MLV MEDIATION
SERVICES
Mark L. Van Valkenburgh has been a practicing attorney for sixteen years and is certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court for circuit civil cases and by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He began his career as a trial lawyer, litigating a wide variety of real estate and business disputes. During that time, Mr. Van Valkenburgh began focusing his practice on employment related disputes. He has won significant jury trials representing both former employees and employers. The majority of his current practice is in the field of human resources consulting and employment law litigation although he continues to also conduct corporate litigation for select clients. Mr. Van Valkenburgh also teaches the art of negotiation to students at the Barry University College of Law in his class "Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation."
During his legal career, Mr. Van Valkenburgh has served on the Executive Board of the First Central Florida Inns of Court, was named outstanding committee chairperson by the Orange County Bar Association and was honored by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce as Leadership Winter Park's Volunteer of the Year. He currently serves on Boards for the Winter Park Public Library and Leadership Winter Park. Mr. Van Valkenburgh graduated fourth out of a law school class of one hundred seventy eight. While in school, he was named one of only two New England Scholars for two consecutive years and earned "book" awards in Business Organizations and Sales. He also served as Case and Notes Editor of the New England Law Review.
Before a mediation, Mr. Van Valkenburgh always takes the time to insure that he is familiar with the subject matter of the mediation and, to the extent possible, the specific facts and applicable legal principles of the dispute. During the mediation, he prides himself on being an effective, empathetic listener who remains flexible in style and procedure, effectively using his own negotiating and problem-solving skills to assist the parties in resolving their disagreement.