Litigating Standard Essential Patents in 2026
Thursday, June 18th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Steve Akerley, Vice President, Head of Litigation at InterDigital, Inc will present on:
Litigating Standard Essential Patents in 2026 - Navigating Global Courts, Combating Hold-out Strategies, Judicial Imperialism and the Wisdom of Arbitration
How are highly technical patent cases distilled down into an effective one-day mediation? Learn how litigation differs between jury trials, bench trials, and mediations when the stakes are high.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Kennett Food Cupboard
Our presenter:
Steve is the global head of litigation for InterDigital, one of the world’s largest and most successful pure research and development companies. Since joining InterDigital in 2020, Steve and his team have been at the forefront of the rapidly developing international legal landscape for cases involving standard essential patents. In the last 6 years, Steve and his team have executed a global strategy, securing critical results before courts in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, the UPC, Brazil, India, Spain and China. Prior to joining InterDigital, he was in private practice at several international firms where he litigated and tried company-critical patent cases for both patent owners and accused infringers. Steve has been recognized repeatedly by IAM in its Global Strategy 300 and as one of the country’s top patent litigators by the National Law Journal, the Daily Journal and other peer-nominated reviews.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
The Mindful Approach to Managing Anger in Conflict Resolution
Thursday, June 25th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Claire E. Parsons, Of Counsel at Bricker Graydon Wyatt will present on:
The Mindful Approach to Managing Anger in Conflict Resolution
Anger and conflict often go hand and hand. But when it is time to resolve a conflict, it can be hard to prevent anger from becoming an obstacle. In this session, we'll discuss the mindful approach to anger, which recognizes that anger is a healthy and valid emotion. But, we will also learn some important strategies for processing anger in a healthy way and channeling it to assist resolution rather than derail it.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting World Central Kitchen
Our presenter:
Claire is Of Counsel at Bricker Graydon Wyatt in the Cincinnati area. She has practices in the areas of civil litigation, employment law, and school law. Claire is also a mindfulness and compassion teacher, speaker, author, and leader in the legal profession relating to attorney wellness. She is the founder of the Brilliant Legal Mind blog and the author of the books, How to Be a Badass Lawyer, which teach lawyers and professionals about mindfulness in an accessible and engaging way. Claire's forthcoming book, A New Year's Present, will offer readers a chance to learn about mindfulness through story.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin, moderated by Jeff Kichaven, Jean Lawler, David Shraga, Kimberley Best, and Felicia Harris Hoss
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
The 15-Minute Practice Builder - Small Consistent Actions That Quietly Build Visibility, Credibility, and Referrals
Thursday, July 2nd 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Natalie Armstrong-Motin, Founder and Managing Director of Marketing Resolution
will present:
The 15-Minute Practice Builder: Small Consistent Actions That Quietly Build Visibility, Credibility, and Referrals
Building a strong legal, mediation, arbitration, or negotiation practice does not require becoming a full-time marketer. It requires consistency.
In this practical and highly actionable presentation, marketing and practice development strategist Natalie Armstrong Motin will share simple 15-minute strategies that help professionals strengthen visibility, build referral relationships, improve online presence, and stay top of mind with potential clients and colleagues.
Designed for busy mediators, arbitrators, attorneys, and negotiators, this session focuses on realistic actions that can quietly compound into stronger credibility, better positioning, and more consistent opportunities over time.
Participants will leave with practical ideas they can implement immediately to support long-term practice growth without feeling overly promotional or overwhelmed.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Idaho Food Bank
Our presenter:
Natalie is part strategist, part coach, part “why hasn’t anyone told me this before?” voice in your ear.
Here’s the thing: You can be the smartest, most experienced mediator in the room—but if no one knows you exist, you’re not getting cases. That’s where she comes in.
She works with mediators and arbitrators around the world. With her clients, she crafts strategies that actually move the needle: branding that doesn’t look like clip art from 1997, websites that don’t sound like a robot wrote them, LinkedIn profiles people actually read, and social media that doesn’t make you cringe.
Bottom line? She helps you look as good online as you already are in practice.
And now, she’s published Build Your Mediation Practice, an Amazon #1 New Release
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ), Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com) and Kimberly Best (www.BestConflictSolutions.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
How to be a good listener (and other dangerous listening myths)
Thursday, July 16th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Graham Bodie, Professor, Media & Communication, University of Mississippi/Chief Listening Officer, Listen First Project, will present on:
How to be a good listener (and other dangerous listening myths)
Most of us think we know how to listen well: stay quiet, nod, repeat what we heard. But real listening is harder, and much more powerful, than what you'll find from a simple Google search. This session seeks to uncover the hidden traps behind some of the most common advice about listening. We’ll explore what the research actually says and how shifting our listening habits can open the door to stronger relationships, better leadership, and deeper understanding.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting The Pantry of Oxford and Lafayette County
Our presenter:
Graham D. Bodie teaches people to listen. His courses and curricula developed for university and organizational settings are informed by over two decades of research focused on the role of communication in shaping relationships, leadership, and virtuous civic life.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Forever or Just For Now? The State of PFAS Litigation in the United States
Thursday, July 23rd 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
The presentation will NOT be RECORDED
Our special guests this week, Vivian Villegas AVP, Latent and Environmental Claims, Zurich North America and Clarence Lee, Partner, Vice-Chair of Insurance Industry Group, Saul Ewing will present on:
Forever or Just For Now? The State of PFAS Litigation in the United States
PFAS, or forever chemicals, litigation has exploded across the United States including in the Aqueous-Film-Forming Foam (“AFFF”) multi-district litigation (“MDL”) over the past half-decade. This webinar explores the science of PFAS and future type of litigation. We will talk about the mediation and resolution of certain PFAS issues, the ongoing disputes regarding scientific links, and the potential for ADR on ongoing and future PFAS litigation.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Arlington Food Assistance Center and Brooklyn Rescue Mission
Our presenters:
Vivian Villegas is a senior claims executive and attorney with over 20 years of multi-line Property & Casualty experience, currently serving as Assistant Vice President, Environmental Claims at Zurich US. She specializes in leading high exposure environmental and complex commercial casualty teams, shaping claims strategy, and improving portfolio performance. Vivian is recognized for her leadership in emerging risks.
