Paul F. Monicatti

Michigan-based neutral Paul F. Monicatti has been an arbitrator since 1983 and a mediator since 1986 in all areas of the law except family law and criminal law. He’s served as court-appointed Settlement Master in federal court when he helped resolve two major Flint, Michigan water contamination-related cases in 2017and in state court when he helped resolve nearly all of the multi-billion-dollar Dow Corning breast implant insurance coverage litigation involving 112 defendants in the mid-1990s. He also served as the party-selected Mediator in federal court when he helped resolve the largest fair housing discrimination case in U.S. history in the early 1990s.

As an independent, impartial, professional dispute resolution specialist for 37 years, Paul has conducted mediations and arbitrations resulting in the successful conclusion of more than 2000 previously unsettled disputes. Courts as well as counsel or their clients have selected him as a mediator, arbitrator, facilitator, case evaluator, receiver, umpire, referee, and expert witness. He is co-founder of not only ADRoit Dispute Resolution that provides dispute resolution services to the bench, bar, businesses, and individuals but also Strongbridge Negotiation Strategists that provides negotiation advice, consultation, and training to businesses and individuals. He also co-founded the International Academy of Mediators that is the preeminent professional organization for active mediators throughout the world.

Paul’s earned the highest ratings possible from Martindale-Hubbell, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyer, U.S. News and World Report, Crain’s Detroit Business, and the international publication Who’s Who Legal: Mediation.  A Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2019 Leader in the Law, he was named Best Lawyers’ 2019 Troy, MI Area Mediation Lawyer of the Year, 2018 Troy, MI Area Arbitration Lawyer of the Year, and 2011 Detroit Area ADR Lawyer of the Year.

Paul authored the chapter on Mediation, Arbitration and Other Dispute Resolution Methods in addition to co-authoring the chapter on Settlement, Negotiation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution for ICLE’s Michigan Civil Procedure.  He also teaches ADR Advocacy Skills in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and has guest lectured at the law schools of University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, University of Detroit, and Case Western Reserve University.

Additionally, Paul has donated hundreds of hours of his time and expertise to help establish a pro bono early mediation program for pro se prisoner civil rights cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. He received the Recognition Award  in 2017 from the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Maryland for his dedicated service and commitment to the needs of its culturally diverse community, and also served on the National Advisory Board for ACCESS ADR that formerly promoted the advancement of diversity in dispute resolution.

• JD, Michigan State University College of Law
• BA in Chemistry, Oakland University
• Judicial law clerk for four years in State Circuit Court
• United States Arbitration & Mediation mediator training, basic and advanced
• United States Arbitration & Mediation medical staff hearing officer training
• American Arbitration Association arbitrator training for securities and computer disputes
• Pepperdine University School of Law Masters Forum for mediators

• State Bar of Michigan, member
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• Federal Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, member
• American Bar Association, member
  • Dispute Resolution and Litigation Sections
• Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, member
• International Academy of Mediators
  • Co-founder, Distinguished Fellow, current Board member, and past President
• Charter Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals since 2010
• ACCESS ADR (formerly promoted diversity in dispute resolution)
  • National Advisory Board member
• Institute of Continuing Legal Education
  • former Mediation Advisory Board member, seminar speaker, and faculty member
• Professional Resolution Experts of Michigan (PREMi), member
• Instrumental in establishing the pro bono early mediation program for pro se prisoner civil rights cases in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
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$375 per hour