Hugh J. McGavick

Hello, I am Hugh McGavick, an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider of mediation, arbitration and facilitation services. I’ve been a self-employed attorney and small business owner since April 1983. I am a professional neutral, a Thurston County attorney who handles cases in Southwest Washington state, from Tacoma to Vancouver, from the coast inland.

After hundreds of settlement negotiations and mediations of cases as a litigator, and scores of volunteer mediations through Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC), I am thankful to give back as a mediator, a litigation peacemaker.

EDUCATION AND WORK HISTORY

I have a BA in US history from the University of Puget Sound (1976) and graduated from the University of Oregon School of Law the same year I was admitted to the Washington State Bar (1981). It was my great honor to clerk for US District Court Judge Jack E Tanner in Tacoma (WD WA 1981-83). Since I left the court I have always been self-employed and practiced in both Pierce and Thurston counties, with a federal and state court litigation practice, focused upon civil rights and employment discrimination, with some consumer protection, personal injury, and criminal defense.

NEGOTIATION AND MEDIATION TEACHING

Winter quarter 2018 I taught “Negotiation Skills” at the University of Washington Tacoma, as part of their Contract Management Certification Program. I am an active volunteer with both the Thurston County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC), where I have been a senior certified mediator since about 2010, and with Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services (VLS). I have been involved as a trainer in nearly every mediation training DRC has offered since November 2017. As an experienced and skilled mediator, the skills I’ve learned and taught can bring about efficient and workable solutions to resolve your case.

With more than 35 years of trial experience handling complex state and federal litigation, both civil and criminal, I have developed insights, skills and compassion, and a passion for peacemaking. My function now is to help you avoid the judicial process, by embracing quicker, less expensive, less emotionally draining, safer options.

I am available to help you resolve civil litigation issues involving all aspects of family law (custody, parenting, property division and support), employment disputes of all kinds, including sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, constitutional law and civil rights claims (including search and seizure, whistleblower retaliation, and due process); consumer protection; and other personal injuries.

Mediation is very harmonious with my collaborative law family practice, as I handle peaceful divorces where the parties never surrender decision-making to a court. (In the Collaborative model, family law attorneys act as co-mediators while they represent both spouses, who operate under a contractual agreement between the parties to go to court only when all issues have been agreed upon.)

My skills and experience include peacemaker, problem solver, counselor, mediator, arbitrator, educator and collaborative lawyer. I will be delighted to facilitate a unique way for you to explore peaceful resolution of your conflict.