Fair and Reasonable Results
Mark Taylor ADR is an independent mediation service that facilitates settlement negotiations between parties engaged in civil litigation, without undue risk, delay, and litigation expense. My goal as a mediator is to establish a process that allows the parties to arrive at a resolution they accept as fair and reasonable.
As a Presiding Judge for most of my judicial career and as a leading mediator in the Judicial ADR program, I have resolved thousands of civil, family, and criminal cases. Upon retiring from the bench, my commitment to resolving civil matters has inspired the formation of Mark Taylor ADR.
Mediation
Creative Solutions
Mark Taylor ADR provides a forum for mediating all civil matters in which the parties are represented by legal counsel. The participants are free to collectively determine the scope and process of discussions, and I encourage parties to propose creative solutions, beyond the limited remedies available to a judge or jury through adjudication.
Careful Listening
I find that carefully listening to the parties and their lawyers is the best method of advancing cases toward resolution. Since most mediation participants desire to be heard and understood, I begin most mediations with a roundtable discussion followed by caucuses, unless otherwise indicated by the dispute. During caucuses, parties and their counsel privately speak with me to consider the relative merits of their positions and craft a strategy toward reaching an agreement. If an impasse occurs, I usually speak with counsel alone to determine how best to advance the case toward future constructive discussions or litigation.
Preparation
Counsel should be prepared to present their cases to the participating decision-makers during the plenary session. I find this helps to ensure a common understanding of the facts, legal principles, and other considerations forming the parties’ positions.
Counsel should provide a five-page written summary at least two days before the mediation session, which shall be shared with the opposing side(s). Expert opinions may be summarized or, if nuanced, may be added as attachments along with exhibits. The history of the parties’ negotiations and motion practice should be included in the shared submissions; however, under separate cover, counsel may privately share with me their specific goals for the mediation process.
About
Honorable Mark H. Taylor, Retired
Mark Taylor was appointed to the Superior Court in 2003 and, after nearly 20 years on the bench, retired as a Senior Judge in 2022. Before his retirement, he was a trial judge in the Hartford, Waterbury, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Middlesex judicial districts assigned to civil, family, and criminal matters. He served as the Administrative Judge in Waterbury, as well as 10 years as the Presiding Judge of all civil matters in Waterbury and Meriden, and for 4 years as the Presiding Judge of all family matters in Hartford and Meriden.
While leading the Waterbury Judicial District, Mark piloted and implemented the Waterbury Mediation Center and the now state-wide individual calendaring system for all civil matters. He served on the Civil Commission, the Bench/Bar Foreclosure Roundtable, led eight Judicial Education programs for his fellow judges, and has mentored newly appointed judges through the Judicial Branch mentoring program. In 2019, Mark received the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Judicial Award.
A Career in the Law
Mark Taylor graduated with Honors from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1983 after receiving his B.A. in English Literature from Drew University in 1977, where he was the President of the Student Government Association and, upon graduation, Assistant Director of Admissions.
After several years of private practice and serving as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Connecticut, Mark was employed as the first full-time legal counsel in the Connecticut State Senate, where he served as Chief Legal Counsel until his appointment as a Judge of the Superior Court in 2003. He has also been an Adjunct Professor of Law and instructor for many years at the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Memberships
Connecticut Bar Association
American Bar Association
Bar Admissions
State of Connecticut (1983)
U.S. District Court, Connecticut (1984)
VIRTUAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE SPRING AND FALL
Since retiring from the bench, Mark and his wife Barbara now enjoy several months each spring and fall at their 13th-century home overlooking the cliffs of Orvieto, Italy.
While abroad, the availability of virtual mediations by Zoom are shown on the calendar below as “free.”
Choose from the available calendar dates for mediation and collectively submit a request by email, including the email addresses of all participants and their schedulers.
Email: mark@marktayloradr.com
Phone: 860-306-8008
Contact
PLEASE NOTE: WHILE IN ITALY DURING SPRING AND FALL MONTHS, DATES AVAILABLE FOR VIRTUAL MEDIATION SESSIONS APPEAR ON THE CALENDAR AS “FREE.”