Justice Engoron, Trump Trial Judge, Joins Top ADR Firm

NEW YORK, NY – February 04, 2026 – The Honorable Arthur F. Engoron (Ret.), the New York State Supreme Court Justice who presided over the high-profile civil fraud trial against former President Donald Trump, has joined National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM), a leading alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider. The move marks a significant transition from one of the most scrutinized judicial benches in recent history to the increasingly influential world of private arbitration and mediation.

NAM announced that Justice Engoron, who brings more than two decades of judicial experience, will be available to arbitrate and mediate complex civil matters throughout New York. His appointment to NAM’s panel of neutrals comes shortly after his mandatory retirement from the bench at the end of 2025.

“I am pleased and excited to join NAM, and I look forward to assisting parties in resolving disputes efficiently and fairly,” Judge Engoron stated in the announcement. “My years on the bench reinforced the value of thoughtful, disciplined alternative dispute resolution as a complement to the court system.”

A Contentious Legacy on the Bench

Justice Engoron’s final years on the bench were defined by the contentious civil fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the Trump Organization. The trial, which concluded in early 2024, placed him at the center of a national political and legal firestorm. In a pre-trial summary judgment, he found the defendants liable for fraud, and his final ruling in February 2024 imposed a staggering penalty of over $450 million with interest and placed significant restrictions on the Trump family's ability to do business in New York.

Throughout the proceedings, Justice Engoron was the subject of intense criticism and accusations of bias from the former President and his legal team, which culminated in an unsuccessful motion for his recusal. The case's legal journey continued after his verdict. In August 2025, a New York appellate court upheld Engoron’s core finding that Trump and his co-defendants were liable for civil fraud. However, in a major revision, the panel voided the nearly half-billion-dollar monetary penalty, deeming it “excessive” under the Eighth Amendment.

This high-profile tenure concluded due to New York State's mandatory retirement law, which required Justice Engoron to step down upon turning 76, despite his term officially running until 2029. He had publicly expressed his disagreement with the policy, noting his desire to continue working and his belief in his effectiveness as a jurist, particularly in settling cases.

The 'Talent War' in Alternative Dispute Resolution

Justice Engoron’s transition to the private sector is emblematic of a larger trend within the legal industry, where top ADR firms are engaged in a “talent war” to recruit esteemed former judges. Firms like NAM, and its primary competitors JAMS and the American Arbitration Association (AAA), view these high-profile hires as critical assets that enhance credibility, attract lucrative and complex cases, and serve as powerful marketing tools.

The addition of a judge with Engoron’s public profile and experience in managing intricate commercial litigation is a strategic coup for NAM. The firm is consistently ranked as a top ADR provider by legal publications. In 2023, it was named the #1 National ADR Provider by the National Law Journal's Best of Survey for the tenth consecutive year. Such accolades support its claim as a premier destination for dispute resolution.

“Judge Engoron’s breadth of trial court experience and practical approach to dispute resolution make him an outstanding addition to NAM’s roster,” said Mark Haddad, CEO of NAM. “His ability to evaluate risk, manage complex cases, and guide parties toward resolution reflects the level of excellence our clients expect.” This sentiment underscores the immense value that judicial insight brings to the private sector, where clients are willing to pay for the perceived authority and expertise of a former judge.

Judicial Insight Meets Private Practice

Beyond the headlines of the Trump case, Justice Engoron’s career provides a deep well of experience in a wide range of civil matters. He regularly presided over complex commercial disputes, construction cases, employment law matters, medical malpractice actions, and high-stakes personal injury litigation. This diverse background makes him a versatile neutral capable of handling the varied caseload of a top ADR firm.

His particular depth in employment-related disputes—including prevailing wage litigation, wrongful termination, discrimination, and wage and hour claims—is a highly sought-after specialization in the ADR market. The press release noted his reputation for brokering many improbable “miracle settlements” from the bench, a skill that is the cornerstone of an effective mediator.

For corporate counsel and law firms, engaging a former judge like Engoron offers a distinct advantage. His long career as a practitioner, law clerk, and jurist provides an invaluable perspective on how a case is likely to be perceived and evaluated within the court system. This insight can be crucial in risk assessment and in developing effective settlement strategies, potentially saving clients millions in litigation costs and years of uncertainty. The move to ADR allows him to apply these skills in a more collaborative and less adversarial setting, focused solely on resolution rather than judgment.

Ultimately, the migration of seasoned jurists like Justice Engoron from the public bench to private panels reflects the evolving legal ecosystem. As court dockets remain burdened, the efficiency and expertise offered by ADR providers become increasingly attractive. This trend ensures that decades of judicial wisdom are not lost upon retirement but are instead redeployed, offering a streamlined path to justice and continuing to shape the resolution of legal disputes for years to come.