Testimonials
Paul Delamar of Delamar & Delamar, Bayboro, NC:
"You have provided mediation services in nearly every contested domestic case I've had during the past seven (7) years, and there's a good reason for that. If there is any fair way to settle a difficult case, you will do everything in your power in assisting the parties in seeing the wisdom of it. In my mind there are two essential parts of a mediation, without both of which it won't work. First, you must be conversant in the law and have sufficient experience to understand the legal and practical issues in a domestic case. Second, you must be able to show the parties why it's in their best interests to settle the case, which frequently requires communication skills that are well above average. In both of these areas, you far exceed my expectations every time. I instruct my clients in advance to listen to what you're saying, since you often have insight into their cases that I don't. Don't change a thing. Your way works."
William S. Durr of Ward and Smith, New Bern, Wilmington, and Raleigh, NC:
"Without question, Dec Ward is the best family law mediator I have encountered in 20+ years of practice. Dec brings a unique mix of experience, empathy and firmness to every mediation. He has an uncanny ability to push when it is right and back off when appropriate. Dec is a true southern gentleman and he uses these traits to soften even the most challenging situations. He is a tireless worker and I have personally experienced the good fortune of having Dec help resolve cases that I thought were unresolvable. I have used and will continue to use Dec's services to mediate cases in several judicial districts throughout Eastern North Carolina and the Triangle."
Kimberly Farias of Kirkman, Whitford, Brady, Berryman & Farias, PA, Morehead City, NC:
"You do a great job, are always punctual, attentive and prepared."
David J. Fillippeli of White & Allen, Kinston, NC:
"Dec is a long time domestic lawyer. Not only does he have a good handle on the legal issues involved in domestic litigation, I have always found him to be focused and innovative in his problem solving methods outside of litigation, which obviously makes him an effective mediator."
Kelly L. Greene of GreeneWilson, P.A., New Bern, NC:
"I do believe that you are the most effective mediator that I have ever used. You have the ability to bring people together. You have the understanding of people's emotions, fears and 'unrealistic' positions. You have always been honest and had the ability to stick with any situation until the job is done. I believe that with your 30+ years of experience, your perspective is not only beneficial to the clients, it is also beneficial to me as a lawyer."
N. Lawrence Hudspeth, III, Jacksonville, NC:
"As a board certified family specialist, and a Superior Court and family financial mediator with years of experience, I know of no other family mediator, or family lawyer for that matter, that I hold in higher regard than Dec Ward. Dec comes to the family mediation process with a wealth of experience as a practicing family lawyer, with keen insight into the issues that arise in family law cases. He is conscientious and concerned, dedicated to the mediation process and prepared to help litigants and lawyers alike find their way to a reasonable result in cases that sometimes seem to have no reasonable result. He is persistent in his work to keep discussion alive and keep parties moving forward. In my experience with Dec, no case is too large, or too small, to dissuade him from his efforts to help the parties put their dispute behind them and move on."
J. Randal Hunter, New Bern, NC:
"You and your staff offer a mediation environment that is comfortable and accessible. In addition to providing ample space for parties and their counsel, there is additional space available so that attorneys can spend time on other matters when you are meeting with the other side. Your long experience in Family Law is invaluable. You have an excellent grasp of the law. More importantly, you have a keen understanding of the mind of our District Court. Finally, your determination to get cases settled often helps "break the ice" with even the most difficult clients. I am happy to recommend you and your office to any other lawyers needing mediation services."
Bruce E. Kinnaman, Morehead City, NC:
"I have worked with Dec for more than 20 years and found him to be very knowledgeable in domestic law, which has carried over to his mediations. He strives very hard to reach settlement, and our clients have felt they were treated fairly by him."
Steven E. Lacy, Bayboro, NC:
"I have had the pleasure of working with Dec Ward in various avenues of the legal process for the last 30 years. His knowledge, experience, and tenacity made him a formidable opponent in the courtroom and those same traits make him a talented family law mediator. Dec is honest and direct with all parties, impartial, and detail oriented, which is why he has become one of the most sought after and distinguished mediators in our area. He ardently battles to settle all cases in a manner satisfactory to all parties and it is a rare occasion that I leave a mediation with a case unsettled. I highly recommend Dec Ward and he will continue to be my choice mediator as long as I continue to practice law."
