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Bio
Background & Career
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Attorney Joseph J. Bongiovi III is BDR’s principal. He was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and except for a recent semi-retirement in New Jersey with family, he's been a resident of Las Vegas since 1970. He returned to Las Vegas, still semi-retired, in August 2023.
Mr. Bongiovi graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He then received his law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law having earned honors in trial advocacy while in attendance. He was admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Nevada and before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Bongiovi has been fortunate enough to be recognized by his peers and national and local publications: • He has carried an “A/V Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 2000. • In April 2006, he was recognized as one of the “500 Leading Judges in America” by Lawdragon magazine following that publication’s national peer review/survey of judges and lawyers. • He became a Fellow of the elite American College of Civil Trial Mediators in 2007. • Then in 2010, he was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in ADR and was also invited to become a charter member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. • Mr. Bongiovi was recognized in 2014, again through a peer review/survey, as a “Best Lawyer" in America in the field of mediation and was also first listed in Who’s Who Legal: Mediation. • In October 2014, Mr. Bongiovi was named a “Top Lawyer” in Southern Nevada by Desert Companion magazine and AVVO. • BDR was recognized, in 2015, as one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms” based upon a peer review/survey. • In 2016, Mr. Bongiovi was again recognized by “SuperLawyers" and “Best Lawyers in America;" and he has continued to be recognized internationally in "Who’s Who Legal: Mediation" through 2024.
Having represented insurers, insureds and self-insured entities while in litigation practice, Mr. Bongiovi limited his practice to mediation and arbitration in 1996 when he established Bongiovi Dispute Resolutions. He then became the first full-time mediator based in Nevada. BDR is exclusively an alternative dispute resolution firm. Mr. Bongiovi no longer represents clients. Since forming BDR, he has performed over four thousand mediations and hundreds of arbitrations in disputes involving anywhere from tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. He handles disputes in pre-litigation, litigation and appellate stages. Mr. Bongiovi is privileged to enjoy an exemplary reputation for professionalism and success in ADR.
Mr. Bongiovi has lectured in continuing education programs for the Nevada State Bar and other sponsors, and to the bench and bar on dispute resolution and other issues.
Mr. Bongiovi has been fortunate enough to be recognized by his peers and national and local publications: • He has carried an “A/V Preeminent” rating from Martindale-Hubbell since 2000. • In April 2006, he was recognized as one of the “500 Leading Judges in America” by Lawdragon magazine following that publication’s national peer review/survey of judges and lawyers. • He became a Fellow of the elite American College of Civil Trial Mediators in 2007. • Then in 2010, he was recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in ADR and was also invited to become a charter member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. • Mr. Bongiovi was recognized in 2014, again through a peer review/survey, as a “Best Lawyer" in America in the field of mediation and was also first listed in Who’s Who Legal: Mediation. • In October 2014, Mr. Bongiovi was named a “Top Lawyer” in Southern Nevada by Desert Companion magazine and AVVO. • BDR was recognized, in 2015, as one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms” based upon a peer review/survey. • In 2016, Mr. Bongiovi was again recognized by “SuperLawyers" and “Best Lawyers in America;" and he has continued to be recognized internationally in "Who’s Who Legal: Mediation" through 2024.
Having represented insurers, insureds and self-insured entities while in litigation practice, Mr. Bongiovi limited his practice to mediation and arbitration in 1996 when he established Bongiovi Dispute Resolutions. He then became the first full-time mediator based in Nevada. BDR is exclusively an alternative dispute resolution firm. Mr. Bongiovi no longer represents clients. Since forming BDR, he has performed over four thousand mediations and hundreds of arbitrations in disputes involving anywhere from tens of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. He handles disputes in pre-litigation, litigation and appellate stages. Mr. Bongiovi is privileged to enjoy an exemplary reputation for professionalism and success in ADR.
Mr. Bongiovi has lectured in continuing education programs for the Nevada State Bar and other sponsors, and to the bench and bar on dispute resolution and other issues.
Education
University of San Diego Law School, J.D. (1986):
Int’l Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for Excellence in Trial AdvocacyUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas, B.A. Psychology (1983):
Fleischmann Scholar
Legal Career
Bongiovi Dispute Resolutions (1996-present): Practice limited to ADR of all matters except domestic, construction defect and criminal cases. Matters include personal injury/wrongful death, insurance coverage/bad faith, product liability, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, intellectual property, contract, commercial and employment disputes.
Bongiovi & Silvestri, Chtd. (1993-1996): Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured entities in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, construction defect, contract and commercial disputes.
Joseph J. Bongiovi III, Chtd. (1990-1993): Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured enti6 (Nev. 1992). Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured entities in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, contract and commercial disputes.ties in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, construction defect, contract and commercial disputes. Reported Decision: Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Young, 108 Nev. 328, 832 P.2d 37 (1992).
Beckley, Singleton, DeLanoy, Jemison & List (1986-1990): Practice included defense of insureds, insurers and self-insured entities in personal injury/death, coverage/bad faith/fraud, product liability, defamation, premises liability, security misconduct, professional malpractice, contract and commercial disputes.
ADR Experience
• Since 1996, practice devoted exclusively to ADR with over 4000 matters mediated• 40 hour nationally sponsored mediation training program• Invitated to participate in Nevada Supreme Court Appellate Mediation Training Program• Continuing education including programs in ADR, negotiation and insurance coverage
Lectures/Articles
• Medical Malpractice Issues (annual session American Ass’n for Thoracic Surgery, 2004)• Insurance Coverage (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)• Auto Insurance Coverage and Claims (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)• Settling Insurance Claims (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)• Defending Against the Soft Tissue Claim (to Nevada bar and claims professionals)• ADR in Bad Faith Cases (to Nevada Bar and claims professionals)• Settlement Conference/Mediation Techniques (to Nevada bench)• General Principles of Mediation (to Mediators of Southern Nevada)• “Avoiding Pitfalls in ADR” Communique (August & September 2006)• Settlement Conference and Mediation: Tactics and Preparation (to Nevada bar)
Past Affiliations
• Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators• Charter Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals• ABA Section of Dispute Resolution• Fellow, American Bar Foundation• Member, State Bar of Nevada
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