Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Experience:

Patrick C. Coughlan is one of the most experienced and successful mediators in the country and one of the few with substantial catastrophic case and mass tort experience. In 1987, he was a leader in developing an ADR process which offered a viable alternative to the court system, and he has worked exclusively as a mediator and arbitrator since that time. He is skilled at bringing people with divergent points of view together without playing favorites. Patrick Coughlan has mediated over twenty five hundred cases and is one of the few mediators who is asked to travel throughout the U.S. and Canada to help settle complex and difficult disputes.

Pat is skilled in working with challenging personalties. He helps parties understand the risks and costs of litigation as well as the personal commitment required to carry a matter through to conclusion. He is able to build trust with all participants in a mediation in an effective and timely manner. Pat comes to a mediation thoroughly prepared, and the participants appreciate his understanding of the facts, the law, and each party’s perspective.

"Big Dig" Central Artery Project (Boston, MA) $14 billion construction project; Issues: construction defect, design defect, and insurance coverage / approximately forty cases--all settled

Catastrophic Burn Case (Pennsylvania) Settled in excess of $10 million; Issues: liability, insurance coverage, and damages

Product Liability / Personal Injury (Florida) Vehicle burn accident; Settled for $5 million.

Product Liability / Wrongful Death (Florida) Vehicle faulty construction; Settled for $5 million.

Product Liability / Personal Injury (Maine) Over the counter medication; Settled for $10 million.

Nursing Home Negligence (Connecticut) Settled in excess of $2 million.

Medical Malpractice (many cases) Examples: Infection Damage (Maine) Settled for $4 million; Birth Injury (New York) Settled for $3 million; Birth Injury (New Hampshire) Settled for $2 million.

Contract (North Carolina) Three Major Energy Companies / Settled for $3 million.

Employment (many cases) Issues: Retaliation, Sexual Abuse, Civil Rights, Public and Private Contracts, Wrongful Discharge, Discrimination

Construction: Schools, Universities, Medical Centers (Various Locations) All cases settled in $2 - $15 million range; Issues: negligent design and engineering, negligent construction, rehab, HVAC

Construction (Many Cases) All settled in $1 to $150 million range; Examples: building rehab/heat & ventilation; solid waste landfill engineering; negligent design and construction of sewage treatment plant .

Intellectual Property (Many Cases) Issues involving a broad range of matters, including patent and copyright .

In addition, Pat Coughlan was a Founding Director of the Private Adjudication Center at Duke University, Durham, N.C. (1983-2002) and Member of its Complex Litigation Panel (1997-2002). That Panel mediated significant multi-party and multi-million dollar cases.

Pat was also the founder and President of Resolve Disputes INC. of North America (1987-1992) a national mediation and arbitration firm.

Writing and Speaking Engagements:

Mr. Coughlan has been a featured speaker at seminars throughout the country. Recent speeches include:

2008

Miami Beach, Florida (April) / USLAW NETWORK Membership Meeting and Client Conference/ (“Making the Most of Mediation”)
Published (June 19, 2008) Maine Lawyers Review, “Choosing the Right Mediator”

2007

Chicago, IL (April) / DRI Insurance Coverage and Claims Institute/. (“Getting to Yes" - Mediating the Complex Coverage Case)

2005

San Antonio, TX (June) / 44th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys /. (“Effective Mediation Advocacy: Making it Work for your Client”)

Bar Harbor, ME (June) 2005 Maine State Bar Association Summer Meeting / (“Settling the Giant Case”)

Montreal P.Q. (May) International Academy of Mediators Spring Education Conference / (Mediating the Billion Dollar Case)

Naples, FL (April) Minor League Club / (“How to Mediate and Settle Billion Dollar Disputes”)

Interview (February) “Place of Peace, more than ever,” by Paul Livingstone, Portland (Maine) Press Herald, February 10, 2005 (Interview of Patrick C. Coughlan)

2004

Phoenix, AZ (March) American Bar Association (Settling Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation)

Boston, MA (March) Northeast Regional Conference, Massachusetts Bar Association, Young Lawyers’ Division ( Role of the Lawyer in Mediation)

Published (Fall 2004) American Bar Association's The Brief, "Why Mediation? Taking the Leap of Faith."

Other speaking engagements include: 2002 DPIC Loss Prevention Convocation, Vancouver, BC, Los Angeles County Bar, California Coastal Planners, California Business Law Institute, Lincoln Institute, University of Southern California, Maine Real Estate Forum, Kennebec Valley Bar Association, Bearings Group, Maine State Bar Association, National Business Institute, George Washington University: Personnel Law Update, and the International Academy of Mediators.

