Upcoming WWFF Events
The Will Work For Food programs are presented primarily by and for attorneys, mediators and arbitrators. Each Thursday at 8am Pacific an amazing colleague joins us to give a webinar presentation about a timely topic. These programs are free. You can join us for all or one. We don’t ask you to pay for these invaluable webinars, instead we hope that you’ll make a donation of any size to your local food bank.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
We’re frequently asked if Continuing Education Credits/Units are available. Will Work For Food’s “The New Possibilities Hour” presentations are not pre-approved for CE. However, if you’d like a Certificate of Attendance to self-submit an application to your chosen licensing organization, please email Natalie with your request at Natalie@WillWorkForFood.news with your complete name as well as the name and date of the program you attended.
Aggressive Resolution Management Early Resolution Options – What Clients Want to Know
If the statistic we have all heard is the reality - over 98% of all cases are resolved by voluntary agreement – e.g. settlements.
Considering the cost, expense and disruption of litigation, why are resolution options so often delayed? And why are resolution approaches so often ad hoc? And why do the real settlement discussions so often begin on the day of mediation?
Isn't it time to focus on resolution, early and often, using the tools of resolution to give the parties what they need to make important decisions? Our program will explore the simple, effective and repeatable methodologies that help ensure the parties get to the difficult conversations that are essential to early, and most importantly, optimum resolutions.
Handling Emotions in (Peace) Negotiations - Takeaways from a Mediator in Armed Conflict
Based on stories from her years of experience facilitating dialogue in armed conflict, Fleur Ravensbergen will share three takeaways about handling emotions in highly charged negotiations. She will share thoughts on what this means for handling emotions in negotiations more broadly, how she currently encounters and approaches this in her practice and any related advice for those present. It will be an interactive session and she looks forward to engaging with the audience.
The Art of Expectation Management in Litigation & ADR
In the complex landscape of legal disputes, managing client expectations is crucial for successful outcomes. This presentation delves into strategies and best practices for attorneys, mediators, and arbitrators to effectively navigate client expectations during litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes. Topics covered include setting realistic goals, transparent communication, risk assessment, and fostering trust. By aligning client expectations with legal realities, professionals can enhance client satisfaction and achieve more favorable results.
Leading Out of Drama® - Conflict with Compassion
Thursday, August 1st
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Bethany Faith Food Pantry
Our special guest this week, Michyl-Shannon Quilty, Mediator | Conflict Consultant | Trainer will Present on:
Leading Out of Drama® - Conflict with Compassion
Conflict is an opportunity for growth. Leading Out of Drama® (LOD) provides groups and individuals with easy-to-apply tools and a common language for navigating conflict without energy-zapping drama. When the energy of conflict is used in compassionate and creative ways we can harness that energy into productive relationships and solutions.
Michyl-Shannon Quilty has 20+ years of experience in conflict management in Hollywood’s entertainment industry. Michyl-Shannon coordinated with producers on network television shows and blockbuster feature films –including three Oscar-nominated movies. She has a Master's Degree in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, in Malibu, CA, and is a licensed provider of Next Element's Leading Out of Drama® system.
Produce Resolution: Insights From The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, an ADR tool for the produce industry
Thursday, August 22nd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Jaime Bustamante, Director of Trading Assistance, will Present on:
Produce Resolution: Insights From The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, an ADR tool for the produce industry
Learn about the dispute resolution model is designed to reduce risk and facilitate trade between members.
The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), a non-profit, membership-based organization serving the produce trade. DRC provides harmonized standards, procedures and services to our members to help them avoid commercial disputes. When differences of opinion occur, we provide consultation, mediation and arbitration services to resolve the issue in a timely and cost-effective manner.
We strive to counsel and educate our members about best practices so they may avoid disputes altogether.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Ottawa Food Bank
Our presenter:
Jaime grew up in the agricultural community of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. After completing his bachelor’s degree in foreign Trade at the University of Valle de Mexico in Mexico City, Jaime started working with the DRC in 2002 and its currently the Director of Trading Assistance. He joined the DRC as a Trading Assistance specialist in the DRC Mexico office and played an integral role in getting the DRC Mexico Office up and running.
In 2005 the DRC consolidated its offices and Jaime moved to Ottawa, Ontario to join the DRC in its Ottawa offices. In his current position as Director of Trading Assistance, Jaime oversees all trading assistance services including helping members identify potential customers, private and confidential consultations, the informal mediation process, the arbitration process, and education and training for members. He is also involved in different DRC projects. He has assisted DRC members resolve thousands of produce and transportation disputes in his role with the DRC Trading Assistance Team.
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
The benefits and dangers of AI within mediation
The benefits and dangers of AI within mediation together with a live roleplay of Smartsettle ONE as well as the application of Smartsettle Infinity to a fictionalised resolution of a shareholder dispute
Thoughts on Settlement Strategy and Mediation from the Plaintiff's Standpoint
Thursday, April 11th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the San Francisco Marin Food Bank
Our special guest this week, Guy Kornblum, will Present on:
Thoughts on Settlement Strategy and Mediation from the Plaintiff's Standpoint; Don't Be Afraid or Reluctant to Be the First to Try to Settle Your Client's Case
Lets discuss the reluctance of lawyers to directly negotiate a major case and also how you really have to prepare for settlement discussions and mediation if you want to fully explore settlement opportunities.
Mr. Kornblum has specializes in civil trials, arbitrations, mediations and appeals. He is a partner in the civil litigation firm of Kornblum, Cochran, Erickson & Harbison, LLP, with offices in San Francisco and Santa Rosa, California. Mr. Kornblum is certified in Civil Trial Advocacy and Civil Pretrial Practice Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is a Charter Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary.
