Jim Ardaiz

A retired appellate judge is finding a new home at Whitney Thompson & Jeffcoach, covering mediation, arbitration and appellate evaluation.

Justice James Ardaiz joined the Fresno law firm after nearly eight years with Baker, Manock & Jensen PC, according to a press release.

“I am pleased to join Whitney, Thompson & Jeffcoach, an innovative law firm with highly accomplished attorneys and a cutting edge perspective on providing legal services to its impressive client base,” Ardaiz said in the release.

Ardaiz experience comes not only as administrative presiding justice from California’s Fifth District Court of Appeal, but also in the areas of business, personal injury, governmental policy, environmental, agricultural, estate and property disputes. He has authored more than 2,000 appellate opinions and participated in 6,000 total.

“We are honored to have such an experienced, distinguished former judge join our team,” said Marshall Whitney, partner at the firm. “Jim Ardaiz aligns perfectly with our principles and goals for our clients, and his many years of success are a great asset to us.”

His focus will largely be in mediation, arbitration and strategic planning, but he does act as counsel to “a limited number of commercial clients,” the release stated.

His cases have primarily been in commercial and property disputes.