is vested solely in a governing
15 board, claims committee, or equivalent body and cannot be delegated, the party must designate a
16 person with authority to attend and participate in the settlement conference and, if a tentative
17 settlement agreement is reached, to recommend the agreement to the approving body for approval.
18 ADR L.R. Rule 7-3(a).
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20 2. Government Entity
21 A government-entity party satisfies the attendance requirement if represented by a person (in
22 addition to counsel of record) who (1) has, to the greatest extent feasible, authority to settle, (2) is
23 knowledgeable about the case facts, the government entity’s position, and the policies governing
24 settlement decisions, and (3) has the authority to recommend a tentative settlement agreement to the
25 government entity for approval. ADR L.R. 7-3(b). If the action is brought by the government on
26 behalf of one or more individuals, at least one such individual must attend. Id.
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STANDING ORDER FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES 2
1 3. Insured Party
2 An insured party must attend with a carrier representative who has full authority to negotiate
3 up to the policy’s coverage limits. ADR L.R. 7-3(c).
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5 SETTLEMENT-CONFERENCE STATEMENTS
6 Settlement statements must be lodged no later than seven days before the settlement
7 conference (fourteen days for cases with four or more separately represented parties) in hard copy,
8 three-hole punched and double-sided, at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 16th Floor, San Francisco, CA
9 94102, in a sealed envelope addressed to Judge Beeler and marked “Settlement Documents (Not
10 For Filing).” Submissions under twenty pages may be emailed to
[email protected].
11 Settlement statements must include:
12 • Attendees and their roles;
Northern District of California
United States District Court
13 • Relevant facts, including disputed facts and key evidence;
14 • Relevant court rulings;
15 • Claims and defenses;
16 • Legal issues about liability and damages;
17 • Prior settlement discussions and mediation efforts;
18 • The current demand and response;
19 • Fees and costs incurred to date and projected through trial;
20 • A candid assessment of settlement risks and the parties’ needs;
21 • Obstacles to settlement and proposed solutions; and
22 • Any other information relevant to settlement.
23 The information may be provided in exchanged statements (up to ten pages with twenty pages
24 of attachments), separate confidential statements (up to five pages with five pages of attachments),
25 or a combination thereof, not exceeding these page limits. The parties may ask to submit
26 additional attachments and should submit attachments jointly, if feasible, to avoid duplication.
27 Video exhibits must be submitted jointly.
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STANDING ORDER FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES 3
1 SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES
2 Settlement conferences are held at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 15th Floor, Courtroom B, San
3 Francisco, CA 94102, and typically last three or more hours. Requests for continuances must be
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[email protected] as soon as is practicable and include proposed new dates. A
5 short joint statement reflecting the continuance request must be filed on the docket.
6 IT IS SO ORDERED.
7 Dated: July 14, 2025 _____________________________
LAUREL BEELER
8 United States Magistrate Judge
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Northern District of California
United States District Court
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STANDING ORDER FOR SETTLEMENT CONFERENCES 4
