Upcoming Will Work For Food Presentations
The Will Work For Food programs are presented primarily by and for attorneys, mediators, and arbitrators.
Each Thursday at 8 a.m. Pacific, an amazing colleague joins us for a webinar presentation about a timely topic.
These programs are free. We don’t ask you to pay for these invaluable webinars, instead, we hope that you’ll make a donation of any size to your local food bank.
Current Developments in Arbitration Law
Thursday, January 16th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, David Reif, FCIArb
Arbitrator/Mediator/Discovery Neutral, will Present on:
Current Developments in Arbitration Law
In this timely and engaging session, David Reif, an experienced litigator and respected authority in alternative dispute resolution, will guide participants through the latest trends and emerging issues in arbitration law.
Attendees will gain insights into recent court decisions that impact the enforcement of arbitral awards, discover how new statutory developments are shaping the arbitration landscape, and explore cutting-edge topics such as class-action waivers, online dispute resolution, and the evolving role of international arbitration.
By the end of this presentation, participants will have a deeper understanding of the current state of arbitration law—and the strategic considerations necessary to navigate a rapidly changing ADR environment.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Branford Food Pantry
Our presenter:
After four decades of litigation and dispute resolution over the full range of disputes, David Reif retired from active trial practice to concentrate on providing individual, commercial, and business arbitration, mediation, and neutral services.
David Reif’s practice covered the full range of litigation, with over two dozen jury verdicts. Over the past two decades, David Reif worked extensively on litigation arising out of distribution relations (such as claims involving franchising, distributors/manufacturers’ representatives, unfair competition, non-competition provisions, and disputes arising out of the termination and realignment of distribution relationships), representing parties at all stages of the distribution chain. Within the firm, David Reif chaired the Franchise/Distribution Group.
David Reif focused extensively on intra-company disputes (including the respective rights of majority and minority owners, non-competition and the misuse of corporate opportunities, and valuation and other issues related to dissolutions and buy-outs). These disputes are particularly susceptible to early intervention, as the facts are, at least broadly, known to both parties and the amounts about which the parties are fighting can quickly be subsumed by litigation costs.
Mr. Reif was selected as a “Leader in Their Field” in Business Litigation by Chambers for 2012, 2013; 2014; and 2015; as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Connecticut and top 100 Lawyers in New England for 2013, 2014, and 2015 by the Super Lawyers Directory; and as a selectee by Best Lawyers in America in 2014 and 2015 editions in the field of Commercial Litigation.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mediations in Matters Involving Criminal Allegations
Thursday, January 23rd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guests this week, Blair Berk & Andrew Brettler, Founding Partners of Berk Brettler LLP, will Present on:
Mediations in Matters Involving Criminal Allegations
This presentation explores the evolving role of mediation in cases involving criminal allegations, focusing on the intersection of criminal law and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Mediation, traditionally used in civil disputes, is increasingly being adapted to criminal matters as a tool for conflict resolution, rehabilitation, and restoration. The session will delve into:
The nature of mediation and its application in criminal cases.
Key legal and ethical considerations for mediating criminal allegations.
The benefits and challenges of mediation in comparison to the conventional criminal justice process.
Case studies and practical examples of successful criminal mediations, including restorative justice approaches.
The role of mediators, victims, accused parties, and legal professionals in facilitating productive outcomes.
Attendees will gain insights into the potential of mediation to serve as a complement to the judicial process, promoting healing, accountability, and mutual resolution, especially in less severe or non-violent criminal cases.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Our presenters:
Blair Berk and Andrew Brettler, two of the entertainment industry’s most well-known and respected lawyers, have teamed up to combine their civil and criminal practices into a one-stop-shop boutique firm.
A go-to civil litigator and fixture on THR‘s Power Lawyers list, Brettler has a client including Chelsea Handler, Sydney Sweeney, Amy Robach and Kevin O’Leary. Meanwhile, as one of the industry’s top lawyers handling criminal matters for both defendants and victims, Berk’s clients have included Leonardo DiCaprio, Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum and Alexandra Daddario.
