VIEW BIOS OF WEDNESDAY SPEAKERS

ALL SESSIONS ONLINE      9:00 am - 4:05 pm EST

Non-Lawyers in Arbitration: Saving the Endangered Species

Paul Ngotho

9:00 - 10:00 am EST

Non-lawyers are permitted by statutes, codes and arbitration rules to serve as arbitrators and to represent parties in arbitration in most jurisdictions. Despite this permissive framework, their involvement in these roles is minimal and, notably, diminishing.

Commercial, investment and family disputes are primarily contests over economic value. Damages are calculated in terms of money, with law often being the staircase to that value. Professionals trained in accounting, finance, economics, real estate, construction and engineering possess knowledge which speaks directly to the substance of these disputes. They have the capacity to contribute far beyond the confines of expert testimony.

Nevertheless, non-lawyers remain markedly underrepresented in training programs, arbitrator rosters, institutional panels, conference platforms, authorship opportunities and recognition awards. Disinterest is an easy explanation; it is also inadequate. The more plausible account is that a range of subtle but powerful dynamics has gradually pushed the non-lawyers to the margins.

The non-lawyer presenter examines the forces at work and their impact on arbitral practice, procedure and outcomes. He considers whether corrective action is justified and, if so, how it might be pursued. Diversity, equity and inclusion discourse has largely overlooked non-lawyers, who the presenter argues should return to the center of arbitration.

Mediation and Domestic Violence: Important New Developments

Antoinette Delruelle, Michelle Exline Minovi

10:10 - 11:10 am EST

In 2025, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) issued two new model standards for Family and Divorce Mediation, requiring that mediators: a) screen for domestic violence and b) explore any barriers to participation, including domestic violence and whether process changes need to be made to address such barriers. In 2022, the NYS Courts created a new screening tool (the “NYS Tool”) to determine whether mediation was an appropriate process for parties who are litigating custody/visitation or divorce. Since then, scores of mediators on court rosters in NYS including Antoinette Delruelle and Michelle Minovi, have been using this tool. We will talk about the new standards and how mediators might use the NYS tool to help them and the parties assess if mediation is the right process for their dispute.

Entrepreneurship Toward Starting Your Conflict Resolution Startup or Growing Your Business 

Eileen Petzold-Bradley, Dr. Alexia Georgakopoulos, Dr. Lizyvette Ramos

11:20 am - 12:20 pm EST

This session introduces practical strategies and entrepreneurial insights to help conflict resolution professionals successfully launch or grow their own practices. Based on an upcoming book by the presenters, the session draws from original research with successful conflict resolution entrepreneurs across the U.S. Participants will learn actionable steps and business development concepts tailored to the unique needs of ADR professionals. Whether you're just starting out or seeking to scale your impact, this session will inspire and equip you with tools, advice, and lessons from some of the most successful leaders in the field—celebrating innovation and the future of conflict resolution practice.

Does Practice Make Perfect?

Michael Lang, Tatyana Bilyk, Tracey-Leigh Wessels, Nancy Radford, Laurie Amaya

12:30 - 1:45 pm EST

What makes a good mediator great? Most of us believe that experience alone builds skills and ability. That’s not true. We become competent by learning from our practice experiences.

What happens when you encounter a surprising, novel or puzzling situation? What do you do when:

⟶ a sure settlement dissolves, or

⟶ one or both parties accuse you of bias, or

⟶ the settlement is not in the best interests of either party, or

⟶ you can’t stop thinking about a case that should have settled, or

⟶ you wonder what you could have done differently or better, or

⟶ one party’s behavior really gets under your skin?

Beginning mediators face these situations frequently. Even the most experienced mediator bumps up against them.

What do we do when these unsettling practice situations occur? For us, puzzling moments are opportunities to learn, to become more resilient and adept.

Reflective practice makes use of puzzling practice situations to become more resourceful and effective. Experience matters. What matters even more is learning from our experiences.

Michael Lang and four international colleagues will show you how the straightforward, down-to-earth method of reflective practice helps you learn from experience and become more effective.

Best Practices Ex/Change for Peer Mediation: How Consistent Collaboration Strengthens Programs

Tara Fishler, Lionel Flax, Heidi Connorton, Gregg Scheiner

1:55 - 2:55 pm EST

Are you running a peer mediation program or want to start one at your school or community dispute resolution center (CDRC)? Come learn and share best practices culled from meetings of CDRC staff and 20 schools across New York State.

For the past two years, The New York State Education Department has funded peer mediation programs in K-12 schools, with training and support from CDRC’s. We meet most months with both the CDRC’s and the schools to collaborate and discuss the progress of the programs, problem-solve, and share best practices. Learn how our CDRC’s and schools support each other by Ex/Changing ideas to improve their programs. See how consistent “Best Practices” conversations lead to lasting Change in school culture, as well as the individual lives of staff, mediators, and other students.

Is It Just Me? Exploring Emotional Demands and Well-being in Mediation

Yeju "Chloe" Choi

3:05 - 4:05 pm EST

People often perceive mediation as a stress-free profession—an easy "way out" of the legal field or a relaxed job for retirees. In reality, however, mediation requires intense emotional labor—managing one’s emotions and expressions to meet others’ expectations, while upholding the unique principles of mediation, such as impartiality, neutrality, and confidentiality. Despite these demands, little is known about occupational stress and wellness in the profession. This interactive workshop session provides a facilitated space to explore work-related stressors, their perceived effects, and the ways workers in this profession may adapt over time, with an emphasis on shared role-level experiences rather than individual narratives.