Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution Fourth Annual East Coast Professional Skills Program in Dispute Resolution

About the Program

Featuring a panel of nationally recognized experts in dispute resolution, this comprehensive program provides three days of unique educational opportunities for practicing professionals. Participants will network with nationally prominent faculty, as well as participants from the other specialties at plenary sessions, lunches, and receptions.

Spotlight:

• Advanced Mediation: Skills and Techniques
  JAMS speaker: Bruce A. Edwards, Esq.
  • Review of the STAR approach to mediation
  • Stages in complex mediations
  • Understanding how different techniques apply to early, mid-stage, and late-stage negotiations
  • Tasks and strategies in resolving difficult cases
  • Activities of experienced mediators in moving beyond impasse
  • Results that experienced mediators seek beyond just a settlement, including the art of the apology
  • The best advice from colleagues in the field who have financially successful practices -- including what separates the trained mediator with no cases from the one who is in demand
  • What prominent mediation organizations tell panelists about procedures, practices, and ethical dilemmas
  
  
• Mediating Complex Construction Disputes
  JAMS Speaker: George D. Calkins II, Esq.
  • History and development of the case management order ("CMO")
  • Effective use of the CMO process - practice tips
  • Things to include in the CMO
  • Acting as a discovery referee - see the Foxgate case
  • Identifying factual and legal issues of a construction mediation
  • Meeting with plaintiff and developer to determine scope
  • Ensuring early establishment of scopes of work for subcontractors
  • Establishing a separate track for additional insured issues
  • Identifying "peripheral" players and setting up an early mediation
  • Use of specific agendas for mediation sessions
  • Mediation techniques
  • Full and partial settlements
  • Mediator's role vis-à-vis the court