Mediation / Arbitration / Discovery & Special Master

Forty years of practice across private litigation, public law, and organizational leadership, now applied to getting cases resolved.

Serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and courts throughout Michigan from St. Clair Shores.

What I Do

Mediation

Neutral third-party mediation for civil, commercial, real estate, construction, labor, and government disputes. I work with both sides to identify what a resolution actually looks like and move the case there. Available for court-ordered and voluntary mediations.

Arbitration

Binding and non-binding arbitration for commercial, construction, real estate, and contractual disputes. When the parties want a decision rather than a negotiation, I hear the evidence and issue an award. Efficient, private, and final.

Also Available

Case Evaluation & Facilitation

Facilitative case evaluation under the Michigan Court Rules. I give both sides an honest read of where the case stands and what a reasonable outcome looks like.

Discovery Master

Court-appointed management of complex discovery disputes. I oversee large-scale document productions, privilege disputes, and discovery compliance issues in multi-party cases.

Special Master

Court-appointed special master for complex litigation: asset accounting, compliance monitoring, settlement administration, and matters requiring independent judicial oversight.

Foreclosure Mediation

Mediation between homeowners and lenders to explore alternatives: loan modification, repayment plans, short sale, deed-in-lieu, or other arrangements that prevent foreclosure sale.

About

I've spent forty years in the practice of law: half in private litigation, half running two of the largest prosecutor's offices in Michigan. That combination gives me something most neutrals don't have. Real courtroom instincts alongside the administrative judgment that comes from managing 300 lawyers, a $42 million budget, and cases that carry public consequence.

I know how cases are built, how they fall apart, and what it takes to get two sides to agree on something neither of them loves but both of them can live with. That's the job. I'm a sought-after speaker on ADR processes in both pre-litigation and litigation settings.

Private Practice

I started at Fresard DeMarco in St. Clair Shores, handling personal injury and criminal defense before developing a substantial construction and commercial litigation practice with an emphasis on land use, zoning, and real estate. I also served as Special City Attorney and General Counsel for the Tax Increment Finance Authority for the City of St. Clair Shores.

Wayne County Prosecutor's Office

I served as Chief of Staff and later Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney under Prosecutor Kym Worthy for roughly fifteen years. The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is the busiest in Michigan. It handles more than half of all felony cases in the state. I oversaw day-to-day operations of the office, negotiated collective bargaining agreements, and established several specialized units, including the Fraud Investigation and Corruption Unit, the Mortgage and Deed Fraud Unit, and programs for arson reduction and utility theft.

Macomb County Prosecutor's Office

I served as Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney under Prosecutor Peter Lucido, overseeing operations and administration of the office until my retirement in late 2023.

Bar Leadership & Recognition

I served as President of the Detroit Bar Association, where I led a rebranding effort, including the name change from the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, that tripled the organization's membership and brought in a new generation of lawyers. I founded the 130 E. Elizabeth and Fish & Game sections of the Detroit Bar. I received the Detroit Bar Association President's Award in 2018. I serve as a trustee of the Macomb County Bar Foundation and remain active in several Detroit Bar committees including Judicial Evaluation and Membership. I also operate a private duck hunting club on Harsens Island.

Education

J.D., Detroit College of Law (Business Law)
M.S., Cleary University (Culture, Change and Leadership) — Graduate Student Leadership Award, Business Innovation Award
B.B.A., Western Michigan University (Marketing and Finance)

In the Media

Roots

My family has been in St. Clair Shores since before it was St. Clair Shores. The Fresards were among the original French settler families who farmed ribbon plots along Lake St. Clair in the 1700s and 1800s. My family built houses, ran a general store at Nine Mile and Jefferson, and helped shape the community. There's still a Fresard Street here. I still work out of the Fresard Law building on Jefferson, and I still live down the road in Grosse Pointe Woods. My wife, Hon. Patricia Perez Fresard, is the outgoing chief judge of Wayne County Circuit Court and 2024 recipient of the Dennis W. Archer Public Service Award.

Rates

Mediation (half day, up to 4 hours) $1,500

Mediation (full day, up to 8 hours) $2,750

Arbitration (half day) $1,750

Arbitration (full day) $3,250

Case evaluation $750 per case

Discovery master $350 / hour

Special master $350 / hour

Foreclosure mediation $600 per session

Travel outside Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties billed at the federal mileage rate. Cancellations within 48 hours of a scheduled session are subject to the full fee.

Schedule

To schedule a mediation, arbitration, or consultation, use the calendar below or contact me directly.

Open Scheduling Calendar

Or contact me directly at (586) 242-2860 or dfresard@fresardsolutions.com