Vivian began her career in insurance at AIG. Prior to joining Zurich, she was a Senior Associate at Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP, where she defended insurers in complex coverage, toxic tort, environmental, and general liability litigation.
Vivian holds a Juris Doctor from the City University of New York School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and in her free time, volunteers with immigrant rights and animal rescue organizations.
Clarence Lee is an experienced litigator who represents insurers in a wide range of insurance coverage counseling and litigation. Clarence provides insurance coverage advice and litigation representation on a variety of insurance issues, including managed care, errors and omissions, hospital liability, general liability, environmental, cyber, technology, director's and officer's liability, professional liability, and architects and engineers’ policies.
Clarence provides claims and coverage guidance in a monitoring and litigation capacity for insurers on complex claims, ranging from environmental site pollution to managed care claims. He has experience representing insurers in trial, alternative dispute resolution, and pre-dispute resolution, and works to find solutions to difficult client problems. Clarence also has experience drafting and advising on policy language.
Outside of his insurance practice, Clarence has also represented clients in in intellectual property and commercial litigation. He also has an active pro bono practice that involves immigration and asylum cases, as well as family law issues in local courts.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin, moderated by Jeff Kichaven, Jean Lawler, David Shraga, Kimberley Best, and Felicia Harris Hoss
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Creating the change you seek, through the lens of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Thursday, August 17th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, D.G. Mawn, President of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) will present on:
Creating the change you seek, through the lens of the 1964 Civil Rights Act
Individuals and organizations who want to engage and facilitate connections in their communities that reduce separation will continue to weave together the community fabric of compassion, resilience, and strength through the use of community mediation skills. This session will explore the call to lean in where there are disagreements, disruptions, and disturbances from the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the light this Act gives on the need to keep weaving. A brief historical overview will be provided of the community response to the Act, commonly called community mediation. The conversation will also focus on what are civil rights; what are our areas of weaving influence; and how to lead with people about purpose and practice through a process which strengthens community and institutional fairness, peace, and belonging.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Gods Pantry and Dare to Care
Our presenter:
D.G. Mawn, M.A., J.D., currently serves as the President of the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM). As President Mr. Mawn supports the efforts of NAFCM’s members to amplify the voice, aggregate the wisdom and advance the work of community mediation across the continent. NAFCM, created by our members in 1994, is the leading voice of community-centered efforts which are embedding the call of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Part X to facilitate the possibility of justice, peace and belonging in communities. He also currently serves as the evaluation point person for ACR/JAMS Foundation Initiative for Students and Youth as well as a co-convenor of the TRUST Network, designed to develop a braided forum for strengthening and expanding the possibility for community cohesion and security infrastructure. Mr. Mawn also co-created with George Mason University, Carter School Peace and Conflict Resolution, a graduate certificate that focuses on sharpening the skills of those who practice conflict engagement by focusing on the intersection of power, values, trauma, and systems through the lens of empathy.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin, moderated by Jeff Kichaven, Jean Lawler, David Shraga, Kimberley Best, and Felicia Harris Hoss
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
What If Everything You Knew About Vision Was Wrong?
Thursday, September 3rd 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Dr. Katherine Cioffi, Neuro-Optometrist, Director of Vision Therapy at MyVisionFirst will present on:
What If Everything You Knew About Vision Was Wrong?
Healthcare has it wrong about the eyes! This presentation serves to differentiate the important distinction between eyesight and vision, explore how vision directly impacts so many areas of life including reading, learning, aging, sports, recovery, and screen use, and highlight that hidden functional vision problems are everywhere! We will dive deeper into the nature of functional vision problems as well as their signs and symptoms, and discuss the unique visual challenges our digital world presents. We'll end with some tools and exercises you can implement to support your daily visual demands.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Feeding America
Our presenter:
Dr. Katherine Cioffi is an expert in vision performance training and neuro-optometric rehabilitation, serving as the Director of Vision Therapy at MyVisionFirst. She holds a board-certified Fellowship in Vision Development & Rehabilitation (FOVDR), after completing her residency in Pediatrics, Binocular Vision, and Vision Rehabilitation at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Cioffi's advanced training equips her to diagnose and treat complex visual dysfunctions—ranging from developmental eye-teaming disorders in children to neuro-visual complications following concussion or brain injury.
At MyVisionFirst, Dr. Cioffi leads a team of skilled therapists and clinicians, delivering the practice’s unique Vision Performance Training approach through tailored programs that empower lasting transformations for every patient.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin, moderated by Jeff Kichaven, Jean Lawler, David Shraga, Kimberley Best, and Felicia Harris Hoss
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mediations and Settlements With Towers of Insurance
Thursday, September 10th
Our special guests this week,
Ashley Eiler and Rick Simpson, Partners, Wiley Rein LLP will present on:
Mediations and Settlements With Towers of Insurance
The presenters will examine recurring topics and issues that arise in the settlement context when there are multiple coverage layers or multiple towers of coverage.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Good Shephard
Our presenters:
Ashley is a seasoned litigator who represents professional liability, errors and omissions, and cyber insurers in complex coverage disputes pending in state and federal courts across the country. Ashley also serves as defense counsel for lawyers and accountants in pending professional liability lawsuits, threatened claims, and disciplinary proceedings. Ashley served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Maine between 2018 and 2022, representing the interests of the federal government in a wide variety of civil lawsuits and affirmative enforcement proceedings.