He is also a Life Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and also a Premium Member of The Verdict Club, recognizing those who obtain large verdicts or settlements for their clients. He is also a “Top 100” Trial Lawyer, and is a Fellow of the American College of Board Certified Attorneys.
He author of “Negotiating and Settling Tort Cases: Reaching the Settlement,” published by Thomson West and the American Association for Justice), 3d. Ed. 2015.
He is a Northern California Super Lawyer since 2006. He received his J.D. Degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his A.B. from Indiana University, In between he was a Counterintelligence officer in the U.S. Army.
Successful Strategies In Mediations with Insurance Coverage Issues
This presentation will discuss strategies for how to prepare for and conduct mediations in cases that involve insurance coverage issues. We will also discuss a few great examples of what not to do based upon real past experiences.
Preventing Disputes: Not Just Resolving Them
Thursday, March 28th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Food 4 Kids
Our special guest this week, Joan Stearns Johnsen, will Present on:
Preventing Disputes: Not Just Resolving Them
Deals fail for reasons having nothing to do with the merits of the deal. Often, these deals fail because of a breakdown in trust and in communication between those individuals responsible for implementation of that deal. When trust breaks down it is challenging if not impossible to navigate ordinary and inevitable changes in circumstances and other myriad issues that arise during the extended life of a deal. Why not focus on those people who implement policy and procedures on behalf of their organizations and on the interpersonal relationship between those individuals? The skill set well known to mediators is powerful and malleable. With greater focus on better communication, skilled and collaborative negotiation, and cultural competence, companies can navigate conflict and avoid disputes and litigation leading to more business purpose. Mediators can help.
Joan Stearns Johnsen, FCIArb, CEDR Accredited, IMI Certified teaches negotiation, mediation, and arbitration at the University of Florida Levin College of Law where she is also the Director of the Law School’s Institute for Dispute Resolution. In addition to her teaching, Joan is has over thirty years’ experience as a practicing arbitrator and mediator. Joan is on the arbitration and mediation panels of the American Arbitration Association, FINRA, CPR, the National Futures Association, the New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, NAM, The American Health Law Association, and Resolute Systems.
Joan is a frequent speaker and trainer on best practices in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Among those for whom she has conducted trainings is The American Trucking Associations, the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, the US Commerce Department, and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Joan has published numerous articles and papers on these subjects and has a law review article forthcoming in the law review of the University of Massachusetts School of Law.
Her legal practice experience includes as Assistant Counsel for what was formerly Smith Barney, Inc. and is now Morgan Stanley, as the Associate General Counsel for the former Commodity Exchange, Inc., now a designated market of the CME Group, both in New York city, and as an enforcement attorney for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington, D.C. Joan is active in the Dispute Resolution Community. She is a past Chair of the ABA’s Section of Dispute Resolution, on the Counsel of CPR, Senior Vice Chair of the Mediation Committee of the International Bar Association, and a Board Member of the Miami International Arbitration Society. Joan is the 2022 recipient of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“CPR”) James P. Groton Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dispute Prevention.
Split the Pie: How to Negotiate without being a Jerk
Thursday, March 21st
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen (DESK) in New Haven
Our special guest this week, Barry Nalebuff, Managing Partner, Milton Steinbach Professor - Yale School of Management will Present on:
Split the Pie: How to Negotiate without being a Jerk
Negotiations bring out the worst in people. Wouldn’t it be better if there were a principled way to negotiate? Wouldn’t it be even better if there were a way to treat people fairly and get treated fairly in a negotiation?
Split the Pie offers a 2,000-year-old approach that does both. Based on the Babylonian Talmud, Split the Pie helps identify what’s really at stake in a negotiation: the “pie.” The negotiation pie is the additional value created through an agreement to work together. Seeing the relevant pie will change how you think about fairness and power in negotiation. In particular, seeing the true pie provides a way to treat people in unequal positions equally.
Barry Nalebuff is the Milton Steinbach Professor at Yale School of Management where he has taught for 34 years. An expert on game theory, he has written extensively on its application to business strategy. He is the author of seven books. Split the Pie is his new book on negotiation and the subject of his online course on the Coursera platform. The course has 500,000 enrolled learners. In addition to his academic work, Barry has served on the boards of Nationwide Insurance and Q Drinks, and currently serves on the boards of Calicraft, AGP, and Eat the Change. He is also an entrepreneur. He cofounded Honest Tea with his former student Seth Goldman. The company was sold to Coca-Cola in 2011. A graduate of MIT, a Rhodes Scholar, and Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows, Barry earned his doctorate at Nuffield College, Oxford University.
How to Convene a Mediation Effectively: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls for Mediators and Attorneys
Thursday, March 14th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Project Angel Food
Our special guest this week, Nikki Safavi, Owner of Case Manager Services, Inc., will Present on:
How to Convene a Mediation Effectively: Best Practices and Common Pitfalls for Mediators and Attorneys
The presentation will draw on the insights and experiences of Nikki Safavi, the owner of Case Manager Services, Inc., the go-to case manager for premier mediators in the US. The presentation will include practical examples, tips, and tools for mediators and attorneys who want to improve their convening processes, skills, and outcomes. The presentation will be interactive and engaging, and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their own perspectives and experiences.
Nikki Safavi's career journey began with overseeing the customer service department for a prominent global children’s clothing manufacturer. Transitioning into the legal field, she dedicated seven years to managing a successful plaintiff’s Employment Law practice. Drawing from her diverse expertise, Nikki founded Case Manager Services, where she provides tailored case management solutions to mediators, integrating insights from both legal and customer service domains.
At Case Manager Services, Nikki emphasizes personalized representation for each mediator, exemplified by dedicated phone lines tailored to maintain their distinct branding. She ensures prompt response to all inquiries and timely submission of mediation briefs, and agreements. A crucial aspect of her service involves securing payment for her clients before mediation.
