A Mediator Who Has Been in Your Seat – Jim Magrames

Experience Matters: What Jim Magrames Brings to the Mediation Process

A mediator can be perfectly neutral and still be no help at all. Neutrality gets a mediator hired. Experience, good judgment, and a time-tested feel for how cases are evaluated are what get cases resolved.

Jim Magrames has that experience. He spent 29 years practicing law, mostly defending complex litigation and insurance claims, and took part in over 600 mediations along the way. Now he’s bringing that wisdom to the other side of the table through Magrames Mediation Services at Kopka Law Group.

What 600 Mediations Teach You

Jim has been the lawyer in the room when a negotiation stalled, when an offer landed wrong, and when a case settled in the last hour of the day. He knows what plaintiff’s counsel needs to hear before they’ll move, and what an adjuster needs to see before they’ll authorize more.

His case experience includes:

• Catastrophic injury and wrongful death
• Trucking, Auto, and construction accidents
• Property damage and contract disputes
• Personal Injury, premises liability, and product liability
• Multimillion-dollar claims

He also handled pre-suit rapid response, which means getting involved in the first hours and days after a serious incident, long before anyone puts a number on it. He’s seen how big claims take shape, so he knows what the early decisions look like once a case reaches mediation.

How Jim Approaches a Mediation

Every case stalls somewhere. Sometimes it’s liability, sometimes it’s a damages number, and sometimes it’s two sides that haven’t actually heard each other. Jim’s job is to find the sticking point and work through it with everyone in the room.

He comes from the defense side, and he’s a neutral in this chair. After hundreds of mediations, he understands what both sides are weighing, and he’ll give you a straight read on the risks in your position, whichever side you’re on.

Scheduling and Fees

• Format: Half-day or full-day sessions, on Zoom or in person at Kopka Law Group’s offices in Crown Point or Carmel, Indiana. In-person sessions can also be held at a location the parties choose.
• Start times: Sessions typically begin at 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. Central. If you need a different start time, just ask.
• Travel: For in-person mediations that require travel, the first hour is included at no charge.
• Fees: $400 per hour. Final billing is invoiced after the mediation concludes, and the invoice is split between the parties as needed.

Book a Mediation with Jim

Use the Book A Mediation button at kopkalaw.com to choose a date, format, and session length, and send over the case details. Jim’s team will follow up to confirm availability and finalize the details. Questions or special requests can be sent to JMagMediations@kopkalaw.com.