Rick is a trial lawyer, appellate advocate, and legal ethics advisor who has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, numerous federal and state appellate courts, and arbitration panels across the country. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Rick now represents lawyers, insurers, and businesses in complex litigation, professional liability, and ethics matters. He is Deputy General Counsel at Wiley, a frequent national speaker on legal ethics and insurance coverage, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Human Trafficking Litigation and Resolution
Thursday, September 17th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guests this week, Alec Zadek and Nancy Adams, Members at Mintz will present on:
Human Trafficking Litigation and Resolution
How are highly technical patent cases distilled down into an effective one-day mediation? Learn how litigation differs between jury trials, bench trials, and mediations when the stakes are high.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please support your local food bank
Our presenters:
Nancy Adams brings decades of experience handling complex insurance and risk-related matters for companies and insurers across the country. A nationally respected litigator and advisor, she is known for helping clients navigate high-stakes disputes, risk management strategy, and coverage issues with clarity and precision. Nancy is also a frequent speaker and educator on insurance and corporate risk topics.
Alec Zadek is a commercial litigator and trusted advisor who works with businesses, executives, and insurers on complex disputes, governance issues, and risk strategy. He is also widely recognized for his pro bono advocacy on behalf of survivors of sex trafficking and domestic violence, combining sharp legal insight with a deep commitment to service and reform.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
How Talk Works: The Science of Conversation in High-Stakes Crisis and Mediation
Thursday, October 8th
Our special guest this week, Elizabeth Stokoe , Professor and Associate Vice President, The London School of Economics and Political Science, will present on:
How Talk Works: The Science of Conversation in High-Stakes Crisis and Mediation
Why do some conversations move disputes forward while others harden positions and make agreement impossible?
Drawing on decades of empirical research into real-world conversations — not simulations or theory — Professor Elizabeth Stokoe shows how talk actually works in moments of conflict, persuasion, and decision-making. By analyzing what people really say, moment by moment, she reveals small but consequential choices in language that can escalate resistance or open paths to resolution. This session will challenge common assumptions about negotiation and mediation, and offer evidence-based insights into how skilled professionals can use conversation itself — precisely and deliberately — to improve outcomes.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Trussell Trust
Our presenter:
Elizabeth Stokoe is an internationally recognized expert on how conversations work and why they matter. She joined London School of Economics and Political Science in 2023 as Professor in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science and became Associate Vice-President (Impact) in 2024.
Before joining LSE, she was Professor of Social Interaction at Loughborough University, where she also held senior research leadership roles. She also served as Visiting Professor at the University of Southeastern Norway.
Her research uses conversation analysis to explore how talk shapes everyday life and high-stakes moments alike, from first dates and medical appointments to sales conversations and crisis negotiation. She has also brought her expertise into industry through work with Typeform and Deployed.
Beyond academia, Professor Stokoe is a gifted science communicator. She has spoken for TED, Google, Microsoft, New Scientist, and The Royal Institution, and has appeared at major festivals including Latitude Festival and Cheltenham Science Festival.
She is the author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and co-author of Crisis Talk. Her work was also featured on BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Why Some Mediations Succeed—and Others Don’t: A General Counsel’s Perspective
Thursday, November 19th
Our special guest this week, Ann Chaplin, EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Qualcomm, will present on:
Why Some Mediations Succeed—and Others Don’t: A General Counsel’s Perspective
In this webinar, Ann Chaplin, EVP and General Counsel of Qualcomm, shares a General Counsel’s perspective on why some mediations lead to resolution while others fail. Drawing on real‑world experience, she explores how preparation, mindset, mediator selection, party engagement, and integrity influence outcomes, and why early, substantive dialogue often matters more than positional bargaining.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Feeding San Diego
Our presenter:
Ann Chaplin is Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of Qualcomm Incorporated, where she serves on the executive leadership team and leads the company’s global legal operations. She brings deep experience in corporate governance, litigation, intellectual property, compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic business matters.
Before joining Qualcomm, Ann held senior leadership roles at General Motors, including Corporate Secretary and Deputy General Counsel, where she oversaw major legal functions and advised on transformation initiatives. Earlier in her career, she was a partner at Fish & Richardson, leading its litigation practice group and Minneapolis office.
Ann earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her bachelor’s degree from University of Minnesota.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
From FRAND Fights to Forum Shifts: The New Era of Global Patent Litigation
Thursday, June 11th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Sadaf Abdullah, Senior Director, Licensing at InterDigital will present on:
From FRAND Fights to Forum Shifts: The New Era of Global Patent Litigation
Global patent disputes are evolving fast and the effects on licensing strategy and deal-making are important. This webinar explores the latest developments in cross-border litigation, from shifting forum preferences and anti-suit injunction battles to the growing influence of international courts. We will talk about the effect of these developments on licensors and licensees and the increasing attractiveness of ADR for global patent disputes.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Minnie's Food Pantry
Our presenter:
Sadaf Abdullah is Senior Director, Licensing at InterDigital. In her role, she leads the strategy and execution of licensing programs for a portfolio of cutting-edge cellular, wireless, video, and other technologies used by companies worldwide. She conducts negotiations with global counterparties, structures licensing deals that reflect the value of InterDigital’s technologies (including 4G, 5G, and beyond), and helps shape approaches to FRAND compliance in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. Prior to joining InterDigital, she was Director of IP Rights and Licensing at Ericsson.