With an unwavering dedication to professionalism and client satisfaction, Nikki Safavi and Case Manager Services strive to facilitate seamless mediation experiences for clients, ensuring that every aspect of the mediation process is handled with precision and care.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Nikki is a passionate advocate for dogs. She proudly wears the title of 'Foster Fail' after adopting all four of her foster dogs. Beyond her own pets, Nikki and her husband formed a dog rescue in Mexico, providing a loving home for over 80 dogs. Each day, these animals receive rehabilitation, spaying/neutering, and the care they deserve, reflecting Nikki's unwavering commitment to animal welfare.
Maui Fires Recovery Fund-One Ohana Maui Fires Victims' Compensation Fund program for claim management and resolution
Maui Fires Recovery Fund-One Ohana
Maui Fires Victims' Compensation Fund program for claim management and resolution
presented by:
Andy Winer, Governor's Consultant
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Thursday, February 29th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Our special guest this week, Becca Chambers, Neurodiversity Advocate and SVP, Brand and Communications, will Present on:
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Did you know that approximately 15%–20% of the worldwide population is thought to be neurodivergent in some way?
That means one in five people have a condition such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, or Tourette syndrome (but not limited to these conditions). That's a LOT!
It also includes folks without these diagnoses who have difficulties with organizational skills, social perception, and social interaction. Up to half of neurodivergent people don't even know that they are neurodivergent, so the actual numbers may be much higher.
Let's talk about what that means to your work, your workplace, and your clients.
Becca Chambers is an award-winning brand and communications executive with a focus on cybersecurity and enterprise technology. With nearly 20 years of experience, ranging from Fortune 500s to startups, she is especially well-known for corporate transformation, branding and rebranding, and bringing outside-the-box thinking to everything she does.
Becca is also a passionate advocate for neurodiversity. As an executive with ADHD and a son with dyslexia, she uses her experience to write and speak about the intersection of neurodiversity and the workplace. She has been featured in outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Post, Fast Company, USA Today, and others.
Becca earned a Master of Science with distinction from the London School of Economics (LSE), a Master of Arts from the University of Southern California (USC), and a BA in both Communications and Political Science from USC. She lives in the Bay Area, California with her husband and two kids in the house she grew up in.
The Man In The Ditch: A Redemption Story For Today
Thursday, February 22nd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting North Texas Foodbank
Our special guest this week, Mike H. Bassett, Founder, The Bassett Firm will Present on:
The Man In The Ditch: A Redemption Story For Today
At some point as we journey through life, we will find ourselves buried by our own baggage, stripped bare at the muddy, craggy bottom of The Ditch. Most people know what it's like to struggle through life's long valleys, but The Ditch is different. The Ditch is a place we don't want to end up, but in some cruel twist of fate, we do. Maybe it's through our own fault. Maybe it's not. For some, The Ditch may be a scary diagnosis. A job loss. Maybe it's a run-in with the law, a poor decision that spawns others and traps you in a cycle of addiction. And sometimes it's vague. Sometimes, it's just one too many hard knocks from life.
The Ditch will break us, but in that brokenness lies the potential for raw and radical transformation.
The Man in The Ditch is a story about undeserved privilege, unlimited potential, hard work, and hustle. A story about self-inflicted wounds, hubris, insecurity, shame, and abandonment. A story, ultimately, about the Operation of Divine Grace that manifests itself as unapologetic joy.
And while this is a story told by a lawyer, father, husband, and practicing Catholic, it is a story for all of us. A story that teaches us that our darkest moments don't define us, but have the power to radically change us for the worse or for the better.
Do we stay stuck in darkness, or do we overcome it? And once we overcome it, how do we emerge? Bitter and beaten down, or a stronger, better version of ourselves?
The choice is ours.
Unapologetically passionate and transparent, Mike has never stopped believing in the power of his team, truth, and doing the next good thing.
He is a civil litigation attorney who has practiced law for nearly four decades.
In 2002 he founded The Bassett Firm, a Dallas-based boutique law firm specializing in defending catastrophic injury cases.
Mike has tried nearly 200 cases to verdict and is a highly sought-after national speaker, consultant, and mediator.
He is also the host and co-creator of the Podcast, Legal Grounds: Conversations on Life, Leadership, and Law, whose guests have included everyone from archbishops to military leaders and New York Times bestselling authors.
In his time as an attorney, Mike has embraced the hard path of grace and believes in second chances as much as he believes in honesty to his clients.
He is the author of The Man In The Ditch: A Redemption Story For Today.
Yes, I Know There Is No Coverage But You Should Still Settle Because.....Mediating the Coverage Case
Thursday, February 15th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Long Beach Rescue Mission
Our special guest this week, Matthew Batezel, Partner at Pacific Law Partners, LLP will Present on:
Yes, I Know There Is No Coverage But You Should Still Settle Because.....Mediating the Coverage Case
Insurance coverage issues are common place in today's litigation environment. Recognition of coverage problems and how these coverage issues impact cases are important consideration during mediation to aid the parties to resolution. This presentation will discuss mediation coverage issues from the defense-side.
Matt is an east-coaster at heart. He lived in the Philadelphia area until his family moved to Southern California when he was nine years old. However, his sports loyalty will forever be tied to Philadelphia, along with his love of cheesesteaks. As a young boy, after realizing he would never make it as a professional baseball player, Matt watched his uncle in trial, and has wanted to be a lawyer ever since.
As a practicing attorney, Matt has worked exclusively in the field of insurance, primarily in bad faith litigation. This practice has permitted him to gain expertise in all aspects of insurance including coverage, bad faith, trials, and appeals. In 2007, Matt became a founding member of the Southern California branch of Pacific Law Partners.
