News and Updates

I must begin by stressing that the following story occurred before I had any formal mediation training and is not something I would do now.  A few years ago a couple of the women in my extended family were engaged in conflict that was spilling over to other members of the family.  It is tradition in our family to all gather at one house for desserts, conversation, and drinks after everyone has had their dinners at their respective locations.  These two women thus ended up in the same location...

There is still quite a bit of confusion about what mediation is and what mediators do.  Part of the problem is that mediation is not yet a regulated industry.   Some people expect mediators to deliver decisions King Solomon style.   

Recently I was shocked and annoyed to find out that the proceedings on popular "reality" court TV shows were being billed as mediation.  The website for The People's Court specifically describes itself as drawing "on ordinary people who have filed grievances in ...

I have lived in the Chicago area for over a decade.  In that time my methods for dealing with personal conflict have changed drastically.  When I was starting out as a litigator, I used a "tit-for-tat" strategy when dealing with opposing counsels.  When they were polite and reasonable, so was I.  When they tried to push me around or acted in a way I thought was rude or unreasonable, I became much less cooperative. 

As I got older I saw how futile striking back could be.  I would never advoc...

Veterans' Day was originally called Armistice Day and commemorated the World War I cease fire agreement signed between Germany and the Allies in 1918.

As the daughter of a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army, I grew up with an appreciation for the military.  This year for Veterans' Day I want to make conflict resolution accessible for the men and women who have served in the past or are currently serving.  Military service requires many sacrifices and presents unique logistica...

While watching Monday night's battle of the backup quarterbacks, I started thinking about the story of Richie Incognito, Jonathan Martin, and the Miami Dolphins and the potential for some very powerful mediations.  The information coming out paints a picture of a very ugly situation with lousy ramifications for all parties involved.    

The Miami Dolphins are concerned at a minimum about damage to the franchise, team unity, and potential liability for a hostile work environment.  The judgment ...

You may have read my thoughts about online dispute resolution in previous blog entries.  Now here's your chance to learn more for free.  The Werner Institute is hosting a free online virtual conference November 4-8.  Click here to learn more.