Blair Berk's client roster is a who's who of Hollywood
She is a Harvard Law School grad; Hot client at the moment is Mel Gibson
Berk handed off the Linday Lohan case to Shawn Chapman Holley
Clients include Leonard DiCaprio, Reese Witherspoon, Heather Locklear and Halle Berry
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Negotiating with Confidence: Strategies for Settlement Success
Thursday, February 6th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guests this week, Ellie Vilendrer, Arbitrator & Mediator, and Mary Cullen, Attorney, will Present on:
Negotiating with Confidence: Strategies for Settlement Success
Learn critical strategies to perform an early objective case evaluation, negotiate with confidence, and obtain more valuable settlement outcomes.
Our presenters:
Ellie Vilendrer is an arbitrator and mediator with Signature Resolution. She also serves as a neutral on panels including the American Arbitration Association (AAA)'s Commercial, Technology, and Employment Arbitration panels, the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals, and the mediation panels of the United States District Court, Central District of California and AAA.
Throughout her career, Ellie has represented both plaintiffs and defendants and advised clients in commercial, employment, and intellectual property law. In 2013, Ellie founded Vilendrer Law PC, serving technology companies from startups to publicly traded giants, for over a decade. Her roles have included outside general counsel, intellectual property counsel, and privacy counsel, showcasing her versatility and deep understanding of the tech industry. Prior to establishing her own firm, Ellie practiced business and civil litigation from 2007-2013 at firms in Orange County and Minneapolis.
Mary Cullen is an experienced trial lawyer having tried cases for a top-tier international law firm and as Associate General Counsel at a Fortune 100 science company, where she managed global litigation, dispute resolution, and enterprise risks. She has litigated, mediated, and arbitrated hundreds of client disputes around the world and has managed teams and projects of all sizes. Mary works as a neutral, mediating and arbitrating disputes for the AAA, for private parties and for the courts. She is also the founder of The Cullen Group, LLC, a law and consulting firm, providing practical, strategic, collaborative and outcome-driven solutions to complex business challenges. In addition to providing direct representation, The Cullen Group, LLC works with businesses, in-house legal departments and law firms on litigation portfolio evaluation and management and conducts special projects in legal operations. www.thecullengrp.com
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Negotiation -- Back to Basics
Thursday, February 27th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Jonathan Anschell, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary Mattel, Inc., will Present on:
Negotiation -- Back to Basics
A refresher on negotiation approaches and techniques, from building rapport before a negotiation through the fine art of taking yes for an answer to close a deal.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, SOVA Food Pantry
Our presenter:
Jonathan Anschell is Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Mattel. He joined Mattel in 2021. In his role, Mr. Anschell oversees all legal responsibilities for Mattel’s operations and transactions, as well as corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, litigation, and privacy. He also is responsible for compliance and government affairs.
Prior to joining Mattel, Mr. Anschell served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for ViacomCBS Media Networks, leading the legal affairs team for all CBS entertainment and news operations, as well as the business and legal affairs teams for the ViacomCBS cable networks in the U.S. and internationally.
Before the CBS-Viacom merger in 2019, Mr. Anschell served as General Counsel of CBS Television and Deputy General Counsel and Secretary of CBS Corporation, where he was responsible for corporate governance, securities, intellectual property, employment, and real estate legal functions. Before joining CBS in 2004, he was a partner at White O’Connor Curry, a Los Angeles-based law firm specializing in commercial and entertainment-related litigation. He is also a former editor of Communications Lawyer, the American Bar Association’s journal on media and communications law.
Mr. Anschell received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Toronto, where he was an associate editor of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law Review. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Media Law Resource Center and as a Director and past Chair of the Board of Public Counsel, the nation’s largest pro bono law firm.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
A Conversation with Antonio Piazza, Global Leader in Mediation
Join us for an extraordinary conversation with Antonio Piazza, one of the world’s foremost mediators and a pioneering force in the development of mediated negotiations. Since 1980, Mr. Piazza has transformed the landscape of conflict resolution in complex civil disputes, guiding more than 4,000 cases to successful resolution. His expertise has been sought by some of the world’s largest companies, most renowned business leaders, and top law firms. Known for his groundbreaking approach, Mr. Piazza routinely resolves even the most high-stakes, multi-faceted cases in a single day, with individual settlements reaching as high as one billion dollars.
