Hon. Mark Mason, (Ret.)
Email: mmason@themediationgroup.org
Mediation, Arbitration, Case Evaluation, Special Master Hearings
Judge Mark Mason (Ret.) is deeply committed to the resolution of civil cases. He has decades of experience rooted in his work as a mediator, trial attorney, and judge. Judge Mason has earned a statewide reputation as a trusted and skilled neutral with a high rate of case resolution. He has mediated hundreds of cases since 1988. Judge Mason has taught and trained hundreds of new mediators, conciliators and law students.
Judge Mason retired from the Superior Court in January 2024, after serving as a judge for fifteen years and working as a trial attorney for twenty-four years. Over the course of his judicial career, Judge Mason has presided over 275 trials. As a judge, he conducted a significant number of mediations.
The wide variety of civil cases Judge Mason handles include commercial litigation, business disputes, construction cases, real estate disputes, employment discrimination cases, torts, professional malpractice cases, and wrongful death cases. He is particularly experienced in multi-party complex commercial litigation. Judge Mason is respected statewide for his intellect, emotional intelligence and pragmatic approach. Judge Mason’s reviews can be found at: Mark D. Mason Counsel Comments.
Judge Mason is a full-time neutral and is known for his attentiveness to the parties’ interests, ability to work with counsel, knowledge of the law, and extensive trial experience. His judicial and legal experience qualifies him to assist the parties and counsel in understanding the risks and costs associated with trial. Judge Mason’s style is facilitative and, at the parties’ request, evaluative. Judge Mason thoroughly reviews all mediation memoranda and materials counsel submit. He encourages counsel to share non-confidential material. He welcomes counsel to engage in individual, confidential pre-mediation conferences.
Both on and off the bench, Judge Mason has worked tirelessly to advance ADR across Massachusetts. Judge Mason chaired the Trial Court’s Standing Committee on Dispute Resolution and the Superior Court’s Civil Committee. Judge Mason served on ADR Committees in the Superior Court, the District Court and the SJC. Notably, he served on the SJC committee which drafted the Uniform Rules on Dispute Resolution.
Prior to joining the bench, Judge Mason served as the 2006–2007 Massachusetts Bar Association President and chaired the MBA’s ADR Committee. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the MBA’s DR Section, Judge Mason was an AV-rated attorney and principal in the Springfield law firm of Cooley Shrair, where he chaired the Litigation Department. There, he specialized in business and commercial litigation, torts, construction litigation, divorce, probate litigation, and mediation.
Judge Mason is a frequent statewide lecturer on mediation, negotiation and civil litigation. He has taught and trained negotiation, mediation, and conciliation throughout Massachusetts since 2010. His speaking engagements, teaching experience and publications can be found at: Hon. Mark D. Mason ( Ret.).pdf
Judge Mason is a graduate of Columbia University and Boston University Law School.