As a young personal injury litigator in Georgia, Gino Brogdon Jr. says he was accustomed to using different technology tools to manage his practice. But when Brogdon began working as a mediator, he realized that there were limited tech options to assist him in the alternative dispute resolution realm.
In response, he and his wife, Melissa Brogdon, developed a technology platform for mediators and arbitrators called Fourthparty.
The web-based application assists neutrals with typically time-consuming administrative tasks, such as calendaring and billing, and it allows users to securely upload and store case files. Additionally, Fourthparty can be used for digital note taking and aids alternative dispute resolution professionals in tracking case results.
“The special thing about the software is that no matter where you are in your tech journey or your tech familiarity, you can use the software,” says Brogdon, the co-founder and CEO of Fourthparty.
Fourthparty launched in 2019, and it is being used for more than 2,000 matters across five states: California, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina. The platform’s website says the application is utilized by certified neutrals, alternative dispute resolution firms and community mediation organizations.
The company’s growth has come as alternative dispute resolution continues to increase in popularity among litigants, a trend aided in recent years by the large case backlogs in courts across the country because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has really opened some doors for mediators to build their practices, get more exposure, get more chances, because the chances are out here,” Brogdon says.
In this new episode of the Legal Rebels Podcast, Brogdon discusses the pain points that Fourthparty tries to address, describes the platform’s most popular features, and shares why he encourages lawyers to consider doing mediation work early in their careers.