Resolutions: A Podcast About Dispute Resolution And Prevention

Dan Berstein, a mediator with a Master’s of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, discusses and analyzes the intersection between mental health and conflict or dispute resolution. He founded MH Mediate; a resource for conflict resolution practitioners to develop best practices and processes in developing organizational Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs that are accessible for and responsive to parties with diverse identities. As a person who lives with a mental health disability, Dan has personal knowledge of the unique issues that face many living with mental health challenges. He describes his experience working as a mediator, as a participant and a party to mediation, and techniques to empower conflict resolution professionals to lead with sensitivity and understanding, in part, through the avoidance of misguided assumptions. --------------------------------------- Renew your membership or join the Section at ambar.org/JoinDR!

In this podcast, current Executive Director of the International Ombuds Association (IOA), Chuck Howard charts a brief history of the Ombuds movement to focus the lens on the role of organizational Ombuds Programs and Committees within non-governmental organizations to multinational companies. Underscoring the sanctity of process, confidentiality, he dives into the 3 i’s of the Ombuds process: independence, impartiality and informality and previews case examples captured in his latest book, A Practical Guide to Organizational Ombuds: How They Help People and Organizations. Chuck wants to post the final, edited version on his website when ready and appreciates a preview — if that’s possible. --------------------------------------- Renew your membership or join the Section at ambar.org/JoinDR!

We have borne witness in the last several years to a troubling trend—high-profile, deadly shootings that often involve law enforcement or get captured in real-time on video and spread via social media. In those situations, the communities in which the shootings occur often feel like they’re coming apart at the seams. That’s where mediators from the Community Relations Service often come in—quietly, without much fanfare—to help communities heal. Grande Lum, former director of the Community Relations Service and the author of a book on the CRS, joined the podcast to chat about his work.

As we take the week off to celebrate Thanksgiving, please enjoy this episode from June 2020. Larry Schooler speaks with Lynn Rubinett on arbitrating the disciplinary actions of first responders. Our profession and work in mediation and arbitration spans virtually all professions and walks of life, including personnel decisions involving first responders. In this episode, we hear from veteran arbitrator, mediator, and litigator, Lynn Rubinett, whose practice includes the arbitration of disciplinary actions, suspensions, and firings of police, fire, and other public employees.

In this episode host, Caroline Stauffer, speaks with Merril Hirsh to discuss how to become a special master and the advancements to diversify the field. Merril Hirsh of Hirsh ADR PLLC in Washington, D.C. is a practicing ADR Professional, a lawyer with over 38 years experience, the Executive Director of the Academy of Court-Appointed Masters and the Chair of the Judicial Division Lawyers Conference Special Masters Committee. Learn more about Merril at https://merrilhirsh.com/ Interested in joining the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Learn more about our membership options at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/dispute_resolution/membership/

On this episode, host Caroline Stauffer sits down with lawyer and mediator Helen Winter and neuroscientist and physician Sebastian F. Winter. They share important lessons from their interdisciplinary work with refugee shelters in Germany over the last four years. The siblings co-founded the award-winning, Berlin-based non-profit organization R3SOLUTE with a mission to equip refugees in shelters and their local neighbor citizens with peer mediation-based alternative dispute resolution and mental health literacy skills. In this multidisciplinary bottom-up approach, termed psychosocial peer mediation (PPM), participants learn to effectively manage and prevent conflicts in their own communities and neighborhoods. The founders provide practical insights and best practices, with a focus on addressing existing challenges and opportunities in the field. Helen and Seb will present at an upcoming meeting of the Dispute Resolution Section’s International Committee. To join the committee and participate in the meeting,

In this episode, Rekha Rangachari sits down with Donna Serdula, an expert in sales, operations and training who has pioneered LinkedIn profile optimization and branding with diverse, global stakeholders. Principal, Founder and Owner of Vision Board Media, Donna shares her mission on how to “transform your future today,” through responding to her 4-point methodology, to build stronger resumes and CVs. Tune in to learn how to curate your best professional self on LinkedIn, complete with many tips + tricks (including Free LinkedIn Resources at https://www.linkedin-makeover.com/linkedin-resources/). View Donna’s bio at https://donnaserdula.com/ Interested in joining the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Learn more about our membership options at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/dispute_resolution/membership/

