Hon. Joel Schneider (Ret.) Joins JAMS in Philadelphia

Philadelphia – JAMS, the premier provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services, is pleased to announce that Hon. Joel Schneider (Ret.), a former United States magistrate judge for the District of New Jersey, has joined its panel. Drawing on four decades of experience as a federal judge and trial lawyer, he brings deep knowledge in resolving complex, high-stakes civil disputes.  

Judge Schneider served on the federal bench from 2006 to 2021, during which time he managed, settled, tried and decided thousands of cases and authored hundreds of published opinions. Prior to his judicial appointment, he spent 26 years in private practice focused on complex civil litigation. Most recently, he was of counsel at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads LLP from 2021 to 2025, where he chaired the firm’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group and focused on ADR full time.

Based in the Philadelphia Resolution Center, Judge Schneider will serve as a mediator, arbitrator, neutral evaluator and court-appointed neutral, handling mass torts, class and collective actions, commercial and contract, environmental, employment, civil rights, intellectual property and personal injury matters. He is available to conduct sessions in person, as well as virtually, for clients across the country and internationally.

“Judge Schneider’s breadth of experience on the bench and his national reputation for resolving even the most challenging disputes make him well suited to join the panel at JAMS. Known for his calm, practical and meticulous approach, he has an innate talent for quickly mastering complex matters, managing multiparty proceedings and guiding parties toward durable resolutions.”

Kimberly Taylor, JAMS CEO and president

Judge Schneider has been deeply engaged in the broader legal community throughout his career. He has served as a member of the New Jersey Lawyers Advisory Committee, a trustee of the Federal Bar Association of New Jersey, secretary of the New Jersey Fee Arbitration Program (District IV) and chairperson of the District of New Jersey’s Magistrate Judge Selection Committee (Camden). He also served on the Federal-State Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States, appointed by Chief Justice John Roberts, and has been an adjunct faculty member at Rutgers School of Law–Camden and Rowan University. He is a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs nationwide.

“I have learned that the keys to a mutually satisfactory agreement in mediation are relentless and timely preparation, real-world litigation experience and making sure the parties have a full opportunity to express their goals and concerns,” said Judge Schneider.

Judge Schneider received his J.D. from Villanova University and his B.A. from Brooklyn College.

About JAMS – The Way Forward 

JAMS is the premier provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, handling more than 21,000 cases annually. With over 500 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS delivers efficient, cost-effective and impartial solutions for business and legal disputes at any stage of conflict. Since its founding in 1979, its distinguished panel has included retired federal and state court judges, former litigators, transactional attorneys and other ADR professionals with deep industry and practice area experience. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services to provide a seamless experience through concierge-level client care, highly skilled case managers and advanced technology.

Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways provides organizations with early conflict resolution, facilitation and training, helping teams prevent disputes before they escalate.

With a legacy of trust and innovation, JAMS helps parties find the way forward so they can focus on what matters most. Learn more at www.jamsadr.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and the JAMS ADR blog.