He enjoys his life outside of work with his wife and two daughters. Matt believes he may be the only California lawyer that enjoys playing ice hockey and performing in community musical theater. Matt is also an Adjunct Professor at Trinity Law School in Santa Ana, California.
Negotiations For Celebrities
Thursday, February 8th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Our special guest this week, Martin D. Singer, Managing Partner, Lavely & Singer Professional Corporation will Present on:
Negotiations For Celebrities
Representing celebrities in negotiations in litigation context at mediations, in settlement agreements, and other disputes.
Martin D. Singer is a founding member of the law firm Lavely & Singer Professional Corporation, specializing in entertainment and business litigation. For over 35 years, Martin (“Marty”) Singer has represented high profile individuals and well-known entities in complex and sophisticated litigation matters. He has been involved in litigating all areas of intellectual property, privacy protection, defamation, accounting, business, and entertainment-related matters. Additionally, he has handled litigation involving Fortune 500 companies and individuals included in the AForbes 400," and a variety of individuals and businesses, having tried over 100 arbitrations and jury trials.
Mr. Singer has represented some of the most respected actors, recording artists, writers, producers, directors, and athletes in high profile lawsuits. For decades, he has been representing influential celebrities and athletes in all areas of litigation. His clients include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Eddie Murphy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Lawrence, Sofia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Jason Statham, Kevin Costner, Gerard Butler, John Travolta, Oprah Winfrey, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sharon Stone, Jerry Bruckheimer, Elton John, Celine Dion, Snoop Dogg, Ryan Murphy, Tyler Perry, Naomi Campbell, Heidi Klum, Kathy Ireland, Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kelly Ripa, Stevie Wonder, Lebron James, and Magic Johnson.
For several years, Martin Singer has been selected as one of the Top 100 attorneys in California by the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal, consistently being named one of the Top 100 Power Lawyers by The Hollywood Reporter. For the last 4 years he has made the Variety 500 List of Influential Leaders in the Entertainment and Media Industry Worldwide (one of only two litigators) and was also named as one of the 500 Leading Lawyers in the United States by Lawdragon Magazine. In addition, he was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America, ranked as a Star Individual Attorney for Media & Entertainment Litigation in California in the publication Chambers USA, and received the prestigious Beverly Hills Entertainment Lawyer of the Year Award.
Mr. Singer has lectured at Harvard, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, U.S.C. Law School, U.C.L.A. Law School, and other Continuing Education of the Bar courses.
How civility will heal our world
Thursday, February 1st
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Gleaners Food Bank
Our special guest this week, Alexandra Hudson, Author of The Soul of Civility, will Present on:
How Civility Will Heal Our World
How civility supports our freedom and our flourishing
ALEXANDRA O. HUDSON is a writer, popular speaker, and the founder of Civic Renaissance, a publication and intellectual community dedicated to beauty, goodness and truth. She was named the 2020 Novak Journalism Fellow, and contributes to Fox News, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, TIME Magazine, POLITICO Magazine, and Newsweek. She earned a master’s degree in public policy at the London School of Economics as a Rotary Scholar, and is an adjunct professor at the Indiana University Lilly School of Philanthropy. She is also the creator of a series for The Teaching Company called Storytelling and The Human Condition. She lives in Indianapolis, IN with her husband and children.
How Mediation Better Serves All Animals in these Emotionally Charged Disputes.
Thursday, January 25th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting AnimalAllianceNYC.org
Our special guest this week, Debra Hamilton will Present on:
How Mediation Better Serves All Animals in These Emotionally Charged Disputes
This program will highlight the important position pets, and animals in general, have taken in our life. From our fluffy kitten sleeping on our lap to the tigers being poached during COVID, emotions run high when speaking about keeping animals safe. Disagreements have resulted in much litigation, precedent-setting, and legislation creation; leaving little thought to who will enforce these laws in time to save the animals. This short program will make you curious about the role of Mediation in Animal Law and Animal Welfare. What can we do to assist everyone in getting it right for the animals and keeping animals’ welfare top of mind when conflicts arise, over the need to be right, when conflicts arise?
We will look at some of the changes in property status of animals (NY-Domestic Relations - Best Interests Legislation; Pet Trusts; Pet Service Providers liability) and its application; as well as take a broader look at animal issues including Wild Horses, the BLM, Zoos and Aquariums.
Debra Hamilton is the principal at Hamilton Law and Mediation, PLLC, (HLM).
HLM uses understanding-based alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methodologies to transform disagreements over animals in veterinary medicine, divorce, and beyond. Debra facilitates non-defensive discussions between parties providing them the opportunity to choose peaceful conversation over litigation
Debra speaks internationally at law and vet conferences and is the best-selling author of Nipped in the Bud-Not in the Butt-How to Use Mediation to Resolve Conflicts over Animals. She has an internationally received podcast, Why Do Pets Matter and holds an international pet planning community call, The MAAP Plan, which helps its members navigate the journey their pet takes when they can’t care for it, on Wednesday evenings.
She holds Board positions on AVMLA (president); SVME; NY Save; The Center for Understanding; NYSBA Women in the Law and ISCA. She is an advisor to NOMV- Clear Blue task force and Fear Free.
She is the go-to person for information regarding the use of mediation in disagreements involving animals for the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Huffington Post, and US News and World Report.
She breeds, owns, and shows Irish Setters and Long-haired standard Dachshunds.
Navigating the Future of Dispute Resolution: Artificial Intelligence & Chatbots
Thursday, January 18th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Ana Maria Sambold, Mediator & Arbitrator, will Present on:
Navigating the Future of Dispute Resolution: Artificial Intelligence & Chatbots
(This program will not be recorded - please join us for the live event!)