Earlier in her career, Sadaf was a Partner at IP litigation boutique Skiermont Derby LLP in Dallas and a Senior Associate at Wilmer Hale LLP in New York City. In those roles, she tried patent cases, handled appeals, and closed IP transactions.
Sadaf earned her law degree from Harvard Law School and her undergraduate from Duke University. In addition to her law practice, Sadaf has been an adjunct law professor since 2016, teaching courses in intellectual property law as well as employment law. She has taught at the University of North Texas Dallas College of Law as well as Collin College.
Sadaf is an active member of the Podium and the Legal Network for Gender Equity, National Women’s Law Center. She also holds several board positions in her community, including with several Parent-Teacher Organizations and her neighborhood HOA.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
What Are We Learning About the Effects of AI in Mediation: 3 Tips for Protecting Our Parties
What are We Learning About the Effects of AI in Mediation: 3 Tips for Protecting Our Parties
The INSPIRE Advantage: The Universal Path for Transforming Yourself and Others
Thursday, May 21st at 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week,
Adam Galinsky, Professor, Columbia University, will present on:
The INSPIRE Advantage: The Universal Path for Transforming Yourself and Others
Best-selling author Adam Galinsky will share three big ideas from his new book, INSPIRE. Distilling a century of research, Professor Galinsky identifies what makes leaders inspiring versus infuriating, why the behavior of leaders matters so much, and how inspiring skills can be developed and practiced. His empirically backed insights will not only help you be a better leader but also a more collaborative colleague, supportive spouse, and motivating parent.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Broadway Community
Our presenter:
Adam Galinsky is the Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Columbia Business School and Distinguished Management Scholar at INSEAD. His research and teaching focus on leadership, negotiations, decision-making, and ethics. He has published more than 300 scientific articles and is the best-selling author of INSPIRE and Friend & Foe. He is a frequent expert in defamation cases and his legal reports and testimony have generated more than $1 Billion in verdicts and settlements. He is the Executive and Associate Producer on two documentaries short-listed (final 15) for Best Documentary at the Academy Award.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com), moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mediation and Settlement of High-Stakes Patent Cases
Thursday, May 14th 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Nicole Williams, Sr. Director of IP and Litigation, 10x Genomics will present on:
Mediation and Settlement of High-Stakes Patent Cases
How are highly technical patent cases distilled down into an effective one-day mediation? Learn how litigation differs between jury trials, bench trials, and mediations when the stakes are high.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting San Diego Food Bank
Our presenter:
Nicole Williams is the Sr. Director of Intellectual Property and Litigation at 10x Genomics. Prior to going in-house, she was a principal at Fish &; Richardson, litigating patent cases in District Courts, the ITC and the PTAB. She has a background in bioengineering and extensive experience in the life sciences. She now leads the litigation strategy for US and foreign cases at 10x Genomics.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Freedom from the Inner Critic
Thursday, May 7th at 8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week,
Elizabeth Pyjov, JD MTS, Founder & CEO at Happiness Sangha
Law School & Business School Professor at Loyola University of Chicago, will present:
Freedom from the Inner Critic
Freedom from the inner critic lays the foundation for well-being and meaningful connection. It’s easy to criticize oneself and others, especially for lawyers. What lies behind the inner critic? This presentation takes a scientific, evolutionary perspective on the inner critic to uncover how the inner critic was created, what purpose it serves, and how lawyers can transform harsh judgments into skillful discernments. We will use psychological strategies, wisdom from ancient cultures, and guided meditation practices to break free from a harsh inner voice, finding empowering ways to think about the past, present, and future. You will get tools that you can put into practice right away, as well as a guide for cultivating freedom from the inner critic in the long term.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Community Food Bank of NJ
Our presenter:
Elizabeth Pyjov is a founder, CEO, theologian, lawyer, facilitator, published poet, and business school faculty who holds three Harvard degrees, speaks five languages, has lived in seven countries, and has created over a hundred different programs for happiness, energy, connection, and resilience. Through her organization, Lead with Compassion, she has reached over 20,000 people.
Elizabeth combines what she learned about ritual and meaning at Harvard Divinity School, her literature degree from Harvard College, neuroscience studies at Stanford Medical School, the rigor of Harvard Law School, experience living in seven countries, fluency in five languages, and her time studying with the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Jon Kabat-Zinn to think outside the box and help people find happiness and fulfillment today.
Elizabeth understands motivated, intelligent individuals. Her past professional experience includes being an Investment Funds Associate at Sidley Austin, human rights work at the United Nations, legal investigations for the New York Attorney General’s Office, and managing Compassion Journal for the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. She has also worked in marketing for Italy’s top television station RAI in Rome, and as a literary translator for Italian Nobel Prize-winning author Dario Fo. She now helps organizations all over the world create a more compassionate culture.
Elizabeth has worked or studied in Argentina, France, Italy, Peru, Spain, Switzerland, and Russia. Her international experience has led her to understand that among those of different traditions, customs, and religions, people find happiness in many of the same ways. They want to be healthy, do meaningful work, and be close to loved ones—and what brings joy is practicing compassion, self-kindness, and deep awareness. Elizabeth’s clients include the Library of Congress, The Carlyle Group, Novartis, and Deutsche Bank, as well as courts, startups, top law firms, and universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and NYU Medical School. This work is the biggest privilege of her life.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com), moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Time-Pressured Negotiations: When short on time, what short cuts can you take and what are the risks?
