Ellen Leesfield serves as a Mediator, Arbitrator, Umpire and Special Master. She was certified as a Florida Supreme Court mediator in 2012, and has been a panel member (neutral) for the American Arbitration Association since 2012 Ellen was recently admitted to the prestigious International Panel, as well as the AAA Healthcare Panel.
Over the past 7 years, Ellen has arbitrated over 100 cases, and mediated over 300 cases concentrating in the areas of Complex Commercial, Employment, Hospital/Insurer disputes as well as International (ICDR) cases and Injured Seaman cases.
In the past three years, her caseload has involved a concentration of Complex Commercial, International, Employment and Health law issues, including class action cases which she has tried as a judge, heard as an arbitrator, or settled.
Prior to Arbitrating and Mediating, Judge Leesfield served 19 years on the Circuit Court Bench. During that time, she served as an administrative chief, a judge in the Complex Civil Extended Trial Division, and a judge in the General Jurisdiction division. Throughout her tenure on the bench, Judge Leesfield taught at the Advanced Judicial College and the Florida Judicial College--the training program for all incoming judges in the State of Florida.
In addition to her work as a mediator and arbitrator, Judge Leesfield also accepts selected cases in which she consults with lawyers preparing matters for trial.