Christopher Dinan
Mediator | Arbitrator | Trial Attorney
Matters Handled
Chris has served as a mediator or arbitrator in over 2,500 cases, beginning in 1993. In this role he has helped resolve a wide array of matters during and before litigation, including personal injury claims, construction disputes, intrafamily disagreements, probate claims, business disputes, trespass claims, insurance coverage arguments, and boundary disagreements. He looks forward to the next matter.
Calendar
SELECT DATE
SUBMIT FORM
CONFIRMATION
To reserve a mediation session, please select from any of the available dates below. A quick ONLINE APPOINTMENT REQUEST will collect contact details and case information. Once submitted, we will be in touch as quickly as possible.
Fee Schedule
MEDIATION
$380 per hour shared by parties
There is a minimum charge of one hour for each party.
ARBITRATION
$380 per hour shared by parties
Prepayment may be required and other details may vary given the nature of such assignments. Please contact Chris directly for assistance.
CANCELLATION POLICY
There are no cancellation fees, no matter when the cancellation occurs.
PAYMENT POLICY
While both parties and/or insurance carriers likely are ultimately responsible for payment of the bill, the attorneys are the guarantors of payment of the bill. It is not possible to screen each party’s credit; as such reliance is upon the attorneys rather than requiring pre-payment. If the mediation goes forward as scheduled, there is a minimum charge of one hour for each party. Pro se parties are required to pre-pay an amount that is the best forecast of their expected bill, but will be billed or refunded promptly following completion of mediation.
Resources
Chris conducts mediations and arbitrations either in-person or via video conferencing using the Zoom app. Please download these Zoom instructions to ensure that parties are properly setup for the virtual meeting.
About Christopher Dinan
Christopher C. Dinan began mediating in 1993 and has now served as a mediator or arbitrator in over 2,500 cases. His mediation skills are based on his wide-ranging experience in civil litigation, having tried over 120 cases to conclusion before juries in all of Maine’s Superior Courts and both federal courthouses. He has appeared many times before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and the First Circuit Court of Appeals throughout his years of practice, including in significant tort and insurance coverage matters. The Maine Superior Courts have selected him to serve as a discovery master in complex commercial litigation and appointed him to mediate sharply disputed civil litigation.
Show More
He is included in Best Lawyers in America for his work in Alternative Dispute Resolution and personal injury litigation (both for plaintiffs and defendants). That publication in recent years has named him Portland’s mediator of the year, arbitrator of the year, personal injury defense attorney of the year, and personal injury plaintiff’s attorney of the year. This unique set of honors reflects his experience in all aspects of litigation.
As a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, Chris is recognized for his sterling reputation and in-depth commitment to excellence in the field of dispute resolution. Peer-nominated and vetted to meet strict practice requirements, NADN-members are highly regarded as exceptional in their field of practice.
Chris has also been selected by peers to Super Lawyers since 2007. His peer-recognition as AV Preeminent in Martindale-Hubbell further endorses his legal ability and ethical standards. For more than 130 years, Martindale-Hubbell has been evaluating attorneys for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards through a Peer Review Rating system. Chris maintains an unequivocal high standard of professionalism and ethics.
He served from 1986-1989 on the Portland Zoning Board of Appeals and is currently a member of the Maine State and Cumberland County Bar Associations. From 2001 through 2005 he served on the Board of Governors of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association; from 2003 through 2005 he was the Chair of that association’s CLE Committee. He has presented dozens of seminars on trial, litigation and insurance issues, as well as serving a handful of times on the faculty of the trial training program, College of Trial Advocacy.
Mr. Dinan was born in Winchester, Massachusetts. He is a 1977 graduate of Harvard University and a 1982 graduate of the University of Maine Law School. He is admitted to practice in Maine, the U.S. District Court, District of Maine, and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, First Circuit. He has two grown children of whom he often speaks, and he hopes to continue running, skiing, golfing, biking, and hiking for many years to come.
EDUCATION
- University of Maine School of Law, Portland, Maine – J.D., 1982
- University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine, 1977-1979 (towards teaching certificate)
- Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, B.A., 1977 (cum laude)
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
- Member, Maine & Cumberland County Bar Associations
- Member, Maine Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors, 2001 – 2004; chair, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2003-2004)
- Member, Gignoux Inn of Court
Case Experience
ADA Disability
Appellate
Automotive
Aviation
Civil Rights
Commercial/Business
Condominiums
Construction
Contract Disputes
Debt Collections
Discrimination
Employment
Environmental
Family Businesses
Health Care
Industrial
Insurance
Land Use/Planning
Landlord/Tenant
Legal Malpractice
Libel & Slander
Local Govt./Municipalities
Medical Devices
Medical Malpractice
Partnerships
Personal Injury
Premises Liability
Probate
Product Liability
Professional Liability
Professional Malpractice
Professional Negligence
Property Damage
Real Estate
Sexual Harassment
Title Disputes
Torts
Transportation
Trusts / Estates
Wrongful Death
Testimonials
– Maine Trial Attorney after Mediation –
Thank you for your excellent work in this case. Candidly, I did not think there was much hope of resolution given the complexities. My client and I are very appreciative of your assistance.
– Counsel Attending Mediation –
I look forward to many more years and many more mediations with Dinan Law & Mediation. In my 40 years at the bar I have worked with dozens of mediators and been involved in hundreds of meditations, both as counsel for one of the parties and as mediator. In all this time I have never worked with a more talented, ethical, thoughtful mediator than Chris Dinan.
– Maine Counsel for Mediation –
Your willingness to take the time to explain things and answer all of my questions allowed me to trust you implicitly and gave me a comfort that someday this would all end up OK. …It might seem hyperbolic, but you gave me my life back and so no note or thank you is going to be nearly enough. I’ll be eternally grateful for all that you did for me and my family.
– Litigation Client –
Thank you for your usual great job. We could not have done it without you.
– Maine Counsel Attending Mediation –