Lavender Law Conference

JAMS is a proud sponsor of the Lavender Law Conference.

The 2026 Lavender Law Conference will take place July 13–15, 2026, in Chicago. The conference brings together attorneys, judges, corporate counsel, government officials, law students, and other legal professionals to discuss legal issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community and the legal profession. The program includes panel discussions, workshops, and networking events.

JAMS Featured Attendees and Speakers: Giuseppe De Palo, Esq., Genesis Fisher, Esq., Hon. Mary Colleen Roberts(Ret.), Joanne Saint-Louis, Hon. James E. Snyder(Ret.), and Michael Zuckerman.

Featured Panel Information:

The Humanity of ADR in a World of AI: Intersectionality, Bias, and What Machines Miss
As artificial intelligence increasingly enters dispute resolution processes, critical questions arise about whose voices are heard and whose are overlooked. This panel explores the humanity of ADR through an intersectional lens, focusing on how AI systems can replicate and amplify existing biases, particularly those affecting the LGBTQ+ community and individuals with intersecting identities related to race, gender identity, disability, and socioeconomic status.
The discussion will highlight what AI cannot perceive: tone, lived experience, cultural nuance, fear, power imbalance, and credibility rooted in human context. These elements are often critical when assessing witness credibility and facilitating meaningful resolution functions that remain uniquely human.
The panel will also address confidentiality and psychological safety in ADR, questioning whether AI-enabled tools can truly safeguard sensitive disclosures, particularly for LGBTQ+ participants who may already navigate heightened risks in legal settings. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of why human judgment, empathy, and cultural competence remain indispensable to equitable ADR, even in a technology-driven future.
Moderator:

• Hon. James E. Snyder(Ret.)- Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS

Speakers:

• Genesis Fisher, Esq.- Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS
• Michael Zuckerman- Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS
• Hon. Mary Colleen Roberts(Ret.)- Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS
• Giuseppe De Palo Esq.- Arbitrator & Mediator, JAMS