I am a mediator and maintain an active trial practice. This is an article about a recent mediation in which my training as a mediator helped me become a better lawyer for my client.

Mediation is not practiced in a vacuum. The law changes. Trial strategies evolve. New appellate decisions reshape risks. Jury attitudes shift. Settlement dynamics change. A mediator who handled a hundred cases ten years ago but has stopped learning may not be as effective as one who remains actively engaged with the profession.

By Raymond L. Niblock I have been invited to conduct a CLE session at the Washington County Bar Association, focusing on a continuing legal education (CLE) topic titled Anatomy of a Personal Injury Mediation from the Mediator’s Perspective. My goal is to provide practical insights to help attorneys and parties to prepare for and navigate mediation more effectively. I am excited about this opportunity, as personal injury mediation presents a distinctive approach to resolving d

Raymond L. Niblock (left) and Van Thomas Currell (right), Co-Mediators By Raymond L. Niblock, Founder & Principal Mediator, Niblock Mediation Services Not every mediation turns on emotion. Recently, I mediated a dispute involving alleged damage to a commercial building and the resulting loss of business income. At its core, the case was about numbers—specifically, how to interpret financial data tied to lost net profits. The gap between the parties was significant. Each side

A professional mediator—one who is trained, experienced, and committed to the craft—approaches a mediation with a broader vision, informed by thorough preparation, because preparation is foundational.

An article about the timing of mediation - when it is too early versus when it is too late.

By Raymond L. Niblock, Founder & Principal Mediator, Niblock Mediation Services For most lawyers, HR directors, and insurers, mediation is still viewed as something that occurs after a dispute has matured—after pleadings are filed, discovery is underway, and positions have hardened. In many cases, that timing makes sense. But in others, waiting that long is precisely what makes disputes more expensive, more personal, and harder to resolve. Large, risk-averse institutions hav

An article about why some mediations end before they begin.

A case study on getting past the impasse...

Some cases need a trial, but in truth, most can be resolved before going to court.

Nearly any case can, and likely should be, settled before going to court.

Mediation resolves cases, saving the parties precious time, money, and energy.

Mediation in a nut-shell.