There isn't a mediator working today who can teach you more about obtaining the winning edge in your next mediation or negotiation than Judicate West's Judge John Leo Wagner (Ret.)  

Judge Wagner and I each have a negotiation seminar presentation that we have  separately presented to businesses and law firms.  

Judge Wagner is often willing to come along to one of my in-house gigs so if you'd like to hear him, give me a call at 323.217.5162. 

I've presented my seminar at the following locales to rave reviews -- O'Melveny & Myers; Squire, Sanders & Dempsey; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Musick, Peller & Garrett; Katten, Muchin; Selman, Breitman; Wilson, Elser; and, the Anderson School of Management, Summer Entrepreneurship Institute, among others.

I don't have Judge Wagner's list but if my presentations have been "raves," his have been even ravier (a word he would frown on but compliments he cannot deny). 

For more on Judge Wagner, see the extended entry.

Judge Wagner has 20 years of experience in conducting ADR processes.

In 1997, he left the Federal bench to become the Director of the Irell & Manella ADR Center, where he engaged in a full-time practice as a neutral.

Judge Wagner previously served for 12 years as a U. S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Oklahoma. He was appointed to this position at age 31, after trying many substantial cases to verdict as a litigation partner with Kornfeld & Franklin.

While on the Federal bench, he founded and administered a court-annexed mediation program and served as an ADR neutral, in addition to maintaining a full civil caseload. Judge Wagner has successfully conducted thousands of mediations and arbitrations.

Judge Wagner is well respected for his extensive experience with multi-party settlements and has often been called upon to resolve particularly complex or difficult cases including intellectual property, construction defect, environmental and mass torts, as well as securities and consumer class actions.

He has also earned a reputation for handling matters with a high emotional content (including employment, civil rights and partnership dissolution) plus all types of business, insurance and personal injury disputes. Our clients universally comment on how knowledgeable, skilled and prepared he is. He sees even the most difficult matters through to full resolution.


Exemplar Case List 8-25-05.doc


Director, Irell & Manella ADR Center, Irell & Manella LLP, Los Angeles (1998-05)

U. S. Magistrate Judge, Northern District of Oklahoma, Tulsa (1985-97)

Trial Lawyer and Litigation Partner, Kornfeld & Franklin, Oklahoma City (1980-85)

Fellow and Director, International Academy of Mediators

Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators

CPR Institution for Dispute Resolution Mediation Advisory Committee

CPR/Georgetown Commission on Ethics and Standards in ADR

CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution Panel of Distinguished Neutrals

Southern California Mediation Association

ABA and Orange County Bar Association ADR Sections

Former Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Tulsa College of Law

Past President, Council Oak American Inn of Court

Former Director, Federal Magistrate Judges Association

J.D., University of Oklahoma College of Law (1979); B.A., University of Oklahoma (1976)

Los Angeles Superior Court Certificate of Appreciation for service as an attorney settlement officer (2004)

Jack R. Givens Leadership Award, Council Oak American Inn of Court (1997)

City of Tulsa Certificate of Appreciation for training mediators in State Court and City ADR program (1990)

Outstanding Federal Magistrate, Oklahoma Trial Lawyers Association (1987)