James Hardin

And Why Most Cases Should Settle

Not every case can settle. But most should — and most will, in the hands of an effective mediator.

Litigation is expensive, unpredictable, and exhausting. Even strong cases carry real risk at trial. The question is rarely whether settlement makes sense — it’s whether the right conditions exist to get there.

That’s where James comes in. Drawing on over 25 years of litigating and trying employment and business cases on both sides of the table, James understands what it takes to move a case toward resolution. Through a combination of pressure, prodding, coaxing, and connection — and an unflinching willingness to share his candid assessment of each side’s strengths and vulnerabilities — James helps parties find the common ground that makes settlement possible.

He doesn’t just facilitate conversation. He drives resolution.

James approaches every mediation the way he has always approached litigation: with thorough preparation, a command of the facts and the law, and a clear-eyed focus on what it will take to resolve the case.

He listens carefully to all parties to foster openness and trust. He identifies the real obstacles to settlement — whether legal, practical, or emotional. And when the moment calls for it, he speaks frankly, applying the kind of constructive pressure that breaks deadlocks and drives cases toward resolution.

James mediates employment disputes of all kinds — wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage and hour, and more — as well as a wide range of business disputes, including contract claims, partnership and ownership disagreements, and trade secret matters.

Let’s get your case settled.