Mediator Profiles
- Photo
- Name
- Paul G. Simon
- First Name
- Paul
- Last Name
- Simon
- Metropolitan Area
- Chicago
- State
- IL
- Industries Served
- Advertising/Media, Business Services, Energy, Entrepreneurial, Financial Services, Franchise, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Retail, Other Commercial
- Expertise
- Contracting, Executive Management, Finance, General Business, HR/Employment, Legal, Marketing, Med-Arb, Mergers/Acquisitions, Shareholder/Partnerships
- Associations
- Illinois State Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin
- License or Certification
- Law, Mediator, Arbitrator
- Business Background
- 40 years of starting, managing, investing in and advising businesses in a variety of industries. Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of publicly-held Universal Outdoor, Inc.; Managing Director of The Wall Street Journal Office Network; Founder Business Mediation Network; Board of Director member
- College or University
- University of Notre Dame, Northwestern University School of Law
- Degrees
- BA, JD
- Biography
Paul Simon is the founder and CEO of Business Mediation Network. In addition to serving as business mediator and arbitrator, Paul is a frequent speaker on the benefits of mediation – see BMN Presentations – and is one of the principal trainers for BMN’s Mediator Training program. Paul also works with graduate business and law schools as well as professional and trade associations to design programs on mediation and facilitated negotiation.
Paul spent over 11 years in private commercial law practice before turning to the business world nearly 30 years ago. After handling commercial lawsuits in a number of states from North Carolina to Hawaii, Paul has served as a senior executive and corporate counsel managing and advising both private and public companies on domestic and international business. Paul is the rare attorney who has personally tried lawsuits to verdict and has been part of an executive team managing a successful Initial Public Offering.
Paul has worked with a number of fast-growing companies from start ups to publicly-held. He has substantial merger and acquisition experience and has negotiated numerous business and legal issues involving contracts, employees, partnership, real estate and intellectual property. The skills gained from managing company resources and reconciling conflicting business interests, combined with his legal experience, gives Paul a valuable perspective as a mediator.
Having investigated, managed, litigated and resolved hundreds of disputes involving virtually all types of business issues, Paul brings a wealth of experience and perspective, and a number of amusing and surprising litigation anecdotes, to every mediation conference. Insightful and scrupulously fair, Paul encourages the parties in conflict to look forward not back and to consider their legal positions in the context of their broader interests.
- Testimonials
“Paul Simon mediated a very difficult case in which I represented one of the parties involving the dissolution of a real estate holding company. Paul brought a very strong understanding of business and real estate to the case, which was invaluable in helping the parties better evaluate their respective positions and reach a settlement. Paul took the time to understand the case prior to the mediation, which also added to the success of the mediation. He exhibited a great deal of patience with very emotional parties. I would highly recommend him.”
Chicago, Illinois
“I cannot recommend Paul highly enough. Paul provided expert advice to help guide, arbitrate and successfully settle a very complex and potentially costly case. His highly professional, commercial and sensitive approach was invaluable. I would have no hesitation appointing Paul again.”
London, U.K.
“Paul has extensive court experience litigating commercial cases, and is a very creative lawyer when it comes to resolving commercial disputes. His knowledge of commercial law, finance law and tax law enable him to understand the meaning and consequences of proposed transactions and settlements. He has a way of seeing and understanding both sides of controversies and knows intuitively not to make a one-sided deal that cannot stand the test of time. People know Paul to be fair-minded and respect him for it.”
Downers Grove, Illinois
“Paul’s approach to issues was calm and thorough and his proposed solutions were fair and well reasoned. I am pleased to recommend Paul.”
San Francisco, CA