James F. Pokorny, Esq.
Contact James’ Case Manager: Veronica Montenegro
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Jim Pokorny has been a licensed California attorney for over 45 years, handling literally thousands of cases, both civil as well as criminal, in state as well as federal courts. Many of these cases were tried to juries. The cases that did not result in jury trials often were resolved with the intervention of professional neutrals. By using alternate dispute resolution, the process saved his clients time, money, and much aggravation.
Jim decided to make the transition from legal advocate to mediator in 2014 and began his mediation training at Pepperdine Law School. He became a full-time neutral in 2017 and since then has mediated cases throughout Southern California, both in person and using virtual platforms. Conducting scores of mediations only reinforced Jim’s belief that there is no “one size fits all” approach to resolving disputes. In every case, the parties are unique, their legal claims are nuanced, and their interests underlying their legal claims are deeply personal. Jim diligently studies and evaluates all of these critical factors in order to help parties build a customized pathway to resolution.
RATES:
Hourly rate: $550 per hour
$300 non-refundable administrative fee per party
Superior Court Ordered Civil Mediations:
- Civil Limited: $150 per hour for each of the first two hours and $550 per hour thereafter.
- Civil Unlimited: $250 per hour for each of the first two hours and $550 per hour thereafter.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
- Aviation and air crash litigation
- Business and commercial contracts
- Insurance coverage
- Partnership dissolution
- Personal injury
- Products liability
LEGAL CAREER & PRIOR EXPERIENCE:
Trial attorney, 1977-2017
Mediator, Pokorny Mediations, San Diego 2017-2019
Mediator, ADR Services, Inc., 2019-2022
Mediator, West Coast Resolution Group, 2023-present
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
Bar Admissions
- California, 1977
Education
- University of California, San Diego, B.A.1970
- University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D.1975
- Pepperdine University, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, 2014
California State Bar
- California Young Lawyers’ Association, Former Vice President
- California State Bar Board of Governors, Former Member
- Law Practice Management Section, Past Chair, Executive Committee
Bar Association Affiliations
- San Diego County Bar Association, ongoing member from 1977 to present
- San Diego County Bar Association, Aviation Law Section, Co-Founder and Past Chair
- San Diego County Bar Association, Bar Dinner Committee Past Chair 1980-1984
- San Diego County Bar Association, Attorney Client Fee Arbitration Panelist, 2017-2022
- Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, past board member
- San Diego Defense Lawyers, past member
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers, current member
- Lawyer’s Club of San Diego, Former Member
- San Diego Criminal Defense Bar Association, Former Member
- San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Club, Former Member
- Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, Past President
- San Diego Inn of Court, Past President
Court Designations
- San Diego Municipal Court, Past Judge Pro Tempore
- San Diego Superior Court, Civil Mediation Panelist, 2017-present
Other Professional Affiliations
- Legal Commentator, KUSI Television, 1995-2000
- Airplane Owners and Pilots Association, former legal services panelist
- FAA Licensed Commercial Pilot with over 3,000 hours of flight time
ACHIEVEMENTS & AWARDS:
Member, United States Registry of Who’s Who Among Outstanding Americans, 1994
Finalist, San Diego County “Top Attorneys,” The Daily Transcript, 2009
Super Lawyers, San Diego Magazine (2010 to present)
TESTIMONIALS:
“Mr. Pokorny was extremely professional and well versed in the subject matter. He was a fair and impartial neutral who treated all parties with courtesy and respect. It was obvious that he took the time to review the voluminous pre-mediation briefs. He was intimately familiar with the case, showing that he spent a substantial period of time doing research, something my client and I greatly appreciated. I would not hesitate to use him again nor would I hesitate to recommend his services to other counsel.”
– Steven L. Graff, Steven L. Graff, Inc., Temecula, CA
“Mr. Pokorny did a wonderful job. Although it was a difficult case, Mr. Pokorny is a magnificent mediator. He had an excellent grasp of the facts and knew the relevant law. Due to his excellent skills, all parties involved understood the situation. We were very pleased with Mr. Pokorny and will use his services again for any future mediations in California.”
– William Harger, William G. Harger & Associates, PLLC, Richmond, TX
“Working with Mr. Pokorny was an absolute pleasure. I appreciated his effectiveness and determination in resolving our case. Jim’s exceptional patience was a valuable skill during our mediation. His abilities to listen attentively, communicate effectively, and maintain a calm professionalism are what make him such a strong mediator. I am grateful for his expertise.”
– Genevieve M. Sauter, Esq., Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach, LLP, San Diego, CA
“Jim Pokorny recently successfully mediated a case which all parties believed was unresolvable. He was well-prepared and was thoroughly familiar with the facts and issues of the case and each party’s respective positions. He treated everyone with the utmost respect. His penetrating questions and analyses, coupled with his perspective and sense of humor made the impossible happen. I would not hesitate to utilize him again and unqualifiedly recommend his services to others.
– Michael L. Dworkin, Managing Partner, Avialex Law Group, LLP, San Mateo, CA
PUBLISHED WORKS:
“The Law and Mr. Finnegan”, Consulting Editor, State Bar of California, September, 1991
“California Practice Guide: Law Practice Management”, Consulting Editor, The Rutter Group, November, 1992
“The Real Truth About Air Crash Litigation”, Dicta Magazine, San Diego County Bar Association, June & July, 1993