Teaching Engagements:

Teaching and presenting seminars to business and industry on the following subjects: negotiation skills; conflict management; and organizational development. Teaching and presenting seminars to non-profit groups and corporations on surviving in an era of limits (financial and other)

Professional Associations:

Member, Global Dispute Resolution Network
International Academy of Mediators, Fellow Director, Vice President, 1996-2005, Membership Chair, 1996-2001
American College of Civil Trial Mediators, Fellow
International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, Member, Panels of Distinguished Neutrals
Member, Association for Conflict Resolution
Maine Association of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, President 1990-1992
American Arbitration Association, Arbitrator
Florida Academy of Professional Mediators,Diplomate Member
Supreme Court of Florida Certified Circuit Court Mediator
International Mediation Institute
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority

Bar Memberships:

Maine State Bar, 1985-date, Florida Bar, 1965-date, California Bar, 1974-date, Supreme Court of the United States, 1968, United States Federal Court, Southern District of Florida, 1971 Central District of California, 1976.  

Legal Experience:

President, Conflict Solutions, Raymond, Maine and Naples, Florida (1992-Present)

Richards, Watson & Gershon, Partner, Los Angeles, California, 1975-1982. Of Counsel, 1982-1985. Extensive experience representing various governmental agencies and corporations in construction, personal injury, land use, zoning, construction, land development, and environmental matters, as well as general business matters. Litigation experience in both Federal and State Courts. Litigation included personal injury, constitutional issues, inverse condemnation, labor law, zoning, and numerous business matters.

Alley, Maass, Rogers, Lindsay, & Chauncey, Partner, Palm Beach, Florida, 1972-1974; Associate 1969-1971. Extensive experience in real estate, wills, probate, business.

Judge, Ocean Ridge, Florida, 1970-1972

Judge Advocate, USAF, 1965-1968. Command Prosecutor Third Air Force

Business Experience:

Kingsley Pines Camp and Conference Center, President and Owner, 1984-date

Northern Pines INC., President and Owner, 1980-1985

Atlantean Partners, Managing Partner, real estate investments and development, 1986-date

Atlantean Partners, LLC, Management Consulting, 2002-date

Educational Background:

Nova University, Commercial Mediation Training
Harvard School of Negotiation, Seminar on Negotiation
School of Law, Duke University, J.D. Academic Scholarship throughout law school. Moot Court.
Duke University,Undergraduate, B.A. Dean's List; Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities; Chairman, Court of Appeals; Vice President of Senior Class; Housemaster; Arnold Air Society; Distinguished Military Graduate; Varsity Lacrosse; Varsity Swimming.
Pingry School, High School, Elizabeth, N.J.  

Honors:

2010 - Best Lawyers, "Best Law Firms" Excellent ranking for Conflict Solutions
2010 - Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, Practice Area: Alternative Dispute Resolution
2006 - present: The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Alternative Dispute Resolution
2006 - present: Florida Super Lawyer
2007 - present: New England Super Lawyer
2006 Designated one of "Lawdragon 500 Leading Judges in America" (Jan. 2006)
Who's Who in America, 1982-Date.
Who's Who in the World, 1983-1986; 2004-date.
Who's Who in California, 1982-1985.
Outstanding Service Award; World Affairs Council of Maine, 1989.

Community Affairs:

North Yarmouth Academy, President, Board of Trustees, Yarmouth, Maine, 1985-1989. Trustee, 1984-1993.
World Affairs Council of Maine, President, 1986-1989. Chair, Corporate Committee 1989-date. Trustee, 1985-1993.
Natural Resources Council of Maine, Treasurer, 1989-1992; Trustee, 1989-1993. Vice-President 1991-1992; Secretary 1990-1991.
Portland Stage Company, Trustee, 1989-1992.
Susan Curtis Foundation, Trustee, 1991-1998.
La Peninsula Condominium Association, Florida, Director, 1997-1998.
Maine Youth Camping Association, President, 1994-date; Vice-President, 1990-1992; Secretary 1989-1990.
League of Women Voters, Portland, Maine, Finance Chair and Board Member,1985-1986.
Board of Appeals, Raymond, Maine, Chairman,1984-1998; Member, 1982-1998.
Government Reorganization Committee, Raymond, Maine, Member,1984.
Planning Review Committee, Raymond, Maine, Member,1986-1987.
Gulf Stream School, Trustee, Gulf Stream, Florida, 1970-1988; Secretary, 1970-1984.
Parish Council,Our Lady of Perpetual Help, North Windham, Maine, President, 1983-1985. Member, 1983-1986.
Mountains Restoration Trust, Trustee, California, 1981-1982.
Duke University, Area Recruiting Representative, 1974-1975. Fund raising Representative, 1977-1982. Law School Placement Advisor, 1978-1982.
University of Southern Maine, Annual Fund Committee, 1990-1991.

Personal Background:

Married to Joyce T. Coughlan; 3 grown children.

"I had a client who was not very enthusiastic about or open to mediation...changed her mind...because of Pat's style." C.R.

 "...thank you for your skillful intervention and in particular for taking the time to make follow-up calls to move this case to a final settlement. The proof is in the pudding and the value of your contribution, Pat, was evident in the outcome." T.P.

"Dear Pat, Thank you very much for your experienced and professional approach to yesterday's mediation...If I have any further matters which might be appropriate for mediation, you can be certain that I will be calling you again." M.M.