In this session, Mr. Piazza will share insights from his career and the techniques that have enabled him to achieve swift and effective resolutions. From navigating intensely complex disputes to closing time-sensitive business deals and international negotiations, Mr. Piazza’s unique, results-driven approach serves as a model for mediators worldwide.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most respected figures in mediation as he discusses his journey, his strategies for successful negotiation, and the future of dispute resolution.
From Contrarian to Convert: Successful Techniques for ADR
Thursday, December 19th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Hon. Bernice Donald (Ret.), will Present on:
From Contrarian to Convert: Successful Techniques for ADR
My journey from Judge to mediator
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Memphis Food Bank
Our presenter:
The Hon. Bernice Donald (Ret.) joined the firm in 2024 following her retirement from the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in 2023. She is a nationally-recognized third-party neutral, and serves as an arbitrator or mediator in a wide range of specialized areas, including antitrust, bankruptcy, civil rights, class actions, employment, ERISA, insurance coverage, pharmaceutical development, intellectual property, trade secrets and product liability matters. In addition to ADR, she also regularly serves as a court-appointed special master, advises clients on appellate strategy, and acts as outside counsel in internal investigations. She is a member of the firm’s ADR, commercial litigation, appellate and civil rights practice groups.
A jurist of remarkable range and experience, Judge Donald began her 40-year judicial career in 1982 by winning election to the General Sessions Criminal Court for Shelby County, Tennessee, making her the first African American woman judge in the state. In 1988, she was appointed to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, making history again as the first African American woman in the United States to serve as a federal bankruptcy judge. In 1995, President Bill Clinton nominated Judge Donald to the United States District Court for Western District of Tennessee where, in yet another first, she became the first African American woman in Tennessee to serve as a United States District judge. In 2010, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, which covers Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, becoming the first African American woman to serve on the Sixth Circuit. She served on the Court of Appeals until her retirement from the bench in January 2023.
In addition to her firsts on the bench, Judge Donald was the first African American woman to serve as president of the American Bar Foundation and as an officer of the American Bar Association. She is a past president of the National Association of Women Judges and a former board member of the American Judicature Society. She serves as faculty for the National Judicial College, the Federal Judicial Center and Harvard Law School. She has also served as jurist-in-residence at Washington University (St. Louis), American University, University of Cincinnati, and the University of Georgia Schools of Law. Judge Donald is deeply involved in international rule of law initiatives (ROLI), having served as a faculty member for programs with the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in more than twenty different countries. She is a member of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations and the American Law Institute. She is a founding member of the Center for Excellence in Decision-Making (CEDM), a collaborative project of local jurists, the Memphis Bar Association and the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. CEDM’s mission is to broadly educate, train, and assist community stakeholders in identifying and addressing factors that inhibit fair and equitable decision making.
A 1979 graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, Judge Donald also holds an LL.M. from Duke University School of Law and an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Suffolk University.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Pitfalls and Promise of Process Management and Evaluation in Commercial and Corporate Mediations
chances of settlement in any such mediation will be materially improved if the mediator and the parties, clients and counsel, approach the mediation not as a single event, but as an incremental process, in which the parties – usually through outside counsel – and the mediator work together to set and participate in multiple, pre-mediation-session interactions and carefully design in advance an agenda for the actual mediation session.
Domestic Violence and the Mediation Process
This webinar will cover mediation with victims and perpetrators of domestic violence. It will cover private and public/mandatory mediation, mediation rules, and suggestions for mediators to maintain their neutrality and impartiality.
Mediation Strategies When Rejected Policy Limit Demands Change Everything
Nothing makes the resolution of a liability case more difficult than a rejected policy limit demand which plaintiff’s counsel believes has made their case exceptionally valuable but defense counsel (and the liability carrier) think the policy limit demand is defective or ineffective. This presentation will examine mediation strategies to address each parties challenges in this perplexing situation.
