James A. Hales, J.D.

Jim is an exceptional mediator and seasoned attorney with 22 years' experience in a wide variety of legal fields as a civil practitioner, litigator and General Counsel for a group of manufacturing and construction firms with annual sales of $160,000,000.  His wide-ranging expertise and unique ability to understand different perspectives have resulted from a full spectrum work history starting in the trenches as a plant laborer all the way through to the forefront of business management.

Jim’s responsibilities as General Counsel included the autonomous determination of all business legal needs; facilitating the sale, acquisition and formation of new companies; overseeing multi-million dollar litigations in a wide variety of dispute contexts, including breach of contract, patent infringement, insurance coverage, construction defect, personal injury, wrongful death and lien foreclosure; facilitating company activities in all areas of labor/employment relations including  the negotiation of Collective Bargaining Agreements, resolving EEOC claims, facilitating immigrant work visas, and providing hands-on direction of training for employees; maintaining compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements; creating company-wide policies and procedures; drafting and negotiating contracts and other legal documents including numerous $10,000,000 + sales contracts; determining overall risk management needs, including the development of loss prevention programs, procurement of insurance policies and bonds, overseeing claims management, performing coverage analysis and obtaining coverage enforcement via declaratory relief actions; handling all intellectual property matters, including drafting and negotiating Nondisclosure Agreements and assisting with patent applications; overseeing collection activities including the preparation and filing of liens and claims against public funds, pursuit of bond claims, etc.; and the providing of hands-on support to all aspects of company operations.  

MEDIATION STYLE

Jim’s unique mediation style strives to facilitate a resolution to any given dispute through a strong sense of empathy and an ability to diffuse emotional impediments by focusing on the practical benefits of a mediated settlement vs. an embattled approach to “winning” at all costs.  By setting and maintaining a consistent tone where all participants sense an even playing field, they are then able to acknowledge that reasonable minds can sometimes differ and the process of resolving those differences can begin. The progression of coming to a resolution must be flexible, creative and tailored so that no participant feels they are being victimized and objective thinking can carry the day.  

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

•           Certified Mediator, Iowa Association of Mediators

•           Certified Major Case Civil Mediator, Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County

•           Construction Mediator, Association of Missouri Mediators

•           Commercial Section Member, Association for Conflict Resolution

•           Member, International Academy of Dispute Resolution

•           Member, American Bar Association, Section on Dispute Resolution

•           Member, Iowa State Bar Association, Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution

•           Currently licensed to practice law in Iowa and Illinois, with prior licenses in California, Nevada and Michigan

WHAT DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES SAY ABOUT JIM

Here’s what two distinguished colleagues recently had to say about Jim:

"Jim Hales has all of the skills and techniques of a superbly qualified mediator.  I can honestly say that his unique talent for mediation is a rare gift.”

Fred Lane, Esq., Past President of the Illinois State Bar Association; Past President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association; Co-Founder of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution

“Jim Hales demonstrates the qualities of the true peacemaker – he has a wealth of experience in the practice of law, he has a superb sense of humor, which all mediators need, he shows great compassion and understanding in working with the parties, and he has the integrity and honesty to be respected by counsel.  He is the complete mediator.” 

Richard M. Calkins, Esq., Dean of the Drake University Law School (1980 – 1988); Past President of the American Academy of ADR Attorneys; Co-Founder and Past President of the International Academy of Dispute Resolution

1703 Koestner Street

Burlington, IA 52601

Phone: 319-572-0622

Email: [email protected]