Michael G. Balmages, Esq., is an accomplished mediator and discovery referee with extensive experience as a trial lawyer, general counsel, and transactional lawyer. As a mediator and neutral with ADR Services, Inc., he has had great success in helping litigants resolve their disputes in more than 1,000 cases. His friendly nature and ability to find common ground contribute to his easy rapport with litigants and their attorneys, while his determination to get cases settled is evident at each hearing. He is committed to exploring every option available to the parties to develop creative solutions to dispute resolution. In this episode, Michael tells the story of a dispute between two neighbors over a 20-foot piece of property owned by the purchasers of a large lot, which had been used by their neighbors for parking for almost half a decade. The new purchaser had no real use for the property, which contained a telephone pole and underground utilities, but refused to allow the neighbors to continue to use the land. The lessons to be learned from this mediation include the mechanics and limitations of the mediator’s proposal. The considerations a master mediator such as Mike employs in deciding the contents and timing of a mediator’s proposal, as well as whether to recommend its use, are valuable information for counsel, litigants, and mediators.

Mr. Balmages’ mediation experience is supplemented by his broad experience as a civil litigator, corporate general counsel, and transactional attorney. He has tried over 75 cases, taken more than 1,000 depositions, and negotiated and drafted more than 1,000 contracts. He has extensive experience with business entities, including the formation, dissolution, and merger of such entities, and the negotiation and drafting of numerous contracts and deal documents. Mr. Balmages has been rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell for over 30 years. He is also the lead astronomer for the Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, where he helms the nonprofit’s stargazing events with help from a handful of astronomy professors.

Mr. Balmages may be reached through his case manager, Lisha Shanholtzer, at ADR Services, Inc., at (949) 863-9800 or by email at [email protected]; or directly at [email protected].