Practical, Prepared and Responsive Mediation
Thomas P. Valenti brings more than 45 years of legal experience to the mediation process. His background as a trial attorney, mediator, arbitrator, and educator helps him understand both the legal issues and the personal and business concerns that can make disputes difficult to resolve.
Tom has served as a mediator since 2000. He works with counsel and parties to create a focused process that encourages candid evaluation, productive communication, and informed decision-making.
Matters Mediated
Tom is available to mediate disputes involving:
- Personal injury
- Medical malpractice and healthcare
- Commercial and business matters
- Contracts
- Employment and workplace issues
- Property damage
- Products and premises liability
- Construction matters
- Professional and interpersonal conflict
- Other civil disputes
Approach to Mediation
Tom does more than exchange settlement demands and offers. He works to understand the dispute, the parties’ priorities, and the obstacles that may be preventing resolution.
His approach includes:
- Careful preparation before the mediation
- Respectful engagement with counsel and parties
- Realistic examination of risk, cost, and uncertainty
- Flexibility in addressing the needs of each case
- Persistence when resolution requires time and creativity
The parties retain control over whether and how the dispute is resolved. Tom’s role is to provide a fair, constructive process that helps them evaluate their choices and explore practical solutions.
Qualifications
Tom is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and serves or has served on respected domestic and international dispute-resolution panels. He is also an approved mediator for the Circuit Court of Cook County and has served with the Medical Malpractice Mediation Program at Rush University Medical Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of disputes can be mediated?
Mediation can be used for many civil and commercial disputes, including business, employment, contract, professional, organizational, and interpersonal matters. Contact Tom to discuss whether mediation is appropriate for your particular dispute.
How does mediation work?
The mediator helps the participants identify the issues, exchange information, explore interests, and evaluate possible resolutions. The parties—not the mediator—decide whether to settle and on what terms.
Is mediation confidential?
Mediation communications are generally treated as confidential, subject to applicable law and the parties’ mediation agreement. Specific confidentiality provisions are reviewed before the mediation begins.
Are virtual mediations available?
Yes. Mediations may be conducted online, in person, or through a combination of both, depending on the participants’ needs and circumstances.
How long does mediation take?
The time required depends on the complexity of the dispute, the number of participants, and how prepared the parties are. Some matters can be addressed in a single session; others require additional sessions.
What are the mediation fees?
Fees depend on the nature, complexity, anticipated duration, and location of the mediation. Fee and scheduling information will be provided after an initial inquiry and conflict check.
How do I inquire about availability?
Use the Contact page to provide the names of the parties, counsel, the general nature of the dispute, and possible dates. Please do not include confidential or sensitive information in the initial inquiry.
Discuss a Mediation
To inquire about availability, fees, procedures, or scheduling:
Thomas P. Valenti
Email: tpv@valentilaw.com
Telephone: 312-925-0081
Request Mediation Information
