Kari is a certified mediator and arbitrator with more than 30 years of experience in civil litigation, dispute resolution, and law firm leadership. Her practice is devoted exclusively to helping parties resolve complex disputes efficiently, practically, and fairly through mediation and arbitration.
Throughout her career, Kari has handled a wide range of civil matters, with particular depth in insurance, commercial, and business disputes. Having spent decades litigating cases from inception through trial and appeal, she brings a thorough understanding of risk assessment, case valuation, and litigation strategy to the neutral’s role. This experience allows her to engage meaningfully with counsel and parties, identify the true drivers of conflict, and assist in navigating both legal and practical obstacles to resolution.
Kari is a Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, reflecting her commitment to professionalism, impartiality, and excellence in alternative dispute resolution. As a neutral, she is known for being well-prepared, even-handed, and direct when appropriate, while always maintaining respect for the parties and the process. Her approach is primarily facilitative, informed by evaluative insight when helpful, with the goal of assisting parties in reaching durable, informed outcomes.
In addition to her work as a neutral, Kari previously served as managing partner of a litigation and ADR firm for more than 15 years. In that role, she led attorneys and staff, developed firm strategy, and worked closely with clients on complex and high-stakes matters. This leadership experience informs her ability to manage multi-party disputes, balance competing perspectives, and keep proceedings focused, professional, and productive.
Kari understands that successful dispute resolution requires more than knowledge of the law. It requires preparation, judgment, credibility, and the ability to earn the trust of both counsel and parties. She strives to create a process that is efficient, candid, and respectful, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the needs of each case. Whether serving as mediator or arbitrator, her objective is to provide a fair, thoughtful forum in which disputes can be resolved with clarity and confidence.
Certifications
•Certified County and Circuit Court Mediator by Florida Supreme Court
•Certified United States District Court Middle District of Florida Mediator
Awards & Honors
•Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, 2026
Articles & Presentations
•Author, 'Rethinking the Joint Session,' Attorney at Law Magazine, January 2026
•Author, 'Managing Your Client's Expectations At Mediation,' Daily Business Review, May 2025
•Presenter, 'Arbitration Strategy: Embrace Arbitration or Avoid It? Considerations for In-House Counsel,' ACC Tampa Bay, December 2024
•Author, 'Nonbinding Arbitration: Finding a Way to Resolution,' Daily Business Review, May 6, 2024
Kari's News and Insights
01.08.2026
Mediation & Arbitration
Rethinking the Joint Session
If you’ve mediated a case in recent years, you’ve probably...
Photo: Shutterstock.com/hxdbzxy
08.21.2025
Firm News
27 RumbergerKirk Attorneys Named to the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America
Dan Gerber and Leonard Dietzen Named “Lawyer of the Year;”...
05.13.2025
Mediation & Arbitration
Managing Your Client’s Expectations at Mediation
Preparing your client for mediation in advance of the actual...
12.05.2024
Events
Arbitration Strategy: Embrace It or Avoid It, Considerations for In-House Counsel
Does your company have a comprehensive arbitration strategy as part...
05.09.2024
Mediation & Arbitration
Nonbinding Arbitration: Finding a Way to Resolution
It has become a trend in many circuit courts to...
03.11.2024
Firm News
Metzger Law Group Joins RumbergerKirk
Seasoned duo Kari and Joe Metzger and Associate Jenna Thompson...
AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him
or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards.
Distinguished: An excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. This rating indicates the attorney is widely
respected by their peers for high professional achievement and ethical standards.
Notable: This rating indicates that the lawyer has been recognized by a large number of their peers for strong ethical standards.
