MEET THE MEDIATORS

HEATHER MCARTHUR
More than 20 Years of Experience as a Professional Mediator
Heather McArthur is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator specializing in Family, Circuit Civil, County Court, and Dependency Mediation. She is also a trained Collaborative Professional, Neutral Facilitator, and co-founder of Collaborative Professionals of Central Florida (CPACFL). Her mission is to help individuals and families resolve conflict, strengthen relationships, and move forward with clarity and confidence.
Since earning her ADR certification from Boise State University in 2004, Heather has conducted thousands of mediations over her 21 years as a professional mediator, handling cases across Florida and Idaho. She is trained in Restorative Justice, Community-Based Mediation, and Non-Binding Arbitration, and continues to mediate hundreds of cases each year through McArthur Mediation Services.
Heather is passionate about the Collaborative Process and empowering clients to create solutions that truly work for them. Beyond her professional work, she is a wife and mother of five, a historian, genealogist, gourmet cook, and gardener. The daughter of a Salvadoran immigrant, Heather speaks conversational Spanish and has a lifelong commitment to service—founding a nonprofit at 19 and continuing to volunteer with initiatives across Florida, including Rotary, Kids Pack, and disaster relief programs.
She brings compassion, expertise, and a focus on collaboration to every mediation, helping clients navigate challenging situations and reach positive outcomes.

ADAM D. PATTON, ESQ.

Adam is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator in Family, Circuit Civil, and County Court matters, as well as a practicing Collaborative Law attorney. He is the co-founder of the first Collaborative Practice group in the Tenth Judicial Circuit, the Collaborative Professionals Association of Central Florida (CPACFL), and has been a member of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals (FACP) since 2017.
A member of the Florida Bar for over ten years, Adam has extensive experience as an attorney in Family Law, Circuit and County Court cases, Criminal Court matters, Government and Administrative Law, and Collaborative Law. His litigation and collaborative practice experience provide him with a unique perspective on the importance of alternative dispute resolution methods, including mediation, arbitration, and the Collaborative Process. Adam understands firsthand the risks parties face when leaving their case in the hands of a judge and the significant financial costs involved in litigating through trial.
When he is not mediating, Adam volunteers his time in the community in a variety of ways. He is a long-time supporter of underprivileged youth sports programs, coaches Little League Baseball, leads hurricane cleanup teams throughout the Southeastern United States, and participates in other community initiatives, reflecting his commitment to service and giving back.

What is Mediation?

 Mediation is a structured process in which a neutral, unbiased third party—called a mediator—assists disputing parties in reaching a resolution. With the guidance of a highly trained mediator, mediation provides a constructive environment for parties to work together, communicate effectively, and create their own solutions to conflicts. Unlike litigation, mediation empowers participants to have control over the outcomes that affect their lives.

Key Pillars of Mediation:
Self-Determination: Parties have the power to make their own decisions and determine their own outcomes.
Collaboration: Parties work together to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.
Impartiality: The mediator and the process remain neutral, treating all sides fairly.
Respect: All parties are treated with dignity throughout the process.
Confidentiality: Information shared during mediation is private and protected, except where disclosure is legally required, such as in cases involving abuse or neglect of a child, elderly individual, or person with a disability.