Navigating The Currents: Emerging Trends and Challenges for Global Professional Service Firms
Thursday, November 14th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Zina Saeed, Managing Principal & Accounting Industry Leader, will Present on:
Navigating The Currents: Emerging Trends and Challenges for Global Professional Service Firms
Join us for a special session featuring Zina Saeed, Managing Principal & Accounting Industry Leader, as she dives into the evolving landscape of global professional service firms. In this insightful presentation, Zina will explore the latest trends reshaping the industry, from technological innovations and regulatory changes to the increasing demand for diverse service offerings and talent management strategies. Drawing on her extensive experience and industry insights, Zina will share practical strategies for navigating these complex currents and positioning firms for sustainable growth in a rapidly changing world. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights from a leading voice in the field!
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Central Illinois Food Bank
Our presenter:
Zina Saeed is a Managing Principal with Lemme, a Division of EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, based in the Chicago area. She currently serves as the Accounting Firm Practice Leader for the Lemme Division.
Zina joined the Lemme Division in October 2021. For over 20 years, Zina has held various positions in Claims Management, Broking and Underwriting both in London and in the US and is recognized for her deep expertise in the US Professional Liability arena, particularly for top 100 Accounting Firms.
Zina began her insurance career at Lloyd’s of London where she honed her skills in Claims Management at Chubb and Hiscox. Her journey through the insurance industry has seen her excel in various roles including establishing and leading the US Professional Liability team for the WR Berkley Syndicate in London and leading the Accounting Firm Practice at Tysers. In her current role, Zina leverages her broad industry experience, legal background and strong market relationships to provide tailored risk transfer and risk management solutions to top 100 Accounting Firms. Her ability to navigate complex risk environments and her dedication to client service has made her a trusted advisor in the industry.
Zina holds an honors degree in Law from the University of London and completed her post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law, London. She chaired the Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) London and International Chapter for 5 years where she played a pivotal role in advancing professional development and networking opportunities within the industry. She also sat on the London Market Association Professional Liability Committee for 6 years. She is an active presenter including as panelist for the Professional Liability Defense Forum, discussing emerging trends in Accountants Professional Liability. Zina currently serves on the board of Big Education, a multi academy trust and charity working to transform the education system to ensure young people receive a balanced education of academics, character, wellbeing and creativity.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Now That the Election is Over: Year-End Marketing Strategies and Tactics
Thursday, November 7th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Now That the Election is Over: Year-End Marketing Strategies and Tactics
After months of election buzz, it’s finally time to refocus on business. As we wrap up 2024, mediators and arbitrators have a unique opportunity to leverage tried-and-true year-end strategies to close the year strong and prepare for a dynamic start to 2025. In this session, international marketing expert Natalie Armstrong-Motin, Jeff Kichaven, and Jean Lawler will share actionable tactics, along with fresh, innovative approaches to give you the competitive edge you need.
Join us to gain insights that will enhance your practice and ensure you enter the new year ahead of the curve.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Generative AI: IP Risks and Opportunities
Thursday, October 31st
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Angela Dunning, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb, will Present on:
Generative AI: IP Risks and Opportunities
The extraordinary capability of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to augment the processes of creation and innovation will revolutionize both business and the arts, ushering in tremendous opportunity as well as disruption, uncertainty, and risk of misuse. Whether a company is looking to enhance its consumer-facing products and services through the use of AI or deploy strictly for internal purposes, it should understand how generative AI systems work, the potential risks surrounding their implementation, and how to mitigate them.
As an IP litigation partner at Cleary Gottlieb, Angela Dunning works with both AI developers and those implementing AI tools to navigate these risks in a fast-changing legal landscape. She will discuss both input and output risks, including the possibility of bias, errors and hallucinations, as well as copyright, trademark, trade secret, and data protection concerns companies should be aware of in developing and deploying AI systems. She will also provide an update on the current status and trendlines of US IP litigation directed to the training and use of AI tools, offering perspectives from the front lines of several major cases.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
Our presenter:
The extraordinary capability of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to augment the processes of creation and innovation will revolutionize both business and the arts, ushering in tremendous opportunity as well as disruption, uncertainty, and risk of misuse. Whether a company is looking to enhance its consumer-facing products and services through the use of AI or deploy strictly for internal purposes, it should understand how generative AI systems work, the potential risks surrounding their implementation, and how to mitigate them.
