Robert J. Dignam

Robert J. Dignam is recognized as a Top 50 Super Lawyer in the State of Indiana. Mr. Dignam has conducted hundreds of civil mediations for the parties who have sought his professional services, consistently guiding them to reach successful settlements of their disputes. For more than a decade, he has conducted mediations in a wide variety of matters in a pre-litigation setting and in cases pending in state and federal courts. He is also an experienced civil litigation and appellate lawyer in the areas of employment and labor law, and in many other areas of law. He also serves as arbitrator to resolve civil litigation disputes. 

Mr. Dignam has attained an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available designation for ethics and legal ability. Mr. Dignam has been named to Best Lawyers in America in the area of Employment Law. He has also been annually recognized as an Indiana Super Lawyer in the areas of Employment and Labor Law, and for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mr. Dignam has represented employers in state and federal courts in Indiana, in federal courts in Illinois, and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and other employment law agencies. He has argued cases for employers before the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals and has represented an employment law client in response to a petition for writ of certiorari before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Dignam serves as lead negotiator in labor negotiations. He has assisted numerous employers in reaching collective bargaining agreements with the representative union. In addition, Mr. Dignam has assisted clients with labor arbitration matters.

Mr. Dignam has presents continuing legal education seminars about the mediation process, including the nuances of mediating employment law disputes. He has helped teach future mediators at the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. For many years, Mr. Dignam served as an adjunct professor at Purdue University Northwest, teaching students conflict resolution techniques, and employment law and human resources concepts. 

Mr. Dignam also presents continuing legal education seminars on labor and employment law topics, including at the request of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the Lake County Bar Association, and private continuing legal education organizations. He has also authored articles addressing various areas of employment law. In 2018, Mr. Dignam published a Law Review article advocating for a change in an area of labor law for the benefit of employers that has now occurred.

Finally, Mr. Dignam frequently serves as a neutral in the role of medical review panel chairman. In this capacity, he guides the parties and helthcare provider panelists through the medical review panel process in accordance with the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act.

• Graduate degree: Doctor of Jurisprudence, May 18, 1986; Valparaiso University School of Law,
  Valparaiso, Indiana.
• Undergraduate degree: Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, May 23, 1983; Saint Xavier
  University, Chicago, Illinois.

Bar Memberships
State of Indiana; United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana; United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois; United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; and United States Supreme Court.

Association Memberships
Indiana State Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Council of Indiana State Bar Association; Lake County Bar Association; Indiana Association of Mediators; Society for Human Resources Management, and Society for Human Resources Management of Northwest Indiana.

Organizations

In addition to being a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Mr. Dignam has been annualy included in Best Lawyers in America and Indiana Super Lawyers for Labor and Employment Law, and has also been recognized by Indiana Super Lawyers for Alternative Dispute Reolution.  

Hourly rate is $300. Will host mediations at law office, will conduct mediations via Zoom, and will travel to conduct mediations whenever that is the preference of the parties.