With a background in tort and commercial litigation, Mr. Lingl understands that courtrooms are appropriate venues for the resolution of some disputes. However his experience has taught him that less than 10% of the civil cases that are filed actually reach trial, and that most conflicts are better resolved outside of the judicial system. His extensive experience in handling complex interpersonal conflicts, whether arising in a homeowner association, in the probate context, among neighbors, or between businesses that can benefit from maintaining an ongoing relationship, all have helped to shape his "facilitative to evaluative" mediation style.

Mr. Lingl has served as a mediator for the Los Angeles Superior Court. Jim has served on the Ventura Court's mediation panels since 1993 and on the California Department of Insurance Panels since 2003. He has conducted more than 600 mediations, 100 arbitrations, and has represented clients in more than 200 ADR disputes.

Mr. Lingl is a member of the California and Wisconsin State Bars. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Ventura Center for Dispute Resolution (VCDS) since 2002 and was President of the Board from 2003 until 2008. He is a Member of the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), a past Board Member of SCMA, and has been a presenter at the SCMA Annual Conference. Jim is a member of the Channel Island Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, a member of its prestigious College of Community Association Attorneys, and an emeritus member of the California Legislative Action Committee.

He serves as a mediator for the Ventura County Superior Court, for the Ventura Center for Dispute Settlement, for the California Department of Insurance, and in his private practice, with more than 500 successful mediations completed.

Jim is a proud member of Mediators Beyond Borders (MBB), an international peacemaking organization with which he served as the Director of Operations from July, 2009 until February, 2011. He was elected to the Board of Directors of NAFCM - the National Association for Community Mediation - in March, 2011.

In addition to his extensive mediation and arbitration experience, Mr. Lingl has conducted numerous facilitations involving both large and small groups, leading to better communication and functioning within those groups.