As an IP litigation partner at Cleary Gottlieb, Angela Dunning works with both AI developers and those implementing AI tools to navigate these risks in a fast-changing legal landscape. She will discuss both input and output risks, including the possibility of bias, errors and hallucinations, as well as copyright, trademark, trade secret, and data protection concerns companies should be aware of in developing and deploying AI systems. She will also provide an update on the current status and trendlines of US IP litigation directed to the training and use of AI tools, offering perspectives from the front lines of several major cases.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Overlooked Skills: Effective Communication, Empathetic Leadership and Executive Management for Lawyers
Thursday, October 24th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Serena Rwejuna, Partner; Co-Head Energy Markets & Regulatory Practice; Co-Head Global Green Policy, Regulation & Incentives Strategic Specialty Area, will Present on:
Overlooked Skills: Effective Communication, Empathetic Leadership and Executive Management for Lawyers
Lawyers are taught to be effective oral advocates, persuasive writers and strong negotiators, but what is often missing from lawyer training is the skill and art of effective communication and leadership. This presentation will challenge the current training paradigm and explore ways the profession can better equip lawyers to excel in effective communication, empathetic leadership and executive management.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Capital Area Food Bank, Inc.
Our presenter:
Serena Agaba Rwejuna is strategic and innovative leader with over 15 years of experience in finance, energy, regulation, leadership and law. Serena was honored in 2024 by Oil & Gas Investor/Hart Energy as one of the Most Influential Women in Energy and recognized as a “multifaceted leader with a career described as a masterclass in leadership, dedication and impact.” Serena is a Chambers-ranked entrepreneurial Partner who is formally trained in psychology, business management, public policy and law. Serena has developed a dynamic, multidisciplinary legal practice focused on innovation, value creation, regulatory strategy, risk management, project development and problem solving in highly-regulated, customer-facing, quickly-evolving, and fast-paced industries, with a focus on renewables, energy transition, ESG and sustainability. At the international law firm White & Case LLP where Serena is a practice group leader, her practice focuses on advising clients on commercial, regulatory, compliance, litigation, and enforcement issues. She has experience with a variety of clean energy technologies, including solar, onshore and offshore wind, hydroelectricity, waste-to-energy, and other advanced and evolving energy technologies. Serena counsels developers, sponsors, utilities, independent power producers, pipelines, natural gas distribution companies and other energy industry participants on compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations, cross-border and multijurisdictional regulatory matters, and advises them on project development, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, mergers and acquisitions, dispute resolution, and state regulatory compliance.
Serena advises clients on proposed energy market transactions and trading strategies to avoid or mitigate enforcement risk from FERC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), state public utility commissions (PUCs), and regional transmission organization (RTO/ISO) market monitors. Serena represents clients before various federal and state agencies while counseling them in high-stakes non-public and public audits, investigations, and enforcement proceedings. Serena serves as Co-Chair for the American Bar Association (ABA) Environmental & Energy Litigation Committee.
Serena also advises clients on a broad range of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), Sustainability, and cutting-edge Energy Transition matters that span the broad universe of pipes and wires, energy security, and net-zero targets.
Prior to Serena's promotion to partner, Chambers USA twice ranked her has an Associate to Watch in Nationwide Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation). Likewise, prior to her promotion to partner, Serena was twice recognized by the Legal 500 as a "Rising Star" in USA Energy Regulation: Conventional Power. Twice, prior to Serena's promotion to partner, she was named by the Best Lawyers In America to the Ones to Watch list. Serena's other legal honors and recognitions include: The National Bar Association Nation's Best Advocates Top 40 Under 40 Award (2023); Chambers USA: Up & Coming (2022, 2023); Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021-2024); Thomson Reuters, Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2017-2024); and the National Black Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 (2020-2024).
Serena was named Energy, Natural Resources and Mining Lawyer of the Year by the Women in Business Law Awards (2023), Rising Star Partner by IFLR1000 North America for Energy: Project Development (2023), and is a Lawdragon Leading U.S. Energy Lawyer (2023-2024).