Join the ABA and NAM(National Arbitration and Mediation)for an engaging conversation with Hon. John P. DiBlasi (Ret.), former presiding Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York and now a top-rated arbitrator/mediator at NAM on Maximizing the Benefits of Arbitration in the Aftermath of Mass Filings. ABA Resolution Podcast Host, Caroline Stauffer, covers Judge DiBlasi’s transition from the bench to becoming a highly regarded neutral. The Judge also shares his insights on the recent press attention about mass arbitration filings in the Employment and Consumer ADR arena. Thank you to NAM for being a sponsor of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution 2021 Spring Conference. You can learn more about NAM at https://www.namadr.com/. Interested in joining the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Learn more about our membership options at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/dispute_resolution/membership/

Welcome to a new bar year! In 2021-2022, we will be bringing you relevant, timely, and thought provoking content on a monthly basis. Don’t forget to follow and rate us to receive notifications when a new episode is out! On the first episode of the season, we focus on the role of ombuds. Ombuds/ombudsman are confidential, independent, and impartial conflict management professionals. Their roles and services are relatively unknown compared to other forms of dispute resolution. Caroline Stauffer speaks to Ken Skodacek, Chair of the ABA Ombuds Day Subcommittee, Kristie Hirschman, recently retired State of Iowa Ombudsman, and Kate Burkhart, Alaska State Ombudsman, to learn more about the recognition of Ombuds Day which will take place virtually on October 14, 2021. You can find more information at www.OmbudsDay.com and register for the virtual event at www.ambar.org/ombuds2021. Interested in joining the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Learn more about our membership options at https://www.americanbar.org/grou

In this episode, our co-host, Kimberly sits down with Dr. Neal Lester of Project Humanities. Project Humanities is an Initiative with Arizona State University to bring individuals and communities to instill passion and knowledge of humanities study, research and humanist thought. Through the exploration of ideas and experiences, Project Humanities “facilities conversations across diverse communities to build understanding through talking, listening and connecting.” Thank you to Project Humanities for being a sponsor of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section’s Mediation Week on October 18-22, 2021.

Resolution’s newest host, Caroline Stauffer, speaks with Anne Goyette, Arbitrator, Mediator, and principal of Griffiths Goyette about strategic approaches to mediation.

In this episode, co-host Kimberly A. Cook sits down with Tom Hanrahan (arbitrator and mediator with TP Hanrahan Dispute Solutions in Manhattan Beach, CA), Elizabeth “Betty” Morgan (arbitrator and mediator with The Morgan Law Firm in Philadelphia, PA), Theo Cheng (arbitrator and mediator with the ADR Office of Theo Cheng, in Princeton Junction, New Jersey), and Juile Walker, (arbitrator with Julie Walker and Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC in Denver, CO) to discuss everything from billing rates to marketing when starting an ADR career as an arbitrator or mediator. The guests, who have a range of experience as full-time ADR professionals, share their experiences and offer guidance for navigating a career in ADR.

Our guest today, Gary Doernhoefer, has thought about this issue from a number of angles. Gary is the founder of ADR Notable, a software platform designed for dispute resolution professionals. You can learn more about ADR Notable at www.adrnotable.com. One of the many dynamics magnified by the pandemic is the need to secure our data. We get a lot of it as neutrals, and we have to make sure it remains confidential and is safely discarded. For more on data security, visit Cybersecurity in International Arbitration, where you’ll find an excellent general checklist applicable to most ADR practitioners, and each section in the table of contents is clickable for more information. Thank you to ADR Notable for being a sponsor at the 2021 Dispute Resolution Spring Conference! Cybersecurity in International Arbitration https://cdn.arbitration-icca.org/s3fs-public/document/media_document/icca-nyc_bar-cpr_cybersecurity_protocol_for_international_arbitration_-_electronic_version.pdf

In this episode, we introduce you to one of our new hosts! Kimberly A Cook is a divorce and family mediator at Dovetail Conflict Resolution in Chicago, IL. Kimberly sits down with Mark Smalls of JAMS Mediation, Arbitration and ADR Services to discuss the broadening landscape of diversity, equity and inclusion in ADR as a result of the changes in technology and the social climate over the last year. Thank you to JAMS for being a sponsor at the 2021 Dispute Resolution Spring Conference!