Join us for an exciting exploration of the future of dispute resolution as our AI enthusiast, Ana Sambold, guides you through cutting-edge strategies for leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Language Models (LLMs) to their full potential. This expert-led session is meticulously crafted to empower attorneys and dispute resolution professionals with in-depth insights and practical techniques, enabling them to harness the power of AI effectively. Gain valuable knowledge on how to streamline processes, enhance client experiences, and achieve optimal outcomes. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best and stay ahead of the curve. Revolutionize your practice with Ana Sambold's expert guidance.
Join us for this unique opportunity!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Ms. Sambold invites you to support San Diego Food Bank
Register Here
Ana Sambold is internationally recognized as one of the leading figures in the field of dispute resolution in the U.S. As a California-based commercial mediator and arbitrator, she has successfully facilitated the resolution of more than 1,000 cases. Her practice encompasses a wide spectrum of civil litigation matters, including business, torts, employment, civil rights, consumer, banking, real estate, insurance coverage, mass claims, and cases involving multinational parties and cross-cultural issues.
Ms. Sambold is deeply passionate about leveraging the potential of generative AI to revolutionize the field of dispute resolution. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of AI utilization by mediators and neutrals. She is a National Academy of Distinguished Neutral (NADN), International Certified Mediator (IMI), and Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
In addition to her practice, Ms. Sambold is a Negotiation Professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. She has also taught extensively in conflict resolution, cross-cultural negotiation, and ADR worldwide.
Ms. Sambold is the 2023-2024 American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Chair, the largest association of dispute resolution professionals in the world. For more information about her practice, visit http://www.sambold-law.com/
My best and worst experiences in mediation
Thursday, November 9th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Neel Chatterjee, Partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, will Present on:
My Best And Worst Experiences In Mediation
Mr. Chatterjee will reveal his best and worst experiences in mediation (and anything else Jeff asks me) . For example, if he asks me what makes me so handsome, I may have an answer.
Join us for this unique opportunity!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mr. Chatterjee invites you to support Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Register Here
About Neel Chatterjee
Neel Chatterjee is a partner in Goodwin’s Intellectual Property practice and formerly served on the firm’s Executive Committee. An internationally recognized technology litigator and trial lawyer, Neel has a proven track record of wins in hard-to-win technology cases. Neel represents entrepreneurs and disruptive technology companies. He has represented some of the most famous entrepreneurs in the world in some of their most important technology cases.
His cases often break new ground in undefined areas of the law. Clients frequently turn to Neel to try complex technology cases shortly before trial. A key strategist on complex litigation spanning multiple venues, Neel simplifies extremely complex concepts to ensure that judges and juries understand the key issues in each case. Neel has substantial expertise handling disputes related to patents, trade secrets, copyrights, internet law, and complex commercial technology issues. c
He is passionate about diversity in the legal profession and founded the Bay Area Diversity Career Fair. He also sits on the boards of the Asian Pacific Fund and the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. Neel also serves as an adjunct professor of Law at Vanderbilt University School of Law.
Managing Conflict Mindfully: Don't Believe Everything You Think
Thursday, January 4th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Greater Chicago Food Depository
Our special guest this week, Leonard Riskin will present on:
Managing Conflict Mindfully:
Don't Believe Everything You Think
All of us, including well-trained and experienced negotiators and mediators, sometimes make unwise decisions related to conflict and difficult situations. Such choices can lead to missed opportunities, suboptimal agreements, and impaired relationships, and even to the fear, hatred, anxiety, polarization, and violence that infuse and infect much of today’s world.
This presentation—which draws on Leonard Riskin's new book, Managing Conflict Mindfully: Don’t Believe Everything You Think—will show how and why this happens and what we can do about it, through a new framework that integrates negotiation, mindfulness, and internal family systems. This framework could help anyone deal better with others, and with themselves.
Leonard L. Riskin is a visiting professor at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, distinguished senior fellow at its Center on Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Justice, and Chesterfield Smith Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. He previously served as Director of the Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution and Isidor Loeb Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Len practices, teaches, and writes about mediation, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution. Len published the globally-influential "grid" of mediator orientations. He led a major project to integrate dispute resolution into standard law school classes at the University of Missouri School of Law and five other law schools. He also leads efforts to integrate mindfulness and internal family systems into the education of lawyers and other dispute resolution professionals. Len has published several books, numerous articles in scholarly journals, and essays in popular publications including the New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic. He has led training workshops around the world, and has won numerous awards including the Award for Outstanding Scholarship from the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, the Cloke-Millen Peacemaker Award, and teaching awards at Northwestern Law. His most recent book is Managing Conflict Mindfully: Don't Believe Everything You Think (2023).
Diversifying ADR
This presentation will be a valuable resource for legal professionals, resolution experts, educators, and anyone interested in promoting diversity and inclusion in these critical sectors. Come join us as we engage in a thought-provoking discussion and chart a path towards a more inclusive and representative future.
HIJACKED! Mediation, Self-determination, and Controlling the Process
What happens when parties (or their counsel) try to wrestle the control of the mediation session from the mediator? Whose process is mediation, anyway? Does self-determination provide parties a voice in structuring mediation? How can we, as mediators, provide parties power in choices about how mediation occurs, while maintaining the integrity of the process? Explore these questions with colleagues to gain insight in how to balance self-determination with a duty to balance power and meet the parties’ objectives. We will create a list of strategies to address responses to harmful exercises of power by participants in the mediation process.
When People Are “Peopleing": Navigating Multi-Generational Dynamics in the Modern Workplace
Thursday, November 30th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Los Angeles Food Bank
Our special guest this week, Arleen Milian will Present on:
When People Are “Peopleing": Navigating Multi-Generational Dynamics in the Modern Workplace
Join Arleen Milian who will share with us her experience in navigating conflicts between cross-generations in the workplace, including in the typical multi-generational law firm. Whether you are a practicing lawyer in a law firm, a negotiator or mediator negotiating with multi-generational parties and counsel or employment claims, a claims professional or general counsel considering the generational makeup of your potential jury, or anyone who works with people of different ages, this presentation will open your eyes to the ways that the different generations think and communicate.
