John A. Pappalardo is a Partner in the Pappalardo Law Group, PLLC, with offices in White Plains, New York and Roseland, New Jersey. The firm is involved in arbitration, mediation, and litigation. John has been an active Arbitrator, Mediator, and litigation attorney for 39 years.

John has extensive experience in alternate dispute resolution (ADR), having served as an arbitrator and mediator in over 2,000 domestic and international matters. Throughout his career, John has presided over a broad range of complex domestic and international disputes involving: public works construction and development contracts; private construction and development contracts; franchise law; commercial law; industrial projects; real estate valuations; insurance law; legal fee disputes; sustainable energy development; federal securities law; matrimonial law; and employment and labor law.

John is heavily involved in commercial and construction law matters involving both public and private projects ranging in value from $50,000 to $25 million. John’s ADR portfolio includes: a dispute between an LPGA certified golf club and general contractor; disputes between land owners and sustainable energy construction contractors involving a multimillion dollar solar farms; architect malpractice claims; multi-million dollar New York City excavation and water drainage projects; car wash installation projects; school district disputes with contractors and architects; disputes involving rollercoaster and amusement projects; multi-legged disputes between owners, architects, sureties, and prime contractors on public works contracts; partnership dissolutions in the fields of medicine, law, international finance; contractor and homeowner disputes ranging from cosmetic upgrades to new home constructions; as well as several other moderate to highly significant matters between contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, sureties, homeowners, architects, municipalities, and mid-to-large sized businesses.

John has also represented clients against contractors and contractors against clients in construction and commercial litigation. He has represented a significant number of homeowners and homebuilders in litigation associated with the construction of new homes and the renovations and expansion of existing homes.

John is a member/fellow of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, FINRA, Second Department Special Masters, National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb), Construction Lawyers Society of America (CLSA), and Arbitration Ireland Association organizations, as well as the Presumptive ADR panels for the counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland, Bronx, Kings and New York. He has taught Arbitration and Mediation programs and has spoken for the AAA, New York State Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, and National Business Institute.

John’s matrimonial practice handles moderate to very complex litigation involving matrimonial and family law cases. He also has a private matrimonial mediation practice, is certified in matrimonial collaborative law, and sits as a matrimonial arbitrator. He has served as a Guardian Ad Litem and an Attorney for the Child(ren) in many matrimonial proceedings. His work as an Attorney for the Chil(ren) for 35 years included representing children where their rights have been implicated.

John is a Fellow and Certified Arbitrator of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a Fellow of the International Association of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has been recognized as a top attorney by SuperLawyers in ADR and Matrimonial/Family Law. He is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Westchester Bar Association and their Family Law and Alternative Dispute Resolutions subsections. He is a referral attorney for the State Department for Missing and Exploited Children, representing parents who have had their children abducted. John is currently an Officer with the Westchester County Bar Association and is a member of the Executive Committee.

John teaches ADR as an Adjunct Professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and Arbitration and Mediation as a visiting Professor at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. He also currently serves his community as a Part-Time Judge.

John graduated from Ithaca College in 1983 with a B.A. degree and received his J.D. in 1986 from The New England Law School.

• The New England Law School, J.D., 1986
  • Legal Services Clinic: represented indigents in housing, domestic violence, discrimination, and landlord
    tenant disputes
  • Administrative Law Externship: represented employees in labor disputes
  • Internship: Westchester County District Attorney
  • Moot Court Honors
• Ithaca College, B.A. 1983
• • Major: Politics
  • Minor: Psychology
  • Teaching Assistant: American Politics; Professor Marty Brownstein
  • Research Assistant: American Politics
  • Internship: Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Big Brother Program
  • Senior Thesis: The Unwinnable Conflict Known as the Vietnam War

• American Arbitration Association, 1999-Present
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb), 2025 – present
• American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution and Domestic Relations Subsections, 1987-Present
• Westchester County Bar Association, Domestic Relations and Dispute Resolution Sections, 1986-Present
• New York State Bar Association, Domestic Relations and Dispute Resolution Sections, 1986-Present
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 2020-Present
• American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Arbitration Subcommittee, Member, 2024-Present
• International Academy of Family Lawyers, 2008-Present
• Hague Convention Attorney Network, U.S. State Department, 1998-Present (Formerly: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Referral Attorney)
• New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, 1998-Present New York State Attorney for Children Panel, 1993-Present
• Westchester County Civil Arbitration Panel, 1992-1997
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), 2018-Present
• Federation of Integrated Conflict Management (FICM), 2020-Present
• Association for Conflict Resolution
• Westchester County Magistrates Association
• New York State Dispute Resolution Association
• International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
• International Academy of Family Lawyers
• Westchester/Rockland Collaborative Professionals
• Arbitration Ireland Association Panel, 2021 - Present
• United States Council for International Business (USCIB), 2021 - Present
• New York Association of Collaborative Professionals, 2021- Present
• Berkeley College Paralegal (Advisory Board, Past Director)
• International Association of Matrimonial Lawyers
• Former Member of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

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