EVENING MEDIATIONS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Penny W. Schmidt is a full-time mediator and attorney with more than 30 years of civil litigation experience and over 20 years as a certified mediator. As a Co-Founder and Principal Mediator of Jax Mediation Center, she conducts mediations throughout Florida, both virtually and in person. Penny has mediated thousands of cases ranging from straightforward disputes to complex, multi-party litigation involving significant personal injury, commercial, construction, trucking, and insurance-related claims. She is known for her preparation, professionalism, and ability to help parties resolve even the most challenging disputes.

Having more than three decades of courtroom and litigation experience, Penny brings a practical and informed perspective to the mediation process. Her litigation background includes personal injury and wrongful death claims, trucking and transportation litigation, insurance coverage disputes, construction defect cases, commercial and business litigation, contract disputes, and appellate matters. Having represented clients through every stage of litigation, she understands both the legal and practical considerations that influence settlement decisions.

Penny is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator and is also certified as a mediator for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Through thousands of mediations involving personal injury, trucking, insurance, construction, business, employment, and professional liability matters, she has developed a reputation for helping parties navigate difficult issues while maintaining focus on practical and durable resolutions. In addition to her mediation practice, Penny is also a trained arbitrator and serves as an arbitrator, Special Master, and umpire in appropriate cases.

Known for her preparation, professionalism, and balanced approach, Penny describes her mediation style as firm, direct, engaged, and creative. She believes successful mediation requires not only a thorough understanding of the legal issues involved but also the ability to identify practical solutions that address the interests of all participants. Her objective is to help parties achieve informed and lasting resolutions while preserving the dignity of the process and the relationships involved.

Penny, earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida while working full-time as a paralegal. She later received her Juris Doctor, with honors, from St. Thomas University School of Law in 1992, where she served as Chairperson of the Moot Court Board and received multiple American Jurisprudence Awards.

Recognized by her peers for professionalism, preparation, and effectiveness, Penny has maintained Martindale-Hubbell's AV Preeminent rating since 1997. She is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, the Florida Academy of Professional Mediators, and the Florida Circuit-Civil Mediators Society. She is a past Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Jacksonville Bar Association and remains active in organizations dedicated to advancing the practice of alternative dispute resolution.

Penny is also widely involved in legal education and professional service. She serves as an Adjunct Professor teaching Alternative Dispute Resolution at Jacksonville University College of Law and previously taught ADR for ten years at Florida Coastal School of Law. She is an Assistant Trainer for Florida Circuit Civil Mediators and regularly lectures for bar associations and professional organizations throughout Florida. Her recent leadership roles include serving on the Advisory Board of Jacksonville University College of Law and appointment to the Judicial Nominating Commission for Florida Judges of Compensation Claims.

Her commitment to the legal profession extends beyond her mediation practice. Penny serves on the Board of Directors of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, is a member of the Chester Bedell American Inn of Court, volunteers as a mediator and arbitrator for The Florida Bar's Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration Program and recently received the Jacksonville Bar Association President's Award in recognition of her service to the legal community.

Please call my office for rates.  PLEASE ALSO CALL MY OFFICE FOR MY EVENING MEDIATION AVAILABILITY.