Arleen Milian is the Director of Client Relations and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practice Leader at a Los Angeles-based law firm. Having successfully launched the firm's DE&I Initiative, her primary area of focus is providing personalized, strategic planning and practical solutions to drive cultural transformation in the workplace.
In 2020, the Los Angeles Business Journal's Diversity, Inclusion + Equity Symposium and Awards nominated Arleen for Executive of the Year for her efforts in creating a more inclusive work environment.
As an immigrant woman of color, Arleen’s lived experiences and her 15 years of professional experience in the legal industry, have empowered her to easily identify the underlying narratives that drive conflicts when brokering conversations between cross-cultures, genders, and generations.
Outside of her professional spectrum, much of Arleen’s time is devoted in service to the marginalized. She is currently developing a documentary "A Refugee’s Heart,” which chronicles Arleen’s own journey as a refugee migrating from Cuba to the United States and the impacts of trauma.
The Best & Worst of Mediation from an In-House Counsel Perspective
Thursday, November 16th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Our special guest this week, Zazi Pope, Mediator/Arbitrator, Signature Resolution (formerly, SVP, Chief Litigation Counsel, Warner Bros. Discovery), will Present on:
The Best & Worst of Mediation from an In-House Counsel Perspective
Ms. Pope will reveal her best and worst experiences in mediation from her experience as the former SVP & Chief Litigation Counsel of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Join us for this unique behind-the-scenes look at how counsel view and experience mediation!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
About Zazi Pope
With more than three decades of experience, veteran litigator Zazi Pope has overseen hundreds of arbitrations, mediations, trials and settlements, primarily involving entertainment industry disputes relating to the production and distribution of filmed entertainment, intellectual property, employment, defamation, right of publicity, profit participations and personal injury. As the first in-house litigator hired by Warner Bros. in 1992, Zazi built a stellar litigation team that oversaw the company’s global litigation portfolio, eventually rising to the position of Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Following the transactions with AT&T and then Discovery, Zazi’s responsibilities expanded to include litigation oversight not only of Warner but also HBO, the Turner networks including CNN, HBO Max (now Max) and the Discovery networks. She held the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Litigation Officer, Warner Bros. Discovery, before leaving the company in September 2023.
An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, where she first studied ADR with mediation pioneer Frank Sander, Zazi spent the early part of her career in private practice, representing creative talent and profit participants in disputes against the major studies, most notably the groundbreaking Buchwald v. Paramount lawsuit, in which a court struck down the studio’s profit definition (the case settled while on appeal). Among her many successes at Warner were a landmark ruling that confirmed the right of content creators to fictionalize real life stories and events, and a case affirming the principle that producers cannot be held liable for “copyright crimes” allegedly inspired by fictional characters. She also oversaw a number of high-profile trials and investigations, including the much-publicized case involving the murder of a talk show contestant following the taping of an episode about same-sex “secret crushes,” as well as the production shut-down and related legal claims involving the Bachelor franchise.
She has been recognized as one of Los Angeles’ “Most Influential Woman Lawyers,” a “Woman of Distinction in the Los Angeles Business and Legal Community,” 2 an L.A. Business Journal’s “Leaders in Law - Inside Counsel” one of the top 500 lawyers in America by Law Dragon, and a Super Lawyer by Law & Politics, an organization that honors the top 5% of the California Bar. A long-time social justice and human rights advocate, Zazi has served many public interest organizations throughout her career. She was one of the founders of the California Committee of Human Rights Watch, and its Vice-Chair for many years, participating in several fact-finding missions to Central and South America.
She is also a long-time board member of Big Sunday, the community service organization that has, since its founding in 1999, provided much-needed assistance to underserved communities throughout Los Angeles and thousands of volunteer opportunities. Among the many other non-profit organizations with which Zazi has been involved are United Friends of the Children, Public Counsel, Bet Tzedek, Amnesty International and the ACLU of Southern California. She is a former Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a Founding Member of the Pacific Council on International Policy. Zazi has lived and traveled extensively all over the world, and speaks 5 languages.
Become a Super Mediator
Thursday, November 2nd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks .
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Middle Georgia Community Food Bank
Our special guest this week, Bob Berlin will Present on:
Become a Super Mediator
Tips and Tools and the things that you will never suspect to make you the best mediator you can be.
Mediator, Trainer, Coach, Conflict Engagement Specialist, Arbitrator, Neutral Evaluator, etc.
Get Ahead of the Game: Level Up Your Practice's Marketing and Business Development for 2024
Thursday, November 26th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Natalie Armstrong-Motin, Legal Industry Marketing Expert and owner of Marketing Resolution will Present on:
Get Ahead of the Game: Level Up Your Practice's Marketing and Business Development for 2024!
Join our practical webinar, "Get Ahead of the Game: Level Up Your Practice's Marketing and Business Development for 2024!” and take your practice to new heights of success. In this power-packed session, we’ll unlock the secrets to crafting a forward-thinking strategy to set you apart from the competition.
Discover the latest trends, techniques, and technologies that will help you stay ahead of the curve in 2024. From leveraging digital marketing channels to implementing effective business development tactics, this webinar will provide you with invaluable insights and actionable steps.
Learn how to revolutionize your approach, identify emerging opportunities, and effectively target your audience to maximize your practice’s growth potential. Natalie will share her proven strategies and success stories to inspire and guide you toward achieving unprecedented results.