In addition to her renewables, energy transition and ESG practice, Serena also maintains a robust pro bono practice where she advises non-profit organizations and minority-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs; represents veterans in appeals before the Board of Veteran's Appeals; and leads other advocacy and public policy-focused projects in connection with women's, civil and human rights issues. Serena is an active member of the White & Case Racial Justice Task Force and holds several non-profit Board leadership roles throughout the Washington, DC community. In 2024, Serena was appointed to the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability Board of Advisors and the Duke Fuqua Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment (EDGE) Advisory Board. Serena is also an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Online Mediation: Psychological and Practical Considerations
Thursday, October 17th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Craig Nierman, Attorney & Mediator, will Present on:
Online Mediation: Psychological and Practical Considerations
Psychological research has identified ways in which our brains function differently in online communications--and virtual mediation in particular--than they do in person. By understanding and applying the data, we can make be more effective in resolving conflicts through online communication.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Grow Johnson County
Our presenter:
Craig Nierman mediates commercial, insurance, tort, and healthcare cases.
An “AV” rated, 25-year litigation veteran, Craig has represented plaintiffs and defendants in jury and bench trials, appeals, and arbitrations.
Before law school, Craig managed litigation and claims for an international insurer. More recently, he has taught Insurance Law at the University of Iowa College of Law. He has completed post-graduate negotiation training at Harvard Law School and has published on the psychological aspects of mediation.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Negotiation-as-a-Service & Function - Insights from Intrapreneurship: why & how to build a negotiation 1-Stop-Shop inside a Global Bank as an organizational capability
Thursday, October 10th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Felix Miller, Partner, Deal Expert & Co-Founder of the Office for Negotiation at Deutsche Bank, will Present on:
Negotiation-as-a-Service & Function - Insights from Intrapreneurship: why & how to build a negotiation 1-Stop-Shop inside a Global Bank as an organizational capability
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Rational Games
Our presenter:
Felix Miller is a Negotiation expert, trainer & co-founder of the Office for Negotiation at Deutsche Bank.
During his career, Felix created several ventures, worked in Startups & co-founded Deutsche Bank's
Office for Negotiation, providing him ample opportunities to work in different contexts & cultures
including Africa, the US, Asia & Europe.
As a negotiation instructor, he teaches negotiation to senior leaders including members of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank, the European Commission & the German Federal Foreign Office.
Felix is a Harvard-trained Negotiator & holds a MSc. In International Business Negotiation from
IÉSEG School of Management in Paris.
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Beyond Binaries: The role of Mediators and peacebuilders in Building Social Cohesion
Thursday, October 3rd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Prabha Sankaranarayan, President and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders International, will Present on:
Beyond Binaries: The role of Mediators and peacebuilders in Building Social Cohesion
Conceptualizing politics as a social problem-solving process, Prabha will address the critical role of Mediators when Democracy is at risk. When stressed systems are reduced to simplistic binaries and the perpetuation of divisiveness, mediators have a very special role to play by infusing complexity, community and connection. Prabha will share stories of MBBI's work in this context and strategies for us to step forward in this time of enormous need for our skills.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
or Bangalore Food Bank
Our presenter:
Prabha Sankaranarayan is the President and CEO of Mediators Beyond Borders International, (https://mediatorsbeyondborders.org/) an international impact organization whose mission is to build local skills for peace and promote mediation worldwide. She is committed to partnership, as evidenced by the organization’s collaboration with organizations globally.
She is a conflict transformation practitioner who has mediated, facilitated and trained in Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA. Her public and private sector work includes conflict analysis for public/private partnerships, consultation & assessment for industrial development zones, design and implementation of trainings for multinational corporations; inter faith dialogues as well as facilitation of multi-stakeholder mediations.
In her capacity as CEO of MBBI she designs conflict transformation and capacity building programs around the world, serves as a consultant for companies, policy makers, governments, universities and groups engaged in civil resistance and serves as an advisor on the role of women in peace and security.
