Joseph Spinola is a former Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. He has extensive experience litigating and presiding over a wide array of civil disputes including complex, commercial, personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, business, employment, labor law, premises liability, insurance coverage, and financial matters.
Since leaving the bench in 2010, Spinola has become a full time mediator and one of the most popular and successful mediators in New York. From 2018-2024 he was voted the #1 Mediator in the U.S. by lawyers in the National Law Journal and also the #1 Mediator in New York by lawyers in the New York Law Journal survey for a record five years in a row. He has developed a reputation for settling difficult cases. Judge Spinola’s other accomplishments include being named for three consecutive years a National Law Journal Alternative Dispute Resolution Champion, as part of a select group of only 48 neutrals nationwide. In addition, Judge Spinola has been selected for the seventh consecutive year for inclusion in Super Lawyers in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Judge Spinola employs a combination of facilitative and evaluative mediation, supplemented by his 40 + years experience as a litigator and judge. He also has the unique perspective of trying cases as a defense attorney, plaintiff s attorney, and judge which gives him the ability to understand all sides and aspects of the cases he mediates.
Case Experience
ADA Disability
Aviation
Business Dissolution
Class Actions
Commercial/Business
Condominiums
Construction
Contract Disputes
Discrimination
Divorce (High Asset)
EEOC
Elder Abuse
Employment
Entertainment Sector
Family Businesses
Franchise
Health Care
Industrial
Insurance
Labor/Unions
Legal Malpractice
Medical Malpractice
Mergers & Acquisitions
Nursing Homes
Partnerships
Pensions
Personal Injury
Pharmaceuticals
Police
Premises Liability
Probate
Product Liability
Professional Fees
Professional Liability
Professional Malpractice
Professional Negligence
Property Damage
Railroad & Trucking
Real Estate
Sexual Harassment
Shareholder Disputes
Sports
Torts
Transportation
Trusts / Estates
Wage & Hour/FMLA
Workers' Compensation
Wrongful Death
Education
Association of Attorney Mediators - Advanced Mediation Training - September, 2020
Association of Attorney Mediators - Two Day Advanced Mediation Training - April, 2018
Pepperdine University School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training - Juner, 2017
International Academy of Mediators - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training - September, 2016
Pepperdine University School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training - October, 2015
Resolute Systems, LLC - Advanced Mediator Training - October, 2014
Association of Attorney Mediators - Two Day Advanced Mediation Training - May, 2014
Pepperdine University School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training - March, 2014
The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals - Two Day Advanced Mediation Training - August, 2013
Association of Attorney Mediators - Two Day Advanced Mediation Training - August, 2012
The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals - Two Day Advanced Mediation Training - August, 2011
International Academy of Mediators - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training - May, 2011
Commercial Mediation Training - New York State Bar - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training Course - March, 2011
New York State Bar - How to Maximize Results in Arbitration and Mediation - October, 2010
Pepperdine University School of Law - Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution - Three Day Advanced Mediation Training - October, 2010
Hofstra University School of Law 1980-1983 - Degree J.D. Special Elective Seminars: Advanced Legal Research Course; Community Legal Assistance Corporation General Practice; National Institute of Trial Advocacy; Trial Techniques Course
National Institute for Trial Advocacy Teacher Training Program 1992 Certification
National Institute for Trial Advocacy Northeast Regional Program 1990 Certification
Hofstra University 1980 B.A. in History and Philosophy Honors: Cum Laude; Dean s List; Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society); High Achievement Award in Historical Writing; University Honors in Philosophy.
Memberships & Affiliations
Mediator & Arbitrator, Resolute Systems, LLC
American Bar Association
New York State Bar Association - Dispute Resolution Section
New York County Bar Association
Suffolk County Bar Association
New York State Trial Lawyers Association
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
National Institute for Trial Advocacy Advocates Association
Nassau-Suffolk Trial Lawyers Association
Board of Directors-New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (2008-2009)
HONORS & AWARDS:
2003 - Italian Court Officers of Nassau County
2004 Columbia Association, New York City Police Department
2004 Hofstra University George M. Estabrook Distinguished Service Award
2004 Citations/Congressman Peter King and Exec. Thomas Suozzi for Distinguished Service
2007 Long Beach Lawyers Association Man of the Year Award
2007 Proclamation from Senator Dean G. Skelos for Outstanding Service
2007 Citation from Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg for Outstanding Community Service
2008 Hofstra Law School Intensive Trial Techniques Program - Outstanding Trial Skills & Leadership Award
2010-2024 - Voted a "Top Mediator" in New York by lawyers in the New York Law Journal annual survey
2013-2024 - Named as a Super Lawyer in the Metro New York Super Lawyer edition.
2018-2024 - Voted #1 Mediator in the United States in the National Law Journal annual survey
Video Conferencing