Judge Wagner has 30 years of experience in conducting ADR processes. In 1997, he left the Federal bench to become the Director of the Irell & Manella ADR Center, where he engaged in full-time practice as a neutral. He previously served for 12 years as a U. S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Oklahoma. He was appointed to this position at age 31, after trying many substantial cases to verdict as a litigation partner with Kornfeld & Franklin. While on the Federal bench, he founded and administered a court-annexed mediation program and served as an ADR neutral, in addition to maintaining a full civil caseload.
Judge Wagner has successfully conducted thousands of mediations and arbitrations. He is respected and requested for his extensive experience and skill in resolving multi-party, and extremely complex issues in cases involving intellectual property, construction defects, environmental and mass torts, as well as securities and consumer class actions. He has also earned a reputation for handling matters with a high emotional content including employment, civil rights, partnership dissolution plus all types of business, insurance, and personal injury disputes.
One client commented "Judge Wagner offers a unique combination of the federal bench and private practice experience. With this experience and his calm and even-handed disposition, he earned credibility with everyone." Both plaintiff and defense concur Judge Wagner is knowledgeable, intelligent, creative, and perceptive, and works relentlessly to resolve disputes.
In his spare time, Judge Wagner enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, who share in his interest in muscle cars, backpacking, chess and travel.
"His perseverance and diligence are unique."
- Attorney on a Consumer Class Action Matter
"Judge Wagner was excellent! This was a difficult case with a lot of emotion, and no one thought it would actually settle. He immediately gained credibility with the client under difficult circumstances."
- Attorney on a Business/Contractual Matter
"Judge Wagner was fully prepared, hard-working, and patient. We would definitely use him again. "
- Shareholder at a Southern California Law Firm and Litigator for over 52 Years
"I am writing to express my gratitude and to describe my experience with Judge Wagner. Judge Wagner is as accomplished and hard working mediator who agreed to take our case despite a full schedule. Two prior mediations on the case were fruitless. Despite this, he calmly and strategically mapped out a plan to satisfy nine different parties. Through strict dedication, Judge Wagner was able to keep the parties engaged, where many other mediators would have simply quit. My hat is off to Judicate West, and specifically to John Leo Wagner."
- Attorney, Inland Empire, California
"Judge Wagner was creative in fashioning a compromise. "
- California Attorney General, Ret.
"The experience was overall positive. I felt that Judge Wagner was a very professional and helpful mediator. "
- Attorney on an Employment Wrongful Termination case
"He took the time to listen and proposed creative resolutions."
- Attorney on a Complex Commercial Dispute
"Judge Wagner was patient when appropriate, firm when he needed to be and "acted like a judge" when that was needed, and that was very helpful in the process. I loved his methodology for reducing plaintiff's demands and increasing defendant's offers."
- Attorney, Orange County, California
601 S. Figueroa
Ste 3400
Los Angeles, CA 90017
Phone: 213.223.1113
Fax : 213.223.1114
980 9th Street
Suite 2200
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916.394.8490
Fax : 916.394.8495
402 W. Broadway
Ste 2400
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: 619.814.1966
Fax : 619.814.1967
100 Pine Street
Ste 1950
San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: 415.266.1242
Fax : 415.266.1243
1851 East First Street
Ste 1600
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714.834.1340
Fax : 714.834.1344
11601 Wilshire Blvd
Ste 2040
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 310.442.2100
Fax : 310.442.2125
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