MEET THE MEDIATORS
HEATHER MCARTHUR
Professional Credentials & Leadership
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More than 22 Years of Experience as a Professional Mediator
Heather McArthur is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family, Circuit Civil, County Court, and Dependency Mediator with experience in Appellate, Probate, and Property Insurance mediation, as well as a range of other civil matters. She is a trained Collaborative Professional, former board member of the Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals, co-founder of Collaborative Professionals of Central Florida (CPACFL), and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Mid-Florida Chapter. Since earning her ADR certification from Boise State University in 2004, Heather has conducted thousands of mediations over more than 22 years of practice, serving clients across Florida and Idaho. She is trained in Restorative Justice, Community-Based Mediation, and Non-Binding Arbitration, and continues to mediate hundreds of cases annually through McArthur Mediation Services. Heather is a licensed Florida Real Estate Sales Associate, bringing added perspective to mediations involving real estate transactions, property disputes, probate matters, homeowners’ associations, and other property-related conflicts. She is passionate about conflict resolution and the role mediation plays in helping parties reach practical, durable agreements. Heather is known for her ability to guide individuals, families, businesses, and organizations through complex disputes in a way that promotes clarity, communication, and forward movement. Beyond her professional practice, Heather is a wife and mother of five, a historian, and an active community volunteer. The daughter of a Salvadoran immigrant, she speaks conversational Spanish and has a lifelong commitment to service, beginning with founding a nonprofit organization at age 19. She continues to support community initiatives across Florida, including Rotary, the Polk County Sheriff's Advisory Council, Crisis Cleanup, disaster relief efforts, and the American Red Cross. |
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 fourteen 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.
A member of the Florida Bar for over fourteen 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?
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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. |