Professor Abramson will discuss what he learned when researching his recent article on "Time-Pressured Negotiations." The article just received the award for the best professional ADR article for 2025 by the CPR Institute.
The Dynamics of Business Divorces
Thursday, April 23rd
Our special guest this week, Jeffrey Sklar, Co-Chairman, Sklar Kirsh LLPwill Present on:
The Dynamics of Business Divorces
In this episode of Will Work for Food, Jeff Sklar, founding partner of Sklar Kirsh LLP and a 2026 Black Swan Global Negotiator Award Honoree, joins us to explore one of the most challenging areas of business law: business divorces. When partnerships dissolve or shareholders part ways, the stakes are high—financially, professionally, and emotionally. Jeff shares his approach to navigating these turbulent waters, revealing how tactical empathy and strategic communication can transform adversarial standoffs into workable resolutions. From understanding the unspoken concerns driving each party to using labeling techniques that defuse tension and build trust, this conversation offers a masterclass in the power of truly listening and the human side of high-stakes business transactions.
Whether you're a business owner facing a partnership breakup, an attorney handling contentious separations, or simply fascinated by the intersection of negotiation psychology and business law, this episode delivers actionable insights. Jeff explains how mirroring, calibrated questions, and acknowledging the other side's perspective can shift dynamics from zero-sum battles to collaborative problem-solving. He emphasizes that creativity is essential to any resolution—finding solutions the parties themselves may never have imagined—creating outcomes where clients walk away feeling they've won without leaving scorched earth behind. Tune in to discover how the right words at the right moment can make all the difference when business relationships reach their breaking point.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supportingOur Big Kitchen - Los Angeles
Our presenter:
Jeffrey A. Sklar is a founding partner of Sklar Kirsh LLP and serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Corporate Practice. He represents a dynamic range of clients—including executives, founders, family offices and businesses—across all stages of growth, from startup to exit.
Jeff often serves as outside general counsel, delivering strategic advice on day-to-day operations as well as complex transactional and governance matters. His practice is particularly focused on shareholder and partner disputes, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships and joint ventures and executive compensation arrangements. He counsels clients across a broad array of industries, including advertising, alternative energy, apparel, consumer products, entertainment, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, social media, software and technology.
Jeff’s work has earned him numerous accolades, including a Lawdragon 100 Leading AI & Legal Tech Advisors (2026) – Lawdragon; the Black Swan Global Negotiator Award Honoree (2026) from The Black Swan Group; ranking in the Chambers California Spotlight (2025); Legal Visionary (2022, 2023, 2025) – Los Angeles Times; Best Lawyers in America (2021–2025) – Best Lawyers; and Top 100 Lawyers in Los Angeles (2025).
Beyond his legal practice, Jeff is engaged in the Los Angeles community, serving on the Legal Committee for Stephen Wise Temple and the Advisory Board for the Transactional Lawyering Institute at Loyola Law School. An advocate for well-being, Jeff embraces all forms of fitness—particularly swimming and hiking.
Jeff is also the creator and host of The Practice of You, a podcast spotlighting legal professionals who lead with balance, joy and purpose. He has since expanded this vision into a consulting practice, guiding professionals toward building more fulfilling and sustainable careers.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Staying Anchored as a Leader in Uncertain Times
This presentation will explore new research on the neuroscience of spirituality and its ties to leadership and suggests ways for us to stay more centered and anchored in uncertain times. We will also explore a framework for making hard decisions when faced with morally complex questions.
How Retirement Has Affected Mediation and the Influence of ABA Op 518 on the Industry
Thursday, April 9th
Our special guest this week, Nelson Edward Timken, Mediator will Present on:
How Retirement Has Affected Mediation and the Influence of ABA Op 518 on the Industry
This program explores how the recent wave of judicial and senior-partner retirements has reshaped the mediation marketplace, and not always for the better. As experienced litigators and judges transition into dispute resolution, mediation has increasingly shifted from a facilitative craft grounded in self-determination to a high-volume settlement business driven by reputation and speed.
We will examine how this “retirement glut” has commodified mediation, altered client expectations, and created ethical tension within the profession. Central to the discussion is ABA Formal Opinion 518 and its clear warning against evaluative overreach, particularly the prohibition on mediators implying that a settlement is in a party’s “best interest.” Opinion 518 signals a broader reckoning for the industry: neutrality is not a title carried over from the bench, but a discipline requiring retooling, restraint, and renewed ethical clarity.
This session invites mediators, lawyers, and ADR professionals to reflect on where the field is heading, and what must change to preserve mediation as a profession grounded in integrity, skill, and true party self-determination.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
Our presenter:
For 30 years, Nelson Edward Timken served as Principal Law Clerk to a New York Supreme Court Justice. Before that, and alongside it, he built 37 years of legal experience that gave him a front-row seat to complex litigation, high-stakes motion practice, and the real dynamics that drive judicial decision-making. He now devotes his time to mediating.
His perspective is informed by years spent drafting decisions, observing trials, and watching how strong cases and weak cases actually play out. That insight now serves parties who need more than conversation. They need resolution.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Winning with Civility
Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guests this week, H. Mills Gallivan, Senior Partner at Gallivan White Boyd, PA and Ned Currie, Currie Johnson & Myers, P.A will present on:
Winning with Civility
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Harvest Hope Upstate SC or Gateway Rescue Mission
Civility in America is under strain, and the legal profession feels that pressure more than most. Yet even as courtesy, professionalism, and respect seem to fade from daily practice, the ideals behind them remain powerful, and deeply needed.
