James P. (Jim) Lingl has extensive legal experience both as a litigator and as transactional attorney. Between 1983 and 2008 he led a law firm that dealt primarily in Community Association law, a practice encompassing all aspects of homeowner association operation and management.  During that time he was involved with the representation of over 600 homeowner associations between San Luis Obispo to San Diego Counties.  He was also involved with the representation of more than 200 individual homeowners in disputes with their associations.

With a background in tort and commercial litigation, Mr. Lingl understands that courtrooms are appropriate venues for the resolution of some disputes.  However his experience has taught him that only a fraction of the civil cases that are filed actually reach trial, and that most conflicts are better resolved outside of the judicial system.  His extensive experience in handling complex interpersonal conflicts, whether arising in a homeowner association, employment situations, in the probate context, among neighbors, or between businesses that can benefit from maintaining an ongoing relationship, all have helped to shape his "facilitative to evaluative" mediation style. 

Mr. Lingl has served as an arbitrator for the Ventura County Superior Court and as a mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court.  Jim has served on the Ventura Court's  mediation panels since 1993 and on the California Department of Insurance Panels between 2003 - 2010.  He has conducted more than 900 mediations, 100 arbitrations, has acted as a Court Appointed Provisional Director and Receiver for multiple community associations.  He has represented clients in more than 200 ADR disputes.  Jim was the original draftsman and sponsor of more than a dozen provisions in the Davis-Stirling Act including the statute that requires ADR prior to litigation in the context of associations.

Jim studied online dispute resolution [ODR] in 2007, before it was chic as part of his Master's program, and has conducted dozens of ODR mediations since that time.  He uses 'Zoom' as his preferred online meeting and mediation program.

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, James P.  Lingl was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1975 and the California Bar in 1977. He received his initial mediation training in 1992 from the faculty of Pepperdine University Law School - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in conjunction with the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement.  He has continued to pursue extensive specialized mediation training since that time. In July of 2005 he completed Ombudsman training through the International Ombudsman Association. In October of 2010 he completed his masters degree program in conflict resolution at California State University Dominguez Hills.  Mr. Lingl has served as an adjunct professor at the Southern California Institute of Law, where he taught an ADR course as well as a condominium law course.  He has had ODR training and practice as part of his extensive conflict resolution experience.

Mr. Lingl is an AV rated inactive member of the California and Wisconsin State Bars.  He has served on the Board of Directors of the Ventura Center for Dispute Resolution (VCDS) from 2002 until 2015, was President of the Board from 2003 until 2008 and was again selected to lead the organization as it's President for 2015. He is a Member of the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), a past Board Member of SCMA, and has been a presenter at SCMA Annual Conferences.  Jim is a member of the Channel Island Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, a member of its prestigious College of Community Association Attorneys, and an emeritus member of the California Legislative Action Committee. 

He serves as a mediator for the Ventura County Superior Court, for the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement, and in his private practice, with more than 1,000 successful mediations completed.

Jim is a proud supporter of Mediators Beyond Borders (MBBI), an international peacemaking organization with which he served as the Director of Operations from July, 2009 until February, 2011.  He was elected to the Board of Directors of NAFCM, the National Association for Community Mediation, in March, 2011 and served two terms until he was termed out in 2017.  He remains in an advisory role with the organization.

In addition to his extensive litigation, mediation and arbitration experience, Mr. Lingl has conducted numerous facilitations involving both large and small groups, leading to better communication and functioning within those groups.

We do not do in-person mediations.  All mediations are conducted online using Zoom.

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) $400 per hour, 3 hour minimum.

There is no drive time involved in ODR Matters.

We do not charge a setup fee, nor do we charge for pre-mediation telephonic caucuses.