Mediator Resume

Inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

The Law and Mediation Office of Linda F. Spiegel, Esq. - Sole Practitioner, Arbitrator, Mediator and Attorney

Attorney - Litigation, Chancery - General Equity, Commercial, Construction, Family Law, Real Estate Arbitrator and Mediator - Civil, Commercial, Construction, Consumer, Foreclosure and Family

Attorney, Self-employed, 1978 - 1983 & 1988 - Present; Partner/Associate, LaFianza & Strull, 1985 - 1988; Litigation Associate, Friedman Carney & Wilson, 1983 - 1984; Editor - Federal Taxes, Prentice-Hall Inc., 1978.

Forty-eight years of experience as a litigator in a variety of fields including construction, corporate, commercial, real estate, insurance fraud, consumer law and family law. Represented owners, general contractors and subcontractors in residential and commercial construction disputes. Representative cases in other areas include, representing physicians in contract negotiations with hospitals, owners in chancery action to clear title, and purchasers of a bar/restaurant in a breach of contract action due to fraud by seller. Appointed by the New Jersey Superior Court as a Special Fiscal Agent in estate matter; appointed by Court as administrator in contested estate matters; appointed by Court to represent alleged incompetents in guardianship proceedings and to represent minors in probate matters.

Served as a mediator in the New Jersey Super Storm Sandy mediation program administered by the American Arbitration Association. Mediated cases included matters between homeowner's and insurers and business owners and insurers. Mediator for cases referred by the New Jersey Superior Court's civil mediation program as well as being privately retained by parties. Mediator for the Family Division of the NJ Superior Court in family matters. Mediator in attorney malpractice, breach of consumer contracts, construction industry disputes, insurance coverage disputes, breach of commercial brokerage agreement, breach of web design contract, employment dispute in caregiver situations.

Civil issues have included legal malpractice, breach of contract, conversion, identity of successor entities, faulty installation of equipment, insurance coverage, landlord/tenant, fraud and negligence. Family mediation issues have included custody, parenting time and economic issues.

Pre-mediation meetings with representatives to define the issues in dispute. Together with representatives set forth a schedule of information to be exchanged, if necessary, submission of pre-mediation statements and then speak with each representative alone prior to the first mediation session. Based on the feedback from the representatives, the first session may or may not include beginning with a joint session. In caucus, listen to what each party says and assist the parties to reach a resolution of their matter. Explore and find out the true nature of the dispute and assist the parties in discovering alternative ways of looking at the issues which can lead to a consensus and resolution of the matter. Mediations are available using the Zoom virtual platform. Pre-mediation conferences shall be via teleconference or Zoom based on parties' preferences.

Evidentiary hearings and mediations are available using the Zoom virtual platform. Pre-mediation and pre-arbitration conferences shall be via teleconference or Zoom based on parties' preferences.

Boston University (JD - 1978); Columbia University (AB - 1974).

Admitted to the Bar: New York (1980), New Jersey (1978); U.S. District Court: District of New Jersey (1978), Southern (1980) and Eastern (1980) Districts of New York; U.S. Supreme Court (1987).

American Bar Association (ABA SLD ADR Committee, Chair 2025-2027); Bergen County Bar Association (ADR Committee, Co-Chair, Construction Law Committee, Past Co-Chair; CLE Committee, Past Chair; Bergen Barrister, Past Editor-in-Chief; Past Trustee); Justice Marie Garibaldi American Inn of Court for ADR ( Executive Board Member); Women Lawyers in Bergen (Past President; Editor-in-Chief of WLIB Newsletter); New Jersey State Bar Association; New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM, Board Member, Editor of Newsletter)

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Moderator, Bergen County Bar Association, ADR Across the Divisions, April 30, 2025; Moderator, ABA CLE, Navigating Generative AI in ADR: Benefits, Risks and Ethical Guidelines, April 23, 2025; Speaker, Bergen County Bar Association, Hot Topics - Consumer Fraud Issues in Construction and Construction Arbitration, April 10, 2025; Speaker, New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, The Ethics of Ghostwriting, May 3, 2024; Panelist, Bergen County Bar Association, Top Tips for Advocates Appearing in Mediations and/or Arbitrations, April 16, 2024; Panelist, New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, 5 Questions About Civil Mediation, April 15, 2024; Sole Speaker, New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators Bergen Peer Group, "Mediating a Construction Dispute: Learning a New Language", March 2, 2022; Moderator, Women Lawyers in Bergen, "Ageism and Diversity" April 21, 2021; Speaker and Panelist, Bergen County Bar Association, "Some Frequent Issues in Residential Home Construction" June 4, 2020; Moderator, "A Primer on Construction Drawings and Related Contract and Litigation Issues", Bergen County Bar Association seminar, November 16, 2016; Moderator, "Overview of the Court's Mediation & Arbitration Programs & the Statutory Foundations for Private Mediation and Arbitration", Bergen County Bar Association seminar, May 21, 2015; Moderator, "Arbitration of Construction Disputes", Bergen County Bar Association seminar, December11, 2014; Moderator, "Top Ten (Maybe More) Contract Provisions in Construction Contracts - From an Owners and Contractor's Perspective", Bergen County Bar Association seminar, September 11, 2014; Speaker and Panelist, "Hot Topics in Construction Law," Bergen County Bar Association seminar May 9, 2013; Panelist, "NJ Consumer Fraud Act and Home Improvement Contractors - Navigating the Minefield," Bergen County Bar Association seminar April 18, 2012; "How to Get the Most out of your Mediation?" Bergen County Bar Association Seminar 5/18/11: "What Can Mediation Do For You and Your Client?" Bergen County Bar Association, April 6, 2011; "Qualified Medical Child Support Orders - MCSO," Bergen County Bar Association, June 27, 1996; "Residential Construction Liens," Bergen County Bar Association, March 26, 1996; "Hot Tips to Avoid Successful Ethics Grievances," Bergen County Bar Association, December 5, 1995. PUBLICATIONS: "Elder Care Planning Mediation", ABA e-magazine, Voice of Experience, January 2023 issue, republished in the ABA GP Solo e-Report, May 2023; Editor, NJAPM Mediation Matters (Newsletter) 2024-present; Editor-in-Chief, Women Lawyers In Bergen Newsletter, 2003 - present; "Child Support for the Special Needs Child: What a Divorce Mediator Needs to Know," NJAPM Mediation News, Vol. 18, Issue 1, Fall 2013; editor-in-chief, BERGEN BARRISTER, 1991-94; "Private Adoption: Caveat Actor," BERGEN BARRISTER, 1987; "Ten Tips for Avoiding Successful Ethics Grievances," 1986; GENERAL PRACTICE SECTION NEWSLETTER, New Jersey State Bar Association.

Hourly Rate: $425.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $425.00/hr Cancellation: $500.00/Day Cancellation Period: 1 Days Comment: Mediator will not travel outside of Bergen County, NJ for in-person mediation sessions. Mediator is available to conduct virtual mediations via Zoom.

English

United States of America

Hackensack, New Jersey