Our Approach​
At Mares Mediation Group, we believe mediation works best when it is clear, respectful, and practical. Cynthia and Charles combine judicial insight and executive negotiation skill to guide parties through a balanced process that encourages collaboration, preserves dignity, and focuses on outcomes that last. Every step is designed to help clients feel heard, reduce stress, and find solutions that work in the real world.
Our Mediators
The Honorable
Cynthia D. Mares
The Honorable Cynthia D. Mares brings over 30 years of legal expertise as an attorney and retired Colorado District Court Judge.
Throughout her distinguished career, she has presided over and resolved thousands of cases, giving her unmatched insight into how disputes can be settled fairly and efficiently. Known for her calm demeanor and compassionate approach, Judge Mares combines judicial authority with empathy to guide parties toward resolutions that preserve dignity and relationships.
In addition to her judicial service, Judge Mares is a recognized thought leader in cybersecurity and emerging technologies. She co-authored the book Women Securing the Future with TIPPSS for IoT, published in 2019, and earned her Latinas in Cybersecurity Google Certification in 2023. Judge Mares is also a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, completed in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2016.
Today, Judge Mares applies her deep legal knowledge, technology insight, and human-centered perspective to help individuals, families, and businesses find common ground outside the courtroom.
Charles Robertson
Charles is a former C-suite executive with extensive experience in finance, real estate, and business operations. For decades, he has negotiated high-stakes deals, resolved complex business and construction matters, and guided organizations through conflict with practical, balanced solutions.
His strength lies in helping parties cut through complexity to find agreements that make sense for everyone involved. By bringing real-world business acumen and negotiation expertise into the mediation process, Charles helps ensure outcomes are not only fair, but durable and workable in practice.
For 20 years, Charles served as the Chief Financial Officer of a real estate development and construction enterprise in Colorado. He brings extensive experience with construction defect claims, job costing, and complex project financials, along with a deep understanding of how disputes arise in high-pressure, detail-driven environments.
As a mediator, Charles is known for his steady, analytical approach. He helps parties slow down, clarify the real issues at stake, and engage in productive, forward-looking discussions that support realistic and lasting resolution.
Nicole Givens, Esq.
Nicole Givens is an attorney whose practice focuses on resolving housing and property-related conflicts outside the courtroom, with a particular emphasis on helping people preserve their homes, relationships, and investments. She has hands-on experience with disagreements over leases, security deposits, shared living arrangements, property use and maintenance, noise and boundary concerns, and HOA covenants and enforcement. She also assists clients in navigating misunderstandings with real estate professionals and resolving contract disputes in a clear, businesslike manner.
As a single parent of two children, she has a strong personal interest in the healthy resolution of parenting and family-related disputes, and she brings that perspective to her work with families seeking more peaceful, predictable arrangements.
Her training emphasized communication, negotiation, and trauma-informed practice, and she uses these skills to help parties feel heard, stay focused on their goals, and reach fair and workable agreements.
Our Culture
At Mares Mediation Group, every mediation At Mares Mediation group every mediation is guided by clarity, fairness, and respect, helping people preserve relationships and peace of mind. Conflict is not an ending, but an opportunity.
Our Origins
Born out of a shared belief that mediation should be accessible, respectful, and effective, Mares Mediation Group was founded by Cynthia and Charles to provide a better way forward for individuals, families, and businesses. Their combined backgrounds in law, finance, real estate, and negotiation create a balanced approach that helps clients move from conflict to common ground.