In this podcast celebrating the AAA-ICDR as sponsor of the Section’s Spring Conference, Ingeuneal Gray and Jeffrey Zaino anchor to the Conference’s theme, ADR in a New World. In candid dialogue, they speak on topics including concerns about lack of diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the ADR field, definitions on diversity, and how arbitral institutions have led the charges for cognizable change in the practice. Jeffrey Z also spills the tea on the Jay-Z case and how bad press cannot (and will not) stymie the work of institutions to buttress party autonomy with optionality in the ADR process. As Lincoln once said, “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” Let’s continue forward: there’s more work to do. Ingeuneal Gray is Vice President in the Houston office and is reachable at GrayI@adr.org. Jeffrey Zaino is Vice President in the New York office and is reachable at ZainoJ@adr.org. Connect with Ingeuneal on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/icglaw/ and Jeff at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jef

Anyone in the dispute resolution world knows the value of empowering parties and giving them a voice. But what if their voices are hard to understand—if, for example, they bark rather than speak? Karis Nafte knows all about this—she’s a credentialed mediator and an animal behaviorist who helps work with separating couples on the best solution for their pets. She joined Resolutions to explain how her practice came about and how it works. For more information on her practice, you can visit https://whokeepsthedog.com/

Our Section's annual conference is nearly upon us, and for the second time, the team has planned a blockbuster event that you can enjoy from anywhere. Jaya Sharma of the conference planning committee joined me to discuss why you can't miss this year's conference and what to expect. The conference begins this Wednesday, April 14th and runs through Saturday, April 17th. For more on the conference, please visit ambar.org/spring2021. Registration closes on April 13th at 5 pm ET. You can reach Jaya at jsharma@sharmaadr.com.

In this episode, Rekha Rangachari sits down with Elliot Herland (Vice Chair of the Section's Membership Committee) and Kanika (Niki) Singh (the Section’s Student Liaison) to discuss a new avenue for student and practitioner members to increase their engagement, connection, networking, and mentorship with stakeholders through the Section. They discuss the impact of COVID-19 and how Section leadership pivoted to expand initiatives and provide the return on investment to the expanding group of new student members. Through (remote and hybrid) campus visits, Spring Conference access, and competitions, to be announced in more detail shortly, students and young practitioners gain a direct window into careers in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Tune in to learn more! For more information on Student & Early Career Services visit https://abaforlawstudents.com/ View Elliot Harland’s bio https://www.herlandmediation.com/your-mediator View Niki Singh’s bio https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikiatwork/ Register for

Chris Draper of Trokt (https://www.trokt.org/) discusses the Dispute Resolution Section's Technology Committee's Tech Pitch Series where innovators can present new technology directed to advancing the practice of ADR. If you’re interested in pitching, fill out a form here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd58DhpVtBSJmT_jMrSguzmtR1942lw5sg68x0FlYmpDpQ8sQ/viewform

With all the conflict we face and try to resolve, what if we stopped and reconsidered how we approach conflict in the first place? That's a question that's been on the mind of Rabbi/Dr. Daniel Roth for quite some time. He's the founder and creator of the Jewish Week of Constructive Conflict, which is taking place around the world on February 15-21, 2021. He is based in Israel and teaches at Bar-Ilan University and the Pardes Institute and is director of Mosaica, The Religious Peace Initiative. He spoke about his work and the origins of this unique conflict resolution commemoration. For more information, visit https://www.9adar.org/ You can attend a live session observing the Week of Constructive Conflict Wednesday, February 17 at 1p Eastern on Zoom: visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85615358941?pwd=NUJJVTU4aDM1R1NqdFVGS0FPZ2JEQT09.