Hon. Richard B. Klein (Ret.)

Uniquely qualified to serve as an arbitrator, fact finder, mediator,  appellate and trial consultant with McElroy Deutsch in Philadelphia.  The HonoraJudge Klein served, with distinction, for 36 years on the bench 28 years as a trial judge in Philadelphia and eight years on Pennsylvania's intermediate appellate court, the Supeior Court.

In his eight years on the appellate court, he decided appellate matters touching almost every aspect of life, law and commerce. When first appointed as a trial judge in the Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia, where he served for twenty-eight years, hewas the youngest judge in the state’s history. He served in all major civil and criminal trial courts and pioneered many new programs designed to improve the civil justice system, especially in the mass tort arena. 

In 2013, Judge Klein was the recipient of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's highest award for alternative dispute resultion, the Sir Francis Bacon award.  By its terms, the award is given to one who "(1) excells in the area of alternative dispute resolution in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and (2) has had a significant professional impact in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the area of alternative dispute resolution."

In 2014, Judge Klein received the "Clarity Award" from the Pennsylvania Bar  Association for his contributions to effective legal writing and the use of Plain English.

Judge Klein brings extensive alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experience to DRI. He received certifications in mediation at the National Judicial College in Nevada and the American Bar Association Mediation Training for Judges in Maryland. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania ADR committees and served as ten years as co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar ADR Committee.  He is chair of the Pennsylvania Futures Commission where he was co-chair  “Alternate Paths to Justice” task force. 

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Amherst College, Judge Klein graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. He served as the educational leader for legal-study tours sponsored by the Corporation for Professional Conferences and has led trips to Russia, China, Greece, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Vietnam, and South Africa.

Judge Klein recently stepped down after ten years as the co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar  Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee.  He has been active in many committees to improve the justice system, including serving as founding co-chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Plain English Committee where he again serves as co-chair.  He served on the Pennsylvania House of Delegates. He has also provided service to various committees that deal with appellate advocacy, appellate rules, ADR, and technology. A frequent author, educator and lecturer, Judge Klein served 15 years as an adjunct professor at Temple University Law School. He is co-author of the West Publication book, Trial Communication Skills, written with Body Language author Julius Fast and international lawyer Roberto Aron.

$395 per hour for hearing, prep time and travel outside of the area.