With nearly a century of combined litigation experience, Ned Currie, and Mills Gallivan have witnessed firsthand how acts of civility can transform a case, a career, and even a community. Motivated by that belief, they created The American Crisis in Civility: Professional Parables, a book born from concern, but fueled by hope. Its purpose is to support the FDCC Foundation’s Barb Currie Diversity Scholarship and the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, two organizations dedicated to strengthening the profession through integrity, inclusion, and excellence.
The book gathers real stories from respected lawyers and judges, moments when grace prevailed over conflict, when professionalism changed the trajectory of a dispute, when kindness restored trust. These parables remind us that civility is not weakness; it is a form of strength that elevates advocacy and reinforces the very foundation of justice.
Ned and Mills will share several of these stories, offering a message that resonates far beyond the courtroom: each of us has the power to shape the culture around us. By choosing civility, one interaction at a time, we “pay it forward,” inspiring others and helping rebuild the respectful, principled legal community our society depends on.
Civility is not a lost ideal. It is a choice, and it begins with us.
Our presenters:
H. Mills Gallivan is the Senior Shareholder of Gallivan, White, & Boyd, P.A., a law firm serving clients in South Carolina, North Carolina and the Southeast. He has over 45 years of experience as an advocate in cases involving personal injury, administrative law, business and commercial litigation. He is now using those skills to assist parties with finding efficient and elegant solutions to disputes.
EDWARD J. “Ned” CURRIE, JR., is a Senior Shareholder at Currie Johnson & Myers, PA, in Jackson, Mississippi. He graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1976 and has spent his career in the courtroom, having tried over 175 jury cases to verdict. Ned is a Founding Regent and Past President of the American College of Coverage Counsel and is a past President of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, which awarded him the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award and 2021 Defense Lawyer of the Year.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Dispute Resolution in cases Presenting Nuclear Verdict Risk
Thursday, March 26, 2026
8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guests this week are Victor Vital, Global Chair of Haynes Boone’s Trials Practice Group, Mark Trachtenberg, Partner and Emily Buchanan, Partner will present on:
Dispute Resolution in cases Presenting Nuclear Verdict Risk
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting North Texas Food Bank
Our presenters:
Victor Vital — the Global Chair of Haynes Boone’s Trials Practice Group and the Dallas Bar Association’s 2025 Trial Lawyer of the Year — is a nationally recognized trial lawyer trusted by general counsel, C-suite executives, and high-net-worth individuals to lead them in their most sensitive, challenging, and high-stakes disputes. Known for his cross-industry fluency, Victor brings strategic insight, courtroom command, and ability to connect with judges, juries, and arbitrators in matters spanning a wide range of sectors and matters. Victor was recently named the Dallas Bar Association’s Trial Lawyer of the Year and is ranked Band 1 by Chambers USA (Litigation: Trial Lawyers, 2024-2025). His verdicts have been nationally recognized in the National Law Journal’s Top 100 Verdicts and Courtroom View Network’s Top 10 Most Impressive Defense Verdicts.
Victor’s ability to rapidly master complex subject matter enables him to both shape compelling trial narratives and drive successful dispute resolution in a wide range of disputes such as business and commercial matters, intellectual property disputes, family and estate disputes, securities fraud, white collar criminal cases, and catastrophic injury and death cases.
Victor is a member of the highly selective, invitation-only American Law Institute (ALI), an honor reserved for the country’s most respected legal minds shaping and refining the future of American law. He is a frequent speaker, author, and educator on trial strategy and high-stakes litigation, and he continues to be a sought-after voice on major courtroom developments and matters.
With a reputation forged in courtrooms across the country and across industries, Victor is the advocate and adviser clients call when the stakes are high, the pressure is real, and the outcome matters.
Mark Trachtenberg represents major companies in high-stakes appeals, is proud to be recognized by his peers as a top lawyer in his field. He was named as a 2023 and 2025 Lawyer of the Year—Appellate Practice in Houston by The Best Lawyers in America directory. He was recognized as one of the top 100 lawyers in Texas and as one of the top appellate lawyers in the state by Texas Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters). And he is highly ranked in Chambers USA,
A highlight of Mark’s career has been his work on behalf of Texas public schools, an opportunity that arose from a law review article he authored on the history of Texas’s school finance litigation while at Yale Law School. Mark played a lead role in a lawsuit that resulted in an infusion of more than $2 billion for public schools in Texas. He later served as lead counsel at trial and on appeal for a coalition of 88 school districts in a second lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s school finance system.
Mark is a member of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and the American Law Institute. He recently served as the chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section and currently serves as President of the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists (TACTAS) and Vice-President with the Texas Supreme Court Historical Society. Mark is also dedicated to his community, previously serving as the chair of the Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League and on the Education Policy Committee of the United Way of Greater Houston.
Emily Buchanan is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Insurance Recovery Practice Groups in the Dallas office of Haynes Boone. Her practice focuses primarily on representing commercial policyholders in insurance coverage disputes. Emily advises clients regarding insurance programs and risk management efforts, as well as representing insureds in disputed insurance claims through negotiation, alternative dispute resolution, and litigation. Her experience spans a wide range of business insurance, including various liability coverages, property and casualty coverage, and other specialized forms of coverage.
