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Disputes are part of life, but resolving them doesn’t always need to mean costly and time-consuming court battles. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) offers individuals and businesses a way to find fair, practical solutions in a more private and cooperative setting. This is the heart of Hon. John J. Kralik’s (Ret.) work. As a mediator, arbitrator, and referee, he helps parties navigate conflict with experience drawn from over forty years in the courtroom and boardroom.
ADR covers several methods that bring parties together to work through their differences outside the formal courtroom atmosphere. These processes are adaptable to the unique nature of each issue, whether it involves business contracts, real estate matters, insurance claims, or deeply personal religious disputes.
Traditional litigation can be slow, expensive, and exhausting. ADR provides a more streamlined path, focusing on problem-solving and communication. Instead of winning or losing, the goal is to manage risk, protect relationships, and find closure so all parties can move forward with clarity.
John Kralik served on the Los Angeles Superior Court for 16 years, presiding over hundreds of complex civil disputes. Before his judicial career, he led major litigation teams for a Fortune 500 company and founded his own law practices. His firms have always had a strong emphasis on seeking practical resolutions over lengthy legal battles. Now, as a neutral third party, he brings that wisdom and balance to every dispute he helps resolve.
ADR is flexible and designed to meet parties where they are, whether you need a formal or informal setting, a facilitator to guide conversation, or a decisive arbiter to issue a ruling. A neutral third party offers a chance for disputes to be resolved quickly and efficiently. Benefits of ADR include:
John Kralik’s experience spans the range of ADR methods, allowing him to select the best approach for your situation. ADR methods may include mediation, arbitration, negotiation, or conciliation.
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which a neutral mediator helps the parties communicate, assess risks, and develop their own mutually acceptable resolution. The mediator does not impose a decision. Instead, the parties retain control over whether to settle and on what terms.
Arbitration is a more formal process in which a neutral arbitrator hears evidence and arguments from each side and issues a decision, which is usually binding. It resembles a private trial but is often faster, more flexible, and more discreet than court litigation, especially in complex business and commercial matters.
Negotiation occurs whenever parties and/or their counsel work directly to reach an agreement, with or without a formal proceeding. An experienced neutral evaluator can support negotiation by clarifying issues, testing assumptions, and helping parties frame proposals that are realistic and acceptable to all sides.
Conciliation is a facilitated process in which a neutral conciliator works separately and jointly with the parties to improve communication, identify common ground, and guide them toward settlement. It may involve more active suggestions or evaluations by the neutral, making it well-suited for situations where direct communication between the parties has broken down.
Choosing the right neutral is often the most important decision people can make in ADR, particularly in high-stakes or emotionally charged disputes. John Kralik combines judicial experience, corporate insight, and hands-on trial practice with a settlement-focused mindset shaped over decades.
Hon. John J. Kralik’s (Ret.) career spans over four decades. From law firm partner, to Fortune 500 litigation head, to respected Superior Court judge, and now an ADR neutral. He has mediated nearly 200 cases, using creative techniques like “what if” scenarios and mediator’s proposals to help parties bridge gaps and reach agreements.
From his years at Hughes Hubbard & Reed through his tenure as Chair of ARCO’s Litigation Practice Group, John Kralik has handled major commercial disputes involving contracts, business torts, and corporate governance. This experience allows him to fully understand business models, financial structures, and long-term relationship concerns that often drive negotiation in contract cases.
Complex financial issues, including accounting irregularities, valuation disagreements, and audit disputes, benefit from a neutral who is comfortable with numbers and documentation. John Kralik’s background managing multi-million-dollar litigation budgets and overseeing large internal and external legal teams positions him to examine financial evidence and create practical resolutions.
John Kralik has presided over and participated in complex litigation involving class actions, asbestos matters, environmental claims, business ownership disputes, and insurance coverage battles. He is known for bringing together multiple parties, issues, and cases to craft global solutions that reduce risk and provide finality.
Insurance coverage disputes often turn on policy language, allocation questions, and long-tail liabilities, areas in which John Kralik has deep experience from his years managing environmental and toxic tort litigation at ARCO and on the bench. He understands both insurers’ and policyholders’ perspectives, helping bridge gaps in high-stakes coverage negotiations.
Disputes between lenders and borrowers can threaten ongoing relationships and business viability, making ADR particularly valuable. John Kralik’s commercial litigation and business background enables him to address issues ranging from alleged breaches of loan agreements to claims of bad faith or fiduciary duty violations.
Real estate disputes including ownership and title issues, development conflicts, landlord–tenant matters, and partnership breakups often require both legal insight and practical problem-solving. With decades of experience in civil litigation and settlement conferences, John Kralik helps parties evaluate risks, market realities, and long-term goals to reach durable agreements.
Having litigated and overseen cases involving First Amendment and related constitutional issues, John Kralik is well-versed in the legal principles and public-policy concerns that shape these disputes. His background allows him to guide parties toward solutions that respect both legal rights and reputational considerations.
Religious disputes involving organizations, leadership, property, or individual rights can be uniquely sensitive and values-driven. John Kralik’s legal experience, combined with his ongoing Master of Divinity studies, equips him to address these matters with discretion, respect, and an understanding of both legal and spiritual dimensions.
Whether your dispute involves a business breakup, insurance coverage, real estate, constitutional rights, or a faith-based conflict, ADR can provide a focused, efficient path to resolution with the guidance of a skilled neutral. To discuss mediation, arbitration, or other ADR options with Hon. John J. Kralik (Ret.), contact his office and learn how his experience can help you move your case toward closure.