Don't settle for mediocrity when you can soar to new heights of success. Join us for this exclusive webinar and unlock the keys to take your marketing and business development to the next level in 2024. Reserve your spot now and be prepared to level up your game!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mrs. Armstrong-Motin invites you to support The Idaho Food Bank
Register Here
About Natalie
Mrs. Armstrong-Motin, Founder and Managing Director of Marketing Resolution, is the author of “The Essential Guide to Marketing Your ADR Practice”. She is frequently invited to speak around the globe on the successful marketing strategies of the resolution and legal industry. As a personal consultant to many of the premier providers in the ADR industry, her company, Marketing Resolution, has designed and developed hundreds of campaigns for private practices, firms, educational institutions, authors, organizations and associations around the world.
Mrs. Armstrong-Motin has received certificates in both Mediation and Arbitration from the Institute of Conflict Management and International Mediation from both Tulane University School of Law and Humboldt University School of Law in Berlin Germany. She has received more than 150 hours in training in numerous national and international mediation, arbitration and communication courses. Mrs. Armstrong-Motin’s professional education background is in conflict resolution, sociology and criminal psychology.
She is currently working with the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, ADR Institute of British Columbia, and the Association for Conflict Resolution in the USA. She was Vice President of the Southern California Mediation Association and Chair of the Membership Committee, a member of the Board of the London Club. Mrs. Armstrong-Motin has served on the Board of the California Dispute Resolution Council. For the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section she served as Vice-Chair of Practice Development Committee and as the Co-Chair of the Standing Committee for Practice, Business and Skills Development.
Mediating In A Polarized Society
Thursday, October 19th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, David Fairman, Senior Mediator at the Consensus Building Institute, will Present on:
Mediating In A Polarized Society
Get Mr. Fairman’s slide deck here.
Our democracy depends on a set of laws and institutions, and on a shared civic culture. Finding effective ways to manage and resolve conflict is essential both to governing and to citizenship. The rise in partisan animosity has sparked a movement to bridge differences among citizens and at the national level. This is not easy work, and sometimes it may be better to set aside "bridging" to fight the good fight for core values. David will offer his perspective on this work, and spark discussion about how mediators and other conflict resolvers can help strengthen our democracy.
Join us for this unique opportunity!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mr. Fairman invites you to support Greater Boston Food Bank
Register Here
About David Fairman
David Fairman is Senior Mediator at the Consensus Building Institute and Associate Director of the MIT-Harvard Public Disputes Program. For 34 years, he has built consensus and enhanced collaboration capacity on complex public and organizational issues in the U.S. and in other countries. David leads CBI’s Economic and Social Policy practice, facilitating consensus building and initiatives on economic opportunity and mobility, affordable housing, and criminal justice. He also facilitates collaboration to strengthen democracy, working with members of Congress and leaders in the movement for democratic renewal.
Tagged: #mediation
Doing The Right Thing Even Though No One Is Looking – What It Means To Be Ethical Today
Thursday, October 12th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Throwback Thursday!
Join us for a replay of one of our most-watched WWFF presentations with Bernie Heinze, President & CEO of The Heinze Group.
Doing The Right Thing Even Though No One Is Looking – What It Means To Be Ethical Today
You've sat through many mandatory ethics presentations...this one is different. Looking at the inherent conflicts between doing whatever it takes to win versus doing what is right, the session questions our cultural orientations and personal and professional ambitions to then provide guidance on how to reshape what we may have been taught, into how we want to be remembered.
Mr. Heinze invites you to support Manna on Main Street
Register Here
About Bernie Heinze
Mr. Heinze is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Heinze Group in King of Pressure, Pennsylvania and London, England. The organization is comprised of an international and multi-disciplinary group of defense and coverage attorneys and insurance professionals providing risk, litigation, claims administration, audit and outcome management consultative services. Mr. Heinze also is called upon to offer expert witness testimony in state and federal courts across the country and has testified before Congress on several occasions on matters pertaining to insurance-related activities.
He has also served as Executive Director of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, an international association of the premier and peer-reviewed defense and corporate counsel, and insurance industry claim professionals. He is an approved provider of continuing education and continuing legal education sessions by all 50 state bar and insurance departments. Mr. Heinze was also Vice President & Chief Legal Counsel of a domestic property and casualty insurance company; equity partner on insurance defense and coverage matters with the Wilson Elser law firm and a litigation associate with the Marshall Dennehy law firm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has also served as Executive Assistant & Press Secretary for Erie County (New York) Executive, Edward J. Rutkowski and Buffalo New York; and as Legislative Assistant for Congressman Jack Kemp in Washington, DC. He also worked as weekend anchor at WAVA NewsRadio in Washington, DC.
What I've Always Wanted To Say To Mediators
Thursday, October 5th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Sarita Venkat is VP & Deputy General Counsel, Global Litigation & Competition, at Cisco in Silicon Valley, will Present on:
What I've Always Wanted To Say To Mediators
Throughout her career, she has represented some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated technology companies in mediations large and small. She has seen just about every kind of mediator in every kind of case – and, guess what, she has formed some opinions!
Join us for this unique opportunity!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Ms. Venkat invites you to support Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Register Here
About Sarita Venkat
Influential and recognized leader in tech law at some of the world's most premiere technology companies. Deep experience and understanding in solving complex legal issues to achieve rapid growth.
Sarita is a Board Director of Chiefs in Intellectual Property (ChIPs), advancing women in technology, law and policy. Podcaster @ Heels of Justice. Recognized as a Woman of Achievement by Legal Momentum, Legal Impact Honoree by Asian Law Alliance, Leading Women in Technology by the Recorder, as a Corporate Star by Managing IP and as Corporate Counsel of the Year by the South Asian Bar Association.
