Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that 21 neutrals were ranked in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. This is the largest number of neutrals recognized to date in an annual Chambers guide.
Additionally, Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq., and Gerald A. Kurland, Esq., received recognition as a “star individual,” which is a designation for legal professionals with exceptional recommendations in their field. Three JAMS neutrals were ranked in multiple categories, including Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.; Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.); and Michael D. Young, Esq.
The following includes the full list of recognized panelists, grouped by category, as well as excerpts from the guide and their JAMS biographies:
Construction: Mediators (California)
Deborah S. Ballati, Esq., FCIArb, focuses her practice on construction and insurance coverage mediation and arbitration. She has experience mediating disputes involving surety, payment and contract interpretation. A source shared that she is “extremely intelligent, understands the issues and is the utmost professional.”
Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq., has considerable experience handling construction mediations involving large commercial projects and transport systems. He is regularly involved in very high value and complex cases. According to a source, he is “one of the pillars of [the] construction mediation industry.”
Gerald A. Kurland, Esq., wins praise from across the market for his mediation practice and is regarded as a “very practical mediator” with a “demeanor that is well suited for multiparty litigation.” He offers notable expertise in matters concerning large construction projects in the health and sports sectors. A source lauded that he, “is one of the few mediators who understands both the construction side and insurance side.” Another sourced added that he, “has exceptional recall, incredible diligence and is a true professional.”
Construction: Mediators (Washington, D.C.)
Andrew D. Ness, Esq., FCIArb, has extensive experience acting as a mediator in construction matters. According to a source, he is “a well-respected mediator and arbitrator. He handles complex claims and is good at getting deals done."
Construction: Mediators (New York)
Michael D. Young, Esq., focused on mediating a range of business-related cases for clients and helps to settle disputes involving construction, property damage and insurance coverage issues. A source noted that “his way of settling is the calm, analytical approach.”
Litigation: Mediators (Pennsylvania)
Hon. Thomas J. Rueter (Ret.) is a highly regarded mediator in the state, with extensive experience acting as a judge in the magistrate court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. It has been noted that “his level of pragmatism and intellect was impressive.”
Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.) comes highly recommended in the market for her expertise as a mediator. She is particularly skilled in class actions, insurance coverage, employment, personal injury, commercial and mass tort disputes. It was noted by a source that "she's very creative, smart and savvy about both the law and human nature."
International Arbitration: Arbitrators (USA – Nationwide)
Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb, is an experienced arbitrator with particular expertise handling commercial disputes under a broad range of institutional rules, including those of the ICC, LCIA and ICDR. A source was quoted saying that “he's someone who studies the case thoroughly. I've got only great things to say. He's fair, prepared and organized.”
Mediators (USA – Nationwide)
Hon. Ariel E. Belen (Ret.), FCIArb, is highly regarded for his adept handling of a wide range of domestic and international disputes and possesses considerable experience mediating complex contractual matters, among others. A source noted that “he's very personable and able to harmonize difficult personalities and issues such that everybody feels like the time spent negotiating a settlement is worthwhile.”
Hon. William J. Cahill (Ret.) relies on his years as a judge and mediator, which have enabled him to create a varied mediation practice which includes resolution of class actions, commercial disputes, insurance coverage, intellectual property and construction matters among others. A source made the following comment: “I think he has the parties' respect and ear. He's a quick study, and so he gets the issues and understands the law.”
Bruce A. Friedman, Esq., draws on his litigation background to adeptly mediate complex insurance-related disputes, with further expertise in commercial and employment matters. It was noted by a source: “He's very personable and sympathetic with practitioners. He's also very practical; he's not afraid to get his hands dirty and is persistent.”
David Geronemus, Esq., boasts extensive mediation experience and is able to assist clients in a range of insurance disputes, securities class actions and breach of contract cases. A source noted, “He's very talented and a natural at mediation.” Another shared, “His attention to detail is unmatched. He quickly gets to the heart of the issues and persists until the matter is concluded.”
Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq., has considerable experience handling construction mediations involving large commercial projects and transport systems. He is regularly involved in very high value and complex cases. A sourced commented that “he moves easily between the technical and legal dynamics and other factors that need to be understood.”
