Facilitation Articles
The Mediation Miracle
In the past few decades, California has led a national shift in paradigms for family conflict resolution that has freed trial courts to do what they do best—ensure due process of law and serve as the court of last resort.
Building Coalitions and Story Telling
In order to be more effective in mediation, the story of the case must be told just like the unfolding of a movie or book. Like any story, there is a common structure that has a beginning, middle and end and is broken down into three acts.
Peacemakers of All Faiths Gather at Ismaili Jamatkhana Plano for Restoring Community Day
This article covers Restoring Community Day held in 2017, including plans for the upcoming Community Day to be held in October 2018.
New California Law Requires Informed Consent to Mediation
On January 1, a new California law will take effect; it will require a lawyer to make sure their client understands the implications of California's legal protections for mediation communication.
Stop Giving Others Insult Power
Do you know people who get upset and insulted easily?
3 Ways to Turn Adversaries into Problem-Solving Partners
Most people don’t want to be wrangled into doing something you want but they don’t. Here are three ways to turn them into your problem-solving partners and dissolve resistance.
Self-Restraint: A Door to True Liberty
When one ignores one’s own emotions, to maintain face, or to increase hopes for immature peace, the likelihood for an unexpected emotional burst, by oneself, or by the other, increases.
Paying Forward Conflict Lessons
"Thank you for listening to me and my side of our dispute and for disagreeing with me in the gracious way you did--" I learned so much from those words.
How to Express a Concern Without Making Things Worse
When I ask clients why they let a problem go on for so long before addressing it, a common reply is, “I was afraid I’d create more conflict by raising it.”
How Avoidance Can Help You with Workplace Conflict
It sounds counter intuitive, but Inaction or avoidance can be a viable way of dealing with workplace conflict.
The Importance of Trust in the Mediator
In franchise disputes, lawyers and parties who search for mediators drill down on mediators’ professional backgrounds, often paying the most attention to whether potential mediators have previously represented franchisors or franchisees.
Co-Parenting Tips During a Divorce
By following some simple tips and committing yourself to being the best co-parent possible, you can help to ensure your children thrive during and after the divorce.
Revenge as a Learning Experience
No doubt, at some point in your life, you have wanted to take revenge against someone who “did you wrong”.
Finale of Birbrower
This is a brief article covering the background of the Birbrower case and the adoption of new legislation in California which will allow foreign attorneys to appear in international arbitrations.
Mediation and Conciliation in UAE
Sulh or amicable settlement has a long history within Arab and Islamic societies and have their roots in pre-Islamic Arabia.
Feel The Earth Move – Shifts In The International Dispute Resolution Landscape
Two common themes emerged from a recent panel discussion. First, the idea of a growing ecosystem; and, second, a changing culture.
Conflict Styles: Digital vs Paper
In training with the Thomas Kilmann or my Style Matters conflict style inventories, you have an option to use either a paper or online version. I used to be ambivalent about this choice, but no more.
Italian Mediation Model - Video
This article discusses how Italy has approached the initial mediation session.
Meditate, Mediate, Medicate: Is there a Difference?
The theme of the article is that while we might be neurologically and sociologically primed to “Fight or Flight”, we can choose another way and thereby reduce the conflict in our lives.
Past the Time Is the Right Time!
Many, many years ago, someone once said to me that people do not begin to negotiate until it is past the time to negotiate.
Morality and Mediation: Can We Reunite the Children?
In April 2018, the U.S. Justice Department implemented a new “zero-tolerance” policy for the detention and arrest of undocumented immigrants. This article discusses how mediation techniques can be used to handle such a difficult situation.
Families Belong Together
Several experts have commented on the trauma the children must have experienced being separated from their families.
International Arbitration-Federal Jurisdiction & Provisional Remedies
Stemcor USA Incorporated addresses federal court jurisdiction based on the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards and court enforcement of provisional remedies in aid of arbitration.
In Praise of a Trial
The trial of Paul Manafort is a good illustration of an important value of trials.
Crisis Counselor Skills: Helping People In Crisis… in 160 Characters or Less
This article discusses how mediators can apply the communication skills used by Crisis Counselors to help people in crisis.