Prabha is involved in regional, national and international civic activities focused on civil liberties, violence prevention, conflict mitigation & mediation and the recovery & rehabilitation of trauma survivors. She served on the ASEAN Regional Forum’s (ARF) Expert and Eminent Persons (EEP) Group for the US Government. Her current Advisory & Board appointments include The Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, VISIONS Inc. (a DEI organization in USA) and Women’s International Peace Center (WIPC in Uganda).
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Second Act Success: Transitioning into Mediation
Thursday, September 26th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Jean Lawler, Commercial Mediator and Natalie Armstrong-Motin, Marketing Resolution will Present on:
Second Act Success: Transitioning into Mediation
So, you want to be a mediator? Or you might want to be a mediator - someday?
It is fall, the time of year when thoughts turn to career transitions. Retiring? Thinking of changing your career path?
Join us this week as Natalie Armstrong-Motin and Jean Lawler have a conversation about the nuts and bolts of starting, building and growing a successful mediation practice.
Whether you are just contemplating making the move someday, or have already made the move in a leap of faith, you're sure to find helpful takeaways from this program!
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, World Central Kitchen
Our presenters:
Jean Lawler - After more than three decades in private practice as a commercial litigation and insurance coverage attorney - trying cases, arguing motions, drafting contracts and opinion letters, settling cases, providing legal and practical advice to clients, and otherwise serving as a bar association leader and managing partner of an AmLaw 500 law firm - in 2017 I left my law practice behind to devote 100% of my time to helping attorneys and parties resolve lawsuits and pre-suit disputes via Mediation or Arbitration. My ADR practice is as diverse as was my legal caseload, including handling insurance coverage, employment, business disputes, E&O claims, ADA, cyber/ransomware, tort, long tail environmental and many other types of pre-suit and litigated matters.
Mrs. Armstrong-Motin is the author of “The Essential Guide to Marketing Your ADR Practice”. She is frequently invited to speak around the globe on the successful marketing strategies of the resolution and legal industry. As a consultant to many of the premier providers in the ADR industry, Mrs. Armstrong-Motin and her company, Marketing Resolution, have designed and developed hundreds of business development plans and marketing strategies for private practices, firms, educational institutions, authors, organizations, and associations around the world.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Insurance Mediation: The Policyholder Perspective
Thursday, October 17th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Robin Cohen, Chair of Cohen Ziffer Frenchman & McKenna LLP, will Present on:
Insurance Mediation: The Policyholder Perspective
How should policyholders approach complex, high-stakes insurance mediations? How do you prepare? What should you expect of mediators, clients, and yourself? When is, and isn’t, mediation a one-day encounter? How do you close tough deals? What works and what doesn’t? Is it all intuitive – or will the answers surprise you? Join Robin Cohen, one of the country’s leading policyholder counsel, for a deep exploration of these and other issues.
Our presenter:
The recipient of numerous awards by prominent organizations and recognized as one of the very best insurance coverage lawyers in the world, leading litigator Robin Cohen has recovered more than $10 billion in assets for her clients during her more than 30-year career. Robin counsels an exclusive policyholder client base spanning industries and countries, astutely advocating for them in cases involving asbestos, directors and officers issues, employee coverage, employee dishonesty, environmental, first-party, product liability, toxic tort, and other claims.
Her excellent courtroom skills and trial success bring her recognition as one of the National Journal’s “50 Most Influential Women Lawyers” in America, a recipient of the 2020 Legal 500 “Advice to Policyholders” Hall of Fame honor, and Benchmark Litigation’s “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” in America.
