Neutral Spotlight – Hon. Hiram E. Puig Lugo (Ret.)
With over 80 distinguished Neutrals—including retired judges and seasoned attorneys—serving Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland, The McCammon Group is excited to continue our “Neutral Spotlight” series. This ongoing feature highlights the exceptional expertise, diverse experiences, and unique backgrounds of our Neutrals. Through these spotlights, we offer a closer look at the professionals who are committed to delivering fair, effective, and 
innovative dispute resolution services. Join us as we showcase the individuals who contribute to The McCammon Group’s reputation as a trusted leader in alternative dispute resolution.
- Most interesting thing/fun fact? I have a maternal ancestor who was a pirate. His name was Roberto Cofresí Ramírez de Arellano. He was born in the 1790’s and lived until the 1820’s. After preying on Spanish merchants, he took to raiding American vessels trading with the Danish Virgin Islands. An American naval squadron was assigned to hunt him down. After a couple of years, they ran him ashore in Puerto Rico. Spanish soldiers captured him. He was tried and executed in the Fuerte San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan. He is remembered in Puerto Rican lore as a Robin Hood-type figure.
- What’s one thing on your bucket list? I want to visit Machu Piccu and travel through the former Inca Empire.
- What’s a hidden talent or hobby that most people might not know about you?I have been an avid reader since childhood. I would check out the maximum number of books permitted every two weeks from the public library. Today my reading focuses on non-fiction, but I enjoy escaping the real world through works of fantasy or historical fiction.
- What was your first job? I worked as a grocery bagger the summer before my senior year in high school.
- If you weren’t a lawyer or judge, what other career might you have pursued? I would have been a journalist.
- What inspired you to pursue a career in law? My inspiration to study law was rooted in a belief in the virtue of public service. Simply put, I wanted to make the world a better place than it was when I got here. I saw studying law as an avenue to obtain the knowledge and the skills that would allow me to work in public service.
- How has your experience as a judge shaped your approach to mediation? My judicial experience has shaped my approach in two ways. First, as judges we see all sorts of things from the bench. These encounters give us a better idea of where litigation is headed and the impact those outcomes might have on people’s lives. Secondly, we recognize that more conflict is often not the best way to resolve existing conflict. Mediation provides an avenue for reducing conflict and resolving disputes. Participants exercise control and agency in their lives, and shape solutions consistent with their interests.
- What qualities do you think are essential for someone in your role to be an effective neutral party? An effective neutral is one who does not insert themselves into a conflict. It is important to prepare in advance with an eye for detail. It is essential to understand how people think and what motivates them. It is vital to listen and to observe with care and to treat everyone with courtesy and respect.
- What advice would you give to lawyers about preparing for mediations? You must be prepared to mediate. The necessary discovery should have taken place. You should provide the mediator with the information he or she needs to facilitate the process. What are the issues? Which are your client’s priorities? What are the obstacles you see for reaching a resolution? What do we need to know about your client and their perspective? Are there issues other than money on the table? It is vital that you prepare your client to engage the process with an open mind and with a disposition to find a solution. Taking that approach yourself is a good place to start.
- What types of cases do you find most rewarding or challenging? Every case provides its own challenges and rewards. The principal challenges come from working with parties to find common ground, particularly in situations where emotions are prominent. This process requires careful listening and thoughtful observation. The greatest reward is sensing the relief that parties experience when they reach resolution.
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, either personally or professionally? The best advice I received as a judge was to stay focused, pace myself, and pick my battles.
- Do you have a motto or personal mantra? Life is beautiful. Live with gratitude.
The Honorable Hiram E. Puig-Lugo recently retired after twenty-four years of distinguished service on the bench of the Superior Court of D.C., where he notably served three years as the Presiding Judge of the Family Court. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Puig-Lugo was a staff attorney with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Criminal Section. He is a Past President of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the 2021 recipient of their President’s Award for Extraordinary Leadership. Fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, Judge Puig-Lugo has not only contributed internationally through legal education projects but also serves as an adjunct faculty member at the Georgetown University Law Center in the American Law for Foreign-Trained Lawyers LLM Program. Judge Puig-Lugo now brings this exemplary record of dedication and leadership to The McCammon Group to serve the mediation and arbitration needs of lawyers and litigants in D.C. and beyond.