Linda A. Michler is an attorney licensed in New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, with over 25 years’ experience on ADR matters, providing dispute resolution services including arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation and consulting of domestic and international commercial and consumer disputes for claims involving business and financial matters including real estate, personal property, employment, lending, shareholder, franchise, and healthcare disputes.
In her alternative dispute resolution work, Linda has arbitrated and mediated cases of all complexities including those involving multiple parties, multiple issues and substantial damages. Linda has served as sole arbitrator, co-arbitrator, chairperson, mediator, and co-mediator. Matters have included airport construction disputes between several subcontractor parties and respective insurers, mortgage lending (predatory and regulatory issues) disputes between businesses and lender, between multi-parties including realtors and mortgage / deed recording fraud, disputes between shareholders in professional and business operating entities, employer and employee disputes including EEOC ad PHRC issues, collection matter between a music association and a bar/restaurant involving copyright infringement issues, a business bankruptcy where the divorce of the principal and his wife was causing financial issues in successfully completing the bankruptcy. Insurance litigation between the general contractor, airport authority, subcontractors and several insurance carriers concerning construction issues. Parties had agreed to construction liability issues and had bifurcated the damages issues. The matter was successfully concluded. Other representative matters have included homeowners, title company, and lender disputes concerning lender and title issues along with mortgage default and, in some cases, deed recording and mortgage fraud. (multiple cases).
Linda also has experience with government contracts, franchise disputes, product liability, professional malpractice, commercial/business matters, and bankruptcy disputes. In addition to once maintaining an active private law practice, representing primarily financial institutions and small businesses, she has served as Assistant District Counsel, Special Assistant United States Attorney with the US Small Business Administration (SBA), taught legal courses at Robert Morris University, Duquesne University, Community College of Allegheny County and has been a presenter for several CLE providers including the American Bar Association, National Business Institute, and the Allegheny County and Washington County Bar Associations. She has been in-house counsel for a global data and risk management software company. Ms. Michler is currently admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New York Courts, US District Courts for Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Pennsylvania, US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and US Supreme Court.
While working in the government sector she was responsible for the legal review of the small business loans, 8(a) programs, disaster program, Freedom of Information Act Requests, and employee issues. In addition to drafting of court pleadings, she researched and wrote memoranda and legal opinions on a variety of the SBA’s programs. As Assistant District Counsel, Linda handled negotiations with labor and government management, unemployment compensation, and reduction in force issues.
Successfully owning and managing her own law firm, she ran the diverse activities of managing attorneys and administrative personnel. Linda’s firm represented creditors, secured and unsecured, in commercial and consumer credit ranging from mortgages, UCC, auto, boat, and mobile home collateral. She practiced in administrative courts such as the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and all levels of state and federal courts, including the federal bankruptcy court and state court receiverships. She assisted a Chapter 7 Trustee in his work administering the Estate of a multi-national business and its divisions where the principals eventually served sentences for fraud and incomplete reporting. Linda was an approved title attorney by a title company. She has been lead counsel in litigation at the trial and all appellate stages, with several reported decisions. Matters ranged from basic financing disputes to complex financial transactions, involving alleged false claims and statements, fraud, conflicts of interest, and other misconduct. She has represented her law firm clients and the government agency in mediations involving financing and employment issues.
Linda has been a long-standing leader in professional organizations and an advisor in alternative dispute resolution, as a teacher, presenter and author.
Case Experience
Automotive
Banking & Finance
Bankruptcy/Creditors
Commercial/Business
Contract Disputes
Employment
Franchise
Health Care
Insurance
Landlord/Tenant
Lemon Law
Mortgage Foreclosure
Product Liability
Professional Malpractice
Real Estate
Shareholder Disputes
Title Disputes
Education
B.S. Science, Minor Psychology, University of Pittsburgh;
J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Memberships & Affiliations
International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution - Panel of Distinguished Neutrals, Member Arbitration Committee, Mediation Committee, Banking and Finance Committee, Diversity Committee
American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) appointed to the 2023-2024 Leadership Year - Dispute Resolution Service Review Board
ABA Dispute Resolution Section, Arbitration Committee E-Newsletter Editor; Women in Dispute Resolution Former National Chair for Regional Chairs and Regional Co-Chair (Mid – Atlantic Region)
Pennsylvania Council of Mediators – Alternative Dispute Resolution – A Forgotten Resource After Natural Disasters, Newsletter November 2017
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania – Mediation Panel Member, Special Advisor to the initial Mediation Rules Subcommittee
US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania – Mediator and Arbitrator
State of North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission – Certified Mediator
Member, Academy of Court Appointed Neutrals
American Arbitration Association Mediator and Arbitrator
American Arbitration Association appointed mediator for the NC Disaster Program administered by the American Arbitration Association
Special Assistant US Attorney, Assistant District Counsel, Pittsburgh Office, US Small Business Administration
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, formerly NASD) – Mediator and Arbitrator
Better Business Bureau – Mediator and Arbitrator
Federal Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section – Past Vice- President Western PA Chapter
American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Ethics Committee Member
Financial Women’s International – Past President of Western Pennsylvania Chapter
Southwinds Incorporated – Past Board Member, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee
Family Services of Western Pennsylvania – Past Board of Trustees Member
Pittsburgh Legal Journal – Past Editorial Board Committee
MS Society – Employment and business hotline volunteer • Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation - Mentor
Rates Information
Please contact me for additional information. In addition to hourlly rates, flat fee, or a combination, is also available depending on case.
Video Conferencing