James E. Fitzgerald

Mr. Fitzgerald is a mediator and arbitrator handling a variety of disputes, including business litigation, professional liability and complex insurance and reinsurance disputes.  Mr. Fitzgerald practiced with large national and international law firms for over 40 years and is a seasoned trial lawyer, who has handled lawsuits and arbitrations around the country.  This varied experience and expertise provides Mr. Fitzgerald with a solid foundation to serve as a mediator - to assess and evaluate the merits and value of disputes, with the calming temperament to guide the parties and counsel to a reasoned resolution of their dispute.  As an arbitrator, Mr. Fitzgerald draws on his 40-year experience as a trial lawyer to preside over the arbitration process and assist the litigants in trying their dispute in an efficient, economical manner with a goal of achieving a fair and reasoned award.  Mr. Fitzgerald is the founder of Fitzgerald Legal Consult, P.C., assisting litigants in resolving their disputes throughout California and beyond.Mr. Fitzgerald is a co-author of The Rutter Group's "Federal Civil Procedure Before Trial" and regularly presents on trial and litigation strategy and practice.  He has also been an instructor with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy for over 30 years.Mr. Fitzgerald is a Panelist on the American Arbitration Association National Roster of Arbitrators, a Certified Mediator and Arbitrator for AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS) and a member of California Arbitration (International Arbitration).   Mr. Fitzgerald has an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell.Mr. Fitzgerald received his undergraduate business degree from Georgetown University in 1976 and his law degree from Fordham Law School in 1979.  He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in California and New York.*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.