Herbert A. Fried

Herb Fried | Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator & Qualified Arbitrator

Lee County & Southwest Florida | Civil • Personal Injury • Insurance • Family Law

Florida Supreme Court Certified: Circuit Civil, Family, County & Dependency | 3,000+ Mediations

Professional Overview

Herb Fried is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil, Family, County Court, and Dependency Mediator and a Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator. A Florida attorney since 1976, he brings five decades of legal experience and more than 3,000 mediations to his dispute resolution practice.

Based in Lee County and serving parties throughout Southwest Florida, Mr. Fried mediates civil, personal injury, insurance, business, and family law disputes. His experience includes personal injury matters involving automobile negligence, slip-and-fall and premises liability claims, wrongful death, insurance disputes, hurricane and property damage claims, as well as divorce, parenting, and marital property disputes.

During the first 25 years of his legal career, Mr. Fried's practice was divided almost equally between civil trial litigation and family law. That background provides him with practical insight into both the legal and personal considerations that can influence settlement negotiations.

Today, his practice is devoted primarily to mediation, arbitration, and hybrid mediation/arbitration proceedings. He conducts in-person proceedings throughout Southwest Florida and provides virtual mediation and arbitration services statewide.

Mediation Philosophy

Mr. Fried believes effective dispute resolution requires careful preparation, practical evaluation, open communication, and an understanding of what is driving each party's position.

His approach is grounded in a simple observation:

“Everyone in mediation is reasonable according to the rules of the world they live in.”

When a position initially appears unreasonable, Mr. Fried uses questions to better understand the experiences, assumptions, concerns, and objectives behind it. By understanding each party's perspective, he works to identify areas of movement and help participants evaluate risk, explore practical alternatives, and make informed decisions.

This approach can be particularly valuable in family disputes, where legal and financial issues are often intertwined with longstanding personal concerns.

His presentation, “Mediation as a Hostage Negotiation,” reflects his practical approach to overcoming impasse, understanding difficult negotiating positions, and helping parties move toward resolution.

Leadership & Professional Recognition

Mr. Fried has held leadership positions within Southwest Florida's legal community and remains actively involved in the development and discussion of alternative dispute resolution practices.

His professional affiliations and leadership include:

• President, Lee County Personal Injury Association
• President, Southwest Florida Trial Lawyers Association
• Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• Member, Association of Family Law Professionals

Since 2020, Mr. Fried has led more than 150 Zoom sessions of a twice-monthly statewide discussion group for mediators and arbitrators. The sessions address advanced arbitration techniques, hybrid proceedings, mediation strategy, and emerging issues in alternative dispute resolution.

He has also presented continuing education programs for Florida Rural Legal Services, the Lee County Bar Association, and the Association of Family Law Professionals.

In April 2025, Mr. Fried published an article in the Collier County Bar Association's The Adverse Witness examining the growing use of Hybrid Mediation/Arbitration.

Areas of Mediation & Arbitration