Emily routinely works as a volunteer attorney with the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program taking on pro bono matters, including intake clinics and preparing wills for pro bono clients. When she is not advising clients, Emily also serves as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she teaches a course on insurance law. Prior to attending law school, Emily taught middle school social studies at a low socioeconomic school in Tyler, Texas.
Emily’s passion for helping others, coupled with a keen insight into complex insurance issues, allows her to provide clients with litigation strategies that maximize their insurance benefits in the most efficient way possible.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
A Survival Guide to Investing in Hollywood: Where Finance, Accounting, and Legal Strategy Converge
This seminar will provide insight into how this ecosystem of deals, audits, and disputes operates in the Hollywood studio system and beyond. Expect practical tips for how to manage the complex web of stakeholders in this field, how to identify potential issues and anticipate disputes, and real world frameworks for resolving conflicts from the pre-filing stage all the way through trial
Competing Perspectives and Common Interests: Strategic Mediation On Behalf Of Artists, Studios, and Others Players In The Media and Entertainment Ecosystem
Yakub Hazzard, Chair of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp
Lessons From Taking Bet-The-Company IP Cases To Trial
Thursday, March 5th
Our special guest this week,
Ashok Ramani, Head of IP Litigation, Davis Polk will Present on:
Lessons From Taking Bet-The-Company IP Cases To Trial
Discussion of lessons learned from handling several nine and ten-figure IP trials over a 28-year career
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Samaritan House of San Mateo County
Our presenter:
Ashok leads the IP Litigation practice at his firm, and if you spend any time in the world of high-stakes intellectual property disputes, you know that’s serious territory. He’s a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, which is one of those honors that quietly signals, “Yes, this lawyer has truly seen the inside of the courtroom.”
Over the years, he has represented some of the most innovative companies on the planet, including Comcast, Magnolia Medical, OpenAI, Pfizer, and TSMC. Chambers USA and the Daily Journal consistently rank him among the country’s top IP trial lawyers. That reputation is built not on headlines, but on results.
For plaintiffs, Ashok has helped secure more than $800 million in collected judgments and settlement payments. Not just verdicts announced in court, but actual dollars recovered. For defendants, he has repeatedly achieved complete defense verdicts in cases where plaintiffs were asking for nine or even ten figures. In other words, he is very comfortable when the stakes are high and the spotlight is bright.
Beyond his courtroom work, Ashok also gives back to the profession and the community. He serves on the boards of Bay Legal and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers of Northern California.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
What's the Problem With Problem-Solving!?!
Thursday, February 26, 2026
8 am Pacific / 11 am Eastern
Our special guest this week, Jacinta Gallant, Mediator, Lawyer, Educator, will present on:
What's the Problem With Problem-Solving!?!
Mediators and Lawyers are excellent problem-solvers. And that works well, because clients come to us for help solving a problem, right?! But have you ever met client resistance to your efforts to problem-solve? Have you puzzled over a client’s reaction when you're "just trying to help!"? In this webinar, we will learn to notice and work with resistance so that we can more productively engage in those difficult moments. And - bonus - your expertise with problem-solving will still be important, but it will know its place. (Problem-solving gets way too much attention in our line of work!)
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting World Central Kitchen
Our presenter:
Jacinta Gallant is a respected Canadian collaborative lawyer, mediator and educator. She is recognized internationally for her insightful and experiential approach to teaching and managing conflict, and has been welcomed as a trainer throughout the world. Jacinta’s innovative resources, Our Family in Two Homes, and Designing Our Future Together help clients prepare to engage deeply, and productively, with Family Lawyers, Mediators. Jacinta’s podcast, The Authentic Professional, focuses on how professionals can bring more of who they are to what they do, and her latest book, Going Steady, helps engage couples in conversations that sustain and nourish their relationship.
Jacinta’s ultimate goal is to help conflict professionals engage with clients in a more meaningful way, manage conflict more effectively, and get more enjoyment out of this important work.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
The Path to the Finish Line: Successful Mediations and Potential Pitfalls in Class Action and Mass Tort Cases
Thursday, February 19th
Our special guest this week, Adam Levitt, Founding Partner, DiCello Levitt LLP will Present on:
The Path to the Finish Line: Successful Mediations and Potential Pitfalls in Class Action and Mass Tort Cases
We’ll be discussing some of the "hot button" issues in class action and mass tort mediations and how mediators can optimally work with the parties to avoid the early breakdowns and really make meaningful progress.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Greater Chicago Food Depository
Our presenter:
Adam Levitt is one of the nation’s leading advocates for plaintiffs in complex, multidistrict, class action, public client, mass tort, and commercial litigation. Drawing on his extensive experience pursuing and obtaining justice for those who have been wronged by powerful defendants, he co-founded DiCello Levitt to create a top complex issues and trial firm, built on excellence, trust, and respect—where every team member’s voice and talents are valued.
In his decades-long career, Adam has scored numerous significant and precedent-setting victories, delivering more than $25 billion in recoveries to clients in biotechnology, financial services, securities, insurance coverage, consumer protection, automotive defects, agricultural products, and antitrust disputes. His reputation for innovatively taking on tough cases has led to his appointment to leadership positions in many historic and headline-grabbing litigations.
