Resolute is pleased to announce that it has been voted the #1 ADR PROVIDER and #1 ONLINE ADR RESOURCE in the Midwest by the 2019 National Law Journal Annual Reader Rankings Survey (https://images.law.com/media/nationallawjournal/supplements/Best_Midwest_2019/mobile/index.html) for the fourth year in a row.

In addition, three of Resolute Systems’ Midwest Panelists were also voted as the top 3 mediators in the Midwest. Milwaukee Judge Richard Sankovitz and Chicago mediators Faustin Pipal and Judge Pat Lustig were named the top 3 mediators in the survey.

“We are honored to be recognized as the #1 ADR provider,” said Resolute President Ryan Hamilton. “From insurance related matters like personal injury, to employment and commercial disputes, and consumer and divorce matters, Resolute offers fair, efficient and cost-effective ADR processes to our clients.”

Established in 1988, Resolute is one of the nations largest dispute resolution firms with over 2,800 mediators and arbitrators in all 50 states, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In 2019 Resolute was also ranked the #1 ADR Provider and Online ADR Resource in the National Law Journal’s Annual Reader Rankings Survey. In addition, Resolute was voted #1 ADR PROVIDER in Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2019 annual Reader Rankings Survey and voted a “Best ADR Provider” and a “Best Online ADR Resource” in the nation for Corporate Counsel’s 2019 Annual Best of Survey.

According to The National Law Journal, more than 1,000 readers cast votes in the survey. The National Law Journal has the largest paid circulation of any weekly publication serving the national legal community. It is owned by ALM, the preeminent 173-year-old legal publishing company

Judge Margaret J. Mullen, ret., was installed as President of the Illinois Judges Association during its annual meeting on May 31, 2019, at The John Marshall Law School, in Chicago. The Illinois Judges Association, which represents 1,250 active and retired Illinois state court judges, was founded in 1972 to provide services, support, and education to its member judges and raise public understanding of the Illinois judicial system.

Judge Mullen is a mediator and arbitrator with Resolute Systems, a national provider of mediation, arbitration and ADR consulting services.  Judge Mullen had 26 years of experience on the bench in the 19^th Judicial Circuit Court. She was appointed an Associate Judge in 1992, was selected as a Circuit Judge in 1997 by the Illinois Supreme Court, and won election in 1998. She was Chief Judge of the 19^th Judicial Circuit from 2002-2004, and was Presiding Judge of the Law Division, the Juvenile Division, and the Consolidated Family Division. Judge Mullen, now retired, is a part-time mediator and business law adjunct professor. Her goal as President of IJA is to work hard on strengthening public awareness of the important role of the judiciary. “Judges are the best people I know. They’re smart, hard-working, and really care deeply about doing the right thing. It is a privilege to be entrusted with the decisions we make in court. Illinois’ judges are worthy of that privilege.”

While she was Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial Circuit, she created a local access cable television show which featured judges explaining their work. She continued to produce the show until she retired. She has also worked on organizational websites, public outreach issues, and judicial case management. Judge Mullen has also been a frequent judicial educator.

Judge Mullen was President of the Illinois Judges Foundation as President in 2010-2011. She was the recipient of the Salute Award from Lake County CASA in 2018 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lake County Juvenile Officers Association for her work as a judge in juvenile court. She has also been honored with the Ori Award for Outstanding Service to the Community, the Partners Award from the Northern Illinois Council on Substance Abuse and Alcoholism, the Outstanding Volunteer Group Award from United Way for her volunteer efforts with Waukegan school children, and two Presidential Service Awards from IJA. She is a proud member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

For more information on Judge Mullen or to schedule mediation, please call Mike Weinzierl at 312.346.3770 or mweinzierl@resolutesystems.com  For more information about the Illinois Judges Association, see www.ija.org.

Resolute Systems Mediator Jonah Orlofsky will present “What Happens When the Alternative to Court Goes to Court?” on May 21st at 5 p.m.  For more information please click on the ACR Chicago link.

Resolute Systems is pleased to welcome retired Cook County Judge James P. McCarthy to its Chicago team of dispute resolution professionals.  From 2003 until his retirement from the bench in 2019, Judge McCarthy served in the Cook County Law Division where he developed a reputation as an effective pre-trial judge.  He concentrates his mediation practice on personal injury, professional liability, construction, premises liability, commercial and business disputes.

To schedule mediation with Judge McCarthy, please call (312) 346-3770, x125 or email mweinzierl@resolutesystems.com.

Resolute Systems mediator Faustin Pipal will guest lecture at the University of Illinois College of Law’s “The Chicago Program.” Mr. Pipal will provide a program on mediation on February 27, 2019.

According to the College of Law, the program is “taught by leading practitioners and College faculty, courses are taught in the Illini Center in downtown Chicago, The Chicago Bar Association, and in the offices of several preeminent law firms, including Winston & Strawn, Foley & Lardner, Steptoe & Johnson, and Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella. Events and lectures are open to all third-year students, offering fantastic opportunities to network with the College’s more than 4,000 Chicago-based alumni. Launched in 2012, the Chicago Program is designed to enrich the College’s curriculum, expand professional opportunities for students, and involve alumni and other practitioners more closely in the College’s educational mission.”

For more information on The Chicago Program, please go to https://law.illinois.edu/academics/the-chicago-program/.

Resolute Systems is pleased to welcome former Winnebago County Judge J. Edward Prochaska to its team of dispute resolution professionals.  Judge Prochaska will mediate out of Rockford as well as our Chicago office.

Judge Prochaska served as a Circuit Judge from 1996 to his retirement in December of 2018. A highly respected jurist and attorney, Judge Prochaska was known for his effectiveness at resolving civil litigation through the mediated settlement conference process. He was the Presiding Judge of the 17th Circuit Civil Division (2010-2018).  From 2007 to 2018, Judge Prochaska sat in the Law, Chancery & Miscellaneous Remedies division, where he conducted hundreds of successful settlement conferences. He successfully facilitated many multi-million dollar settlements, including two settlements over $10 million.

Resolute Systems mediator Jonah Orlofsky participated in a September 17, 2018 presentation to the Center for Conflict Resolution regarding video conferencing and mediation.

The program was entitled:  Video Conference Mediation:  How It’s Being Used, And What The Future Holds.  Mr. Orlofsky was part of a three-person panel and spoke about his experience with Zoom technology for conducting mediations.

Resolute Systems mediator Faustin Pipal addressed the Association of Attorney Mediators (AAM) on September 11, 2018 in Chicago.  Pipal discussed developing a successful mediation practice while maintaining a law practice. Faustin Pipal has mediated over 2,500 cases since beginning his mediation practice in 1993.  He has been litigating cases since 1980, and he draws on his experience as an accomplished trial attorney during the mediation process.  Mr. Pipal concentrates his mediation practice on the resolution of wrongful death, substantial personal injury, construction accidents, trucking accidents, professional malpractice and employment matters.