May 28, 2026

ADR Services, Inc. Welcomes Hon. James “Reg” Reilly (Ret.)

ADR Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that Hon. James “Reg” Reilly (Ret.) has joined the panel as a mediator, arbitrator, and referee, bringing with him more than four decades of experience as a civil litigator, law firm leader, and judge.

Judge Reilly’s career has been defined by his practical understanding of how disputes are resolved. Over the course of more than 40 years in the legal profession, he developed a disciplined, results-oriented approach grounded in the realities of litigation, risk assessment, and settlement dynamics.

Before taking the bench, Judge Reilly spent more than 24 years as a partner at Gordon, Rees, Scully & Mansukhani, including serving as Managing Partner of the firm’s San Francisco office, where he oversaw more than 140 attorneys. His practice focused on complex business disputes and high-exposure product liability matters, including pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. He also served as coordinating counsel in nationwide, multi-party proceedings, gaining extensive experience managing sophisticated litigation strategy and navigating the financial and practical pressures that influence settlement decisions.

Following his appointment to the Alameda County Superior Court, Judge Reilly became a key figure within the court’s civil and settlement operations. As Supervising Judge of the Civil Division’s 22 departments, he developed broad familiarity with trial calendars, case management, and verdict trends across a wide range of civil matters. He also served as Supervising Judge of the Settlement Department, where he presided over hundreds of mandatory settlement conferences involving business disputes, personal injury claims, professional negligence actions, public entity liability, and complex multi-party litigation.

Through this extensive experience, Judge Reilly developed a reputation for moving difficult negotiations forward by focusing parties on the practical realities that drive resolution. His approach emphasizes preparation, direct engagement with counsel and parties, and maintaining momentum throughout the negotiation process. He is known for carefully analyzing legal, factual, and emotional issues in a case, identifying the core barriers to settlement, and helping parties realistically evaluate litigation risk and the uncertainty of trial outcomes.

Judge Reilly’s experience spans a broad range of civil matters, including contract disputes, partnership dissolutions, fraud and misrepresentation claims, personal injury actions, public entity liability, professional negligence, and nationally coordinated pharmaceutical and medical device litigation. His work on the bench earned significant recognition, including being named Trial Judge of the Year by the Alameda Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association.

At ADR Services, Inc., Judge Reilly will serve as a mediator, arbitrator, and referee, bringing a combination of judicial authority, litigation insight, and a practical focus on achieving efficient, informed, and fair resolutions.