Grieving over Settlement: The Impact of Loss in Mediation
Thursday, September 28th
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Dwight Golann, Research Professor, University of California Law - San Francisco and Suffolk University Law School - Boston, will Present on:
Grieving over Settlement: The Impact of Loss in Mediation
The mediation movement often suggests that a key goal of the process is to facilitate parties’ search for interest-based solutions that create value. I think this advice is misguided: while creative terms can be very helpful in reaching agreement, most settlements involve one and often both sides feeling that they are losing.
Feelings of loss, as Kahneman and Tversky demonstrated, are some of the strongest forces that influence human decision-making. Freud and other psychologists have observed that people process feelings of loss in what amounts to a kind of internal negotiation in their minds between wish and reality.
In legal cases, disputants may conduct the same internal negotiation at the same time as the negotiation happening between the parties. People also may use legal cases to avoid feeling loss, which results in what I call “delayed loss reaction”: strong feelings that erupt suddenly as parties confront difficult settlement decisions. People also sometimes refuse to settle because it means ending case that has emotional significance for them. This session will explore how feelings of loss influence disputants’ bargaining decisions, and how mediators can respond to them..
Join us for this unique opportunity!
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Prof. Golann invites you to support Greater Boston Food Bank
Register Here
About DWIGHT GOLANN
Dwight Golann has been a mediator and teacher of dispute resolution for more than twenty-five years. He is a Research Professor at Suffolk University Law School and has led trainings for federal and state courts, the Federal Judicial Center, the European Union, and ADR organizations on five continents. He was formerly Director of Training for J.A.M.S.
Professor Golann has resolved hundreds of legal disputes in a wide variety of subject areas and is the author of the American Bar Association’s leading books on commercial mediation, Mediating Legal Disputes, and mediation advocacy, Sharing a Mediator’s Powers, as well as law school texts.
Professor Golann was formerly a litigator in private practice. He served as Chief of the Trial Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, where he directed all litigation filed against state officials and agencies and tried and argued cases at every level of the American court system.
He is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the American College of Civil Mediators, is an Honorary Member of the International Academy of Mediators and received the American Bar Association’s 2021 Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Dispute Resolution. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Harvard Law School.
Overcoming Avoidance of Diversity Changes in Dispute Resolution: Tools for Change
Thursday, September 21st
8 a.m PST | 11 a.m EST
This presentation will NOT be recorded. Join us for the live presentation!
Our special guest this week, Dan Berstein, Mediator, will present on:
Overcoming Avoidance of Diversity Changes
in Dispute Resolution: Tools for Change
The Mental Health Safe Project's advocacy has led to major updates to dispute resolution guidance so practitioners do not inadvertently discriminate against people with mental illnesses and disabilities (ex. discriminatory screening, illegal inquiries, or disparate treatment). Yet even dispute resolvers can be conflict-averse, and achieving these updates was sometimes challenging when people were reticent to engage. This workshop reviews research about six types of avoidance - big-tenting, isolating, abnormalizing, stonewalling, evading, and distracting - and applies them to real case studies of positive changes. Learn a method of honoring the avoider's self-determination while providing objective reflections of their boundaries, as well as clear next steps to move forward and make important diversity changes that transcend resistance. Receive tools designed to help avoiders and advocates alike de-escalate and forge peaceful progress. You will also receive tools to become trauma-informed and bias-resistant in your regular practices.
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mr. Berstein invites you to support Feeding America
Register Here
Dan Berstein combines his professional expertise as a mediator, his academic background in mental health and public health, and his personal experience living with bipolar disorder to develop innovative online programs that use conflict resolution best practices to prevent discrimination. Through his company, MH Mediate, Dan has trained thousands of people to talk about mental health, address challenging behaviors, and resolve conflicts. Clients have included individuals, organizations, and government agencies at the city, state, and federal levels.
Dan is the co-founder of the Dispute Resolution in Mental Health Initiative at the CUNY Dispute Resolution Center, and leads their efforts to develop trauma-informed and bias-resistant resources. He holds a master’s degree in Mental Health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, a bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School at the University Pennsylvania, and a mediation certification from the New York Peace Institute where he formerly sat on the Mediator Advisory Board. His book, Mental Health and Conflicts: A Handbook for Empowerment, was published by the American Bar Association in 2022. Through the Mental Health Safe Project, Dan advocates to help organizations notice, prevent, and address instances of inadvertent discrimination.
Why Aren't they Listening? How to create change in a disputants mindset
Past negotiation and mediation approaches emphasized a focus on strategies and tactics for working out the transactional nature of a deal, and the degree of parties’ satisfaction with the process.
Today, and in the post-pandemic era, a heightened awareness of how our parties in dispute resolution have been impacted is essential. And how much more important it is that we listen to what’s going on for them, supporting them as they navigate through conflict to resolution, not just settlement of the legal issues.
With the advance of neuroscience coupled with the pain of what’s transpired during the COVID years, our clients demand a different kind of service (and attention) from the advocate/mediator professional.
We know that feelings influence outcomes. We know that emotions convey information that can be used strategically if we know what to look for. And we know there are readily available techniques to reduce emotional intensity (without being a psychologist). What are they?
This program presents to the advocate/mediator professional behavioral science strategies to bring this together.
How Court-Appointed Neutrals Can Help Courts
Janice Sperow will talk about the important role neutrals can play in helping the courts handle the volume of disputes before them and Merril Hirsh will discuss how to become a court-appointed neutral.
What Litigators REALLY Think About Mediation
Malcolm S. McNeil
PARTNER AND INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE CO-LEADER at ArentFox Schiff will pull back the curtain on what litigators REALLY think about mediation.
Lessons Learned from Children’s Books for Life and Dispute Resolution
Ms. Mayer mines children’s literature to find fun, relatable and teachable stories that delve into the fine arts of communication and negotiation techniques that all attorneys and neutrals can put into immediate action at work and home.