in my 20th year as a mediator. Over 2,000 mediations, settlement conferences, and arbitrations in a wide variety of litigated and pre-litigated contexts.

Highlights:

Individualized approach. Although there is no cookie-cutter process, based on thousands of cases mediated and observed, I can say there are “3 Universal Factors of Success” in mediation:

• Timing: Do the parties have enough information to make decisions? Is now a good time to talk? Mediation can facilitate the exchange information and resolve discovery disputes.
• Communication: Are the participants able to convey their perspectives and understand what the other side is saying? Can the parties convey proposals (i.e., demands and offers) in a way that generates a considered, cooperative response? If not, let’s talk about what needs to happen first.
• Strategy: Do the parties and counsel have a strategy for the mediation? How will they respond to narratives that they find objectionable, litigation threats, and monetary offers or demands that are “insulting” or “pie in the sky?” Responding to these challenges is very different than reacting to them. In my opinion, this is the most important factor that influences resolution of the matter.

When I believe a difficult conversation needs to happen, I will structure it in a clear and safe manner so that it addresses the issues contributing to impasse (at times this has helped parties resolve highly competitive, “money-driven” disputes).

Available for webinars and educational presentations about the “3 Universal Factors of Success” mentioned above: timing, communication and strategy.

Arbitration decisions issued in two weeks or less.

• Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine School of Law, Malibu, CA 2016-2022, LL.M, Dispute Resolution, 2022
• Ecumenical Institute, St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD 1999
• University of Baltimore, School of Law, Baltimore, MD 1994-1998, Juris Doctor, cum laude (evening student)
• Johns Hopkins University, School of Continuing Studies, Baltimore, MD 1993-1994
• Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA 1985-1989 Bachelor of Music, Professional Music

• International Academy of Mediators, Distinguished Fellow & Board Member
• Association of Attorney Mediators
• International Council for Online Dispute Resolution
• Adjunct professor, Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, Straus Insistute of Dispute Resolution
• Adjunct professor, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
• Maryland State Bar Association
• Bar Association Baltimore City & Bar Foundation Board of Trustees
• Baltimore County Bar Association
• Bar Association of Montgomery County 
• Prince George's County Bar Association 
• J Dudley Digges Inn of Court
• Past Community Advisory Board Member, Safe Streets Baltimore

Please call for details.