Adam is a leader in the legal profession and a frequent speaker on multidistrict litigation, consumer protection, automotive litigation, biotechnology, corporate governance, securities litigation, and internet privacy. Nationally recognized as an authority on class action litigation, Adam writes a monthly class action column in The National Law Journal, has testified before the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee on class action practice, and chairs an annual class action litigation conference in Chicago.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), LatAM moderator, Michael Schwimmer (www.SchwimmerMediation.com and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Trust, Talent, and Timing: Negotiation Lessons from a Career Resolving Music Industry Disputes
Thursday, February 12th
Our special guest this week, Julie Swidler, GC & EVP of Sony Music will Present on:
Trust, Talent, and Timing: Negotiation Lessons from a Career Resolving Music Industry Disputes
The music industry operates on a mix of contracts, creativity, ego and long memory. In this close-knit ecosystem, successful dispute resolution therefore depends as much on timing, trust and relationship management as it does on legal leverage.
In this session, Julie Swidler, the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Sony Music, will share lessons learned from years of resolving disputes involving artists, producers, and global business partners, while highlighting the business realities and cultural dynamics that outsiders often miss.
As the veteran GC of one of the world’s leading music companies, Julie has guided teams of lawyers, creatives, and businesspeople around the world through an unprecedented period of disruption and innovation. As a result, Julie offers a truly unparalleled perspective on the music industry’s enduring and evolving patterns, and will reflect on what changes, what doesn’t, and why certain approaches consistently succeed.
Attendees can expect to gain concrete insight into:
· how mediators can add value by understanding industry pressure points.
· the mediator behaviors that are most effective
· the pitfalls that derail otherwise promising talks, and
· how industry-specific business considerations shape settlement decisions long before anyone enters a mediation room.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting your local food bank
Our presenter:
Julie Swidler is one of the music industry’s most accomplished business affairs executives, currently serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Sony Music Entertainment.
Since 2008, she has led Sony’s global legal, business and government affairs, shaping major negotiations, artist contacts and strategic ventures including the company’s expansion into podcasting. Her pioneering impact has been recognized with numerous honors: she was the first label executive and first woman to receive the Grammy Foundation’s ELI Service Award and has also been awarded the Music Business Association’s Presidential Award, alongside repeated recognition by Billboard and the T.J. Martell Foundation.
Throughout her career, Swidler has played key roles at PolyGram, Arista and J Records prior to joining Sony Music. She is known for her advocacy on behalf of artists and her commitment to diversity having served on the Recording Academy’s Task Force on diversity and inclusion, which led to meaningful industry reforms.
Beyond her executive work, she is deeply involved in philanthropy including leadership with the T.J. Martell Foundation and in 2023, she was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees for Union College, her alma mater.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ), Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
What If We’ve Been Negotiating the Wrong Way Since 1776?
Thursday, February 5th
Our special guest this week, Dr. Keld Jensen, Professor, author, negotiation strategist will Present on:
What If We’ve Been Negotiating the Wrong Way Since 1776?
What if many of today’s conflicts in business, work, and partnerships aren’t caused by lack of resources — but by outdated negotiation thinking?
In this episode, negotiation expert Dr. Keld Jensen challenges the 18th-century, win-lose mindset that still dominates how we negotiate contracts, deals, and relationships. Drawing on modern research and real-world cases, he explains how changing the design of negotiations — not pushing harder — can unlock up to 42% additional value.
The conversation explores why traditional bargaining creates waste, mistrust, and friction, and what a smarter, more collaborative approach looks like in practice.
If you care about better deals, stronger relationships, and sustainable results without burning bridges, this episode will change how you think about negotiation.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Feeding America
Our presenter:
Dr. Keld Jensen, Founder of SMARTnership Negotiation Organization
Professor Keld Jensen, a widely acclaimed author, has penned 27 books that have been published in 38 countries. He holds the position of an associate professor at four esteemed universities, and his expertise is sought by major private and governmental institutions worldwide. Additionally, Prof. Jensen has graced the stage as a TEDx speaker, captivating audiences with his insights.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ), Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Litigation Funding and Mediation
Thursday, January 29th
Our special guest this week, Jonathan Stroud, General Counsel at Unified Patents will Present on:
Litigation Funding and Mediation
The rapid growth of litigation funding has transformed modern dispute resolution—particularly in complex commercial matters. Once viewed as a niche financial tool, third-party funding has now become a strategic component in high-stakes litigation and arbitration across the globe. But what happens when funded cases enter mediation or settlement negotiations? How does the presence of a financing partner alter risk assessment, negotiation behavior, timing, and outcomes?
Jonathan Stroud will explore these critical questions and more, offering practical insights for mediators, litigators, in-house counsel, and ADR professionals.
This program will address:
What every mediator needs to know about litigation funding—how it works and why it's on the rise
The impact of third-party funding on case valuation, settlement leverage, and party decision-making
Ethical and disclosure considerations—who needs to know what, and when
How funders view mediation, negotiation risk, and resolution strategy
Tactical challenges: confidentiality, privilege, lien rights, and approval authority
Real-world examples of how financing has influenced negotiation tone, timing, and outcomes in commercial disputes
Jonathan will demystify the evolving intersection between capital and conflict—and explain what today’s dispute-resolution professionals must understand to navigate funded disputes effectively.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Martha's Table
Our presenter:
Jonathan Stroud oversees Unified Patents’ legal and corporate functions, managing a diverse docket that spans PTAB proceedings, district court and appellate litigation, contracting, licensing, settlement negotiations, and general corporate matters.
Before joining Unified, Jonathan practiced as a patent litigator at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP, and earlier served as a patent examiner specializing in implantable medical devices at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Jonathan holds a J.D. with honors from American University Washington College of Law (2013) and earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University, along with an M.A. in Print Journalism from the University of Southern California.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com, moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com), LatAM moderator, Michael Schwimmer (www.SchwimmerMediation.com and Program Coordinator, David Shraga (www.DavidShraga.com).
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
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