Jed D. Melnick, Esq., offers mediation services in a range of commercial matters, with particular expertise in securities class actions and financial disputes. A source commented that “he understands the legal and economic issues very, very well; he asks good, hard questions of both sides, so he doesn't give you a pass, but he's also very easy to deal with.”
Robert A. Meyer, Esq., is a Los Angeles-based mediator handling a broad variety of high-stakes complex business litigation, including securities and derivative class actions, professional liability lawsuits against accounting and law firms, litigation involving banking and complex financial instruments, cases arising under ERISA, consumer class actions, high-profile employment matters and other commercial disputes. According to a source, “he's very, very bright. He has a nice way about him, he doesn't have a big ego, and he's just one of the smartest guys I know.”
Andrew Nadolna, Esq., is a New York-based mediator with experience settling a range of business disputes. He has particular strength in handling complex insurance matters, due to his considerable in-house expertise. A source praised him with the following comment: “For me, he's got intelligence, he's got patience, he's got integrity. He has gravitas.”
Barbara A. Reeves, Esq., CEDS, is regularly called upon to settle litigation between entities in the media, technology and health care spaces. A source remarked that “she combines very strong subject matter expertise across a variety of topics with a deft ability to handle numerous and strong-willed counsel.”
Hon. Janice M. Symchych (Former) has decades of legal and judicial experience in all facets of life sciences, along with deep understanding and experience mediating a range of complex, multiparty disputes particularly those involving the False Claims Act. A source noted that “she's hard-working, gets to the heart of the issues very quickly and is very effective in trying to reach middle grounds, where settlement is a possibility.”
Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.) is particularly adept at resolving class actions, often concerning complex real estate or antitrust issues, as well as shareholder disputes. A source shared that “he's an outstanding mediator. He always understands a case at a sophisticated level and is very effective at guiding the settlement process."
Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.) comes highly recommended in the market for her expertise as a mediator. She is particularly skilled in class actions, insurance coverage, employment, personal injury, commercial and mass tort disputes. She is lauded for being “very well prepared,” having a “wonderful temperament” and being “very well respected by both sides."
Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.) is called upon to mediate a range of complex disputes, including cases involving class actions in the technology field, high-stakes contract disputes and fraudulent financial conduct, in addition to matters involving high-profile corporate executives and entertainers. A source noted that “she very much has a good judicial temperament. She's very thoughtful and smart.”
Bradley A. Winters, Esq., offers mediation services for a multitude of issues, from single-plaintiff personal injury matters to multiparty commercial disputes. A source praised him by saying, “I think he's excellent because all sides feel comfortable with him. We're comfortable with his impartiality. He'll push everyone equally.”
Cathy Yanni, Esq., handles high-profile national lawsuits and specializes mediating and allocating settlements in pharmaceutical mass torts, bankruptcy, class actions and MDLs, employment, ERISA, wage and hour, privacy and data breach disputes. Known for working closely with parties to design and implement processes that lead to fair and efficient settlement, she is often chosen by judges, parties, and lawyers as Settlement Special Master to allocate settlements in large national mass torts. A source commented that she is “an exceptional mediator” and that she is “clear-headed, hard-working, caring and has a common-sense response to problem solving."
Michael D. Young, Esq., focuses on mediating a range of business-related cases for clients and helps to settle disputes involving securities, commercial contract and insurance coverage issues. A source noted that he is "a highly practical mediator who is both conciliatory and forceful at the right times."
About Chambers and Partners
Chambers and Partners is an independent research company operating across 200 jurisdictions and delivering detailed rankings and insight into the world’s leading lawyers. Chambers empowers organizations to make informed decisions when selecting legal services, saving time and resources and reducing risk. Chambers’ 200 research analysts provide unique insight into complex areas of law in different jurisdictions. Chambers conducts tens of thousands of interviews a year with in-house counsel and third-party experts, such as barristers and accountants, delivering detailed insight into providers of legal services.
The USA Guide was first introduced in 2003 and ranks the leading firms and lawyers in over 50 different practice areas and sectors throughout the country, including rankings in every state as well as additional regional and nationwide coverage. Law firms and individual lawyers are assessed on technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client.
Chambers’ research, analysis and insight can be found at chambers.com.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 30 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings.
More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.