Over nearly a decade, The Honorable Emil Giordano (Ret.) has served full-time as an arbitrator and mediator, handling more than 1,000 personal injury, commercial, estate, and construction matters.  Industry organizations such as PBI, PDI, PAJ, and ACCTM have invited him to present on impasses, deadlocks, case preparation, and practical strategies for effective mediation.

After nearly 14 years as a trial judge who received the highest rating by the PA Judicial Evaluation Commission, The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania appointed Judge Giordano as a referee, often advising on major cases reviewed by the Court.  Judge Giordano also serves as a Northampton County Settlement Master since 2019. In this position, he advises on all types of civil cases assigned by the Northampton Court of Common Pleas.  The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania selected Judge Giordano as Chair of the Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee.

Judge Giordano is currently a Diplomate Member for the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.  He formerly served on the Board of Trustees of the Center for Guardianship Certification. In 2005, he was the first judicial recipient of the Lehigh Valley Crime Victims Council Award for Outstanding Commitment to Victim’s Rights. Judge Giordano received the Title IX Hearing Chairs Certification and Title IX Hearing Officer & Decision-Maker Certification from the Association of Title IX Administrators.

He was Northampton County’s first administrative Judge of the Orphans’ County Division, overseeing estates and trusts of the County.  He was named to the Statewide Orphans’ Court Task Force, an organization charged with implementing changes to Orphans’ Court. He was also the first Judge in Pennsylvania to institute guardianship certification requirements for the protection of senior citizens.

Judge Giordano was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® list in Litigation: Labor and Employment since 2024 and in Super Lawyers® and The Morning Call’s Top Lawyers List since 2025 for his work in ADR field.

Born in Brooklyn to Italian immigrant parents, Judge Giordano was the first to attend high school, graduating from Bethlehem Catholic High School. A proud Moravian College alumnus, he formerly served as an Adjunct Professor for undergraduate / graduate classes at Moravian and DeSales University.

Harvard Law School Negotiation Institute - Advanced Mediation Course

Villanova University School of Law - J.D.

Moravian College - B.A., Political Science

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania - Chair, Orphans' Court Procedural Rules Committee

American Bar Association

Pennsylvania Bar Association

Northampton County Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania - Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts.

Barr Admissions :  Pennsylvania, New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Hourly rate for arbitrations:  $1250.00 per hour 

$625.00 per hour - Travel Time 

3,500.00 Cancellation Fee if arbitration is cancelled within 10 days of arbitration 

Hourly rate for mediations:    $1000.00 per hour for 2 parties; $1200.00 per hour for 3 or more parties.