Michael Lincoln, Emerald Isle, NC:
"You are my first choice for mediation of domestic cases. I appreciate the 'no nonsense' approach toward a party who is intransigent."
Debra L. Massie of Wheatly, Wheatly, Weeks, Lupton & Massie, Beaufort, NC:
"He has great rapport with the clients and makes a stressful situation for the clients less stressful. I have had very few cases where Dec has been the mediator that did not settle. Regardless of the outcome of the mediation, I have never had a client who had anything but complimentary things to say about Dec and the way he conducted the mediation. I would highly recommend Dec as a mediator."
Kindelle Morton McCullen of Stubbs & Perdue, P.A., New Bern, NC:
"Dec is an accomplished attorney and a skilled mediator. His disarming nature and calm demeanor work to defuse the most contentious of disputes so that the parties can reach a practical resolution."
W. David McFadyen, Jr. of Valentine & McFadyen, New Bern and Beaufort, NC:
"Dec's knowledge of the law combined with his many years of courtroom experience make him exceptionally suited to be a domestic law mediator. He has a unique ability to translate this knowledge and experience effectively in communicating with the parties in mediation. It has been my experience that these qualities have made it possible to successfully mediate cases that otherwise would have resulted in lengthy trials."
Carolyn T. Peacock, Chesnutt, Clemmons & Peacock, P.A., New Bern, NC:
"As a Board Certified Family Law Specialist, I highly recommend Dec Ward as a mediator. Mr. Ward has been a mediator in cases for my office since mediation became mandatory in the 3B Judicial District in March 2007. Mr. Ward's "30 plus" years of experience as a Family Law litigator provides necessary insight and legal knowledge for the mediation process. He is able to keep lawyers and clients focused on reasonable resolutions during mediations. His passion towards settlement and willingness to see both sides of a case provides an environment conducive to resolution. Mr. Ward and his staff provide a client-friendly environment, that is reassuring to clients during a trying and emotional time. I highly recommend his services and expertise as a mediator in family law cases."
Jennifer R. Pope, Jacksonville, NC:
"Congratulations on your new mediation office. I look forward to working more with you in the future."
Daniel E. Potter, New Bern, NC:
"I have found you to be extremely talented in settling cases, even some I thought had NO chance of settling. Your ability to tell it like it is to clients has been very helpful. You have a talent of developing a rapport with clients and do not come across as condescending or indifferent."
Cindi M. Quay, New Bern, NC:
"Mr. Ward is a conscientious mediator. He knows how to settle cases and is very good at developing ways to effect a compromise even in the toughest situations."
Walter L. Tippett, Jr. of Brooks Pierce, Raleigh, NC:
"Congratulations on your move (and job well done a few weeks ago). Please feel free to add my name to the list of happy customers."
Deborah Van Dyken, Beaufort, NC:
"I am an attorney who loudly sings your praises with great hosannas regarding your work as a mediator. I think that you are the type of mediator who pushes people (and their attorneys) into reality and gets cases settled with creative solutions and by simply refusing to check "impasse" until every possible solution for a mediated settlement has been considered."
Lana S. Warlick, Jacksonville, NC:
"Dec's knowledge of the law and many years of courtroom experience make him an extraordinary mediator in family law cases. His patience and willingness to "nudge" when necessary makes him one of my first choices when I schedule mediations."
Joshua W. Willey, Jr., of Mills & Willey, New Bern, NC:
"You are my mediator of choice in family law cases. Your many years of practice in that arena enable you to bring a knowledge and understanding of the law, client psychology, and settlement dynamics, which uniquely equip you to serve as a mediator in these cases. I am particularly impressed by the rapport that you are able to establish with my clients, even the more difficult ones. The client soon understands that you know what a fair resolution of the case is and that you want to make sure that they are treated fairly in the settlement. I cannot recall a case of mine which did not settle at your mediation. Obviously, if my client is going to pay a mediator, I prefer that the client be paying one who gets results."