Robin’s talents have also been recognized in numerous publications, including 2017 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2016 Chambers USA, 2015 Chambers USA, 2014 Chambers USA, 2013 Chambers USA (“outstanding in all aspects”), 2012 Chambers USA (“a real standout—innovative and fabulous all-around attorney”), 2011 Chambers USA (“spectacular and confidence-inspiring” and “she always knows how to resolve matters, whether to settle or fight”), 2010 Chambers USA (“an outstanding oral advocate and strategic thinker”), 2009 Chambers USA (“is always thinking three to five steps ahead on each issue”), 2008 Chambers USA (“is always strategic and very thorough in her approach—she is someone you can trust for the truly large matters”) and Lawdragon 500 (“a top-flight advocate for insurance clients”). Robin was selected by Business Insurance as one the 2011 “Women to Watch” and was recognized as both a national and local “litigation star” in Benchmark Litigation and Benchmark Plaintiff, as well as named as one of the “Top 250 Women in Litigation” by Benchmark for six consecutive years. Robin is noted as a “Leading Lawyer” in The Legal 500’s guide to outstanding lawyers nationwide for Insurance: Advice to Policyholders and has been consistently named as one of the Top 500 “Leading Lawyers in America” by Lawdragon. Robin was featured as a “winning litigator” in 2013, where she was one of only five lawyers recognized nationally for overcoming tough odds in a case with high financial stakes.
As lead counsel in groundbreaking cases before many of the highest courts in the United States, Robin routinely negotiates settlements in the multi-hundred million dollar range. Her dynamic trial presence, agile and quick-to-pivot thinking, excellent listening skills, and refreshingly direct and often humorous delivery gain the respect and admiration of judges, juries, and adverse lawyers alike.
Outside the courtroom Robin focuses on tackling bet-the-company insurance issues that materially impact the bottom line for companies and developing a strategy that solves the clients’ problems and utilizes the team’s trial prowess to maximize settlements against the insurance industry. Organizations rely on her to help them address a range of concerns, including coverage questions about losses stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic, fallout from governmental investigations, securities litigation against directors and officers, impacts from the ever-changing regulatory landscape, and exposure problems brought by computer system breaches.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Getting Past Doh! - Negotiation Lessons from Homer Simpson
Thursday, September 12th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, C. Scott Maravilla, Administrative Law Judge, will Present on:
Getting Past Doh!
Negotiation Lessons from Homer Simpson
This program will mainly focus on the episode "Last Exit to Springfield" where Homer is elected leader of the Union and successfully negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement with Mr. Burns. Using clips from the episode, I will track the various situations with real life negotiating strategies, and comment on the consistent miscommunications.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, St Martin of Tours, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Our presenter:
Judge C. Scott Maravilla
C. Scott Maravilla is an Administrative Law Judge with the Office of Financial Institution Adju-dication (OFIA). Prior to joining OFIA, from 2008-2023, he was an Administrative Judge with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hearing matters involving government contracts and aviation enforcement. He was elected a member of the American Law Institute in 2010. Judge Maravilla has taught at American University Washington College of Law and the National Judi-cial College.
Judge Maravilla received his law degree cum laude from the Georgetown University Law Center in May, 2000. During the spring semester of his second year in law school, he held a full-time clerkship in The White House, Office of Counsel to the President. He also holds a Master of Arts degree from King’s College, The University of London, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Judge Maravilla began his career as a judicial clerk to Judge Roger B. Andewelt at the United States Court of Federal Claims from 2000-2001, where he assisted with the adjudication of claims against the United States Government. From 2001-2003, he was an Associate with a large Wall Street law firm in New York. While in private practice, Judge Maravilla was very active with the firm’s pro bono practice. He helped establish the firm’s 9/11 Pro Bono group, which included apprising the firm of all tax legislation enacted at both the federal and state level with regard to the victims of 9/11 and represented the family of a firefighter. Judge Maravilla also clerked for Justice Dale Wainwright of the Texas Supreme Court from 2003-2004. From 2005-2008, he was an attorney with the Office of the Chief Counsel at the FAA.
Judge Maravilla is a prolific legal scholar and commentator. His work has appeared in, among others, Baltimore University Law Review, The Ohio State Journal of Dispute Resolution, Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law, Tulane Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property Law, and Florida Journal of International Law. He is the co-author/editor of the book Litigating Small Business Size Appeals and Protests.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mediation doesn't only happen at the mediator's office.
Often the success of mediation efforts depends on work done ahead of or after mediation. Join Anne Marie Seibel to discuss best practices for closing the gap in mediation.
The benefits and dangers of AI within mediation
The benefits and dangers of AI within mediation together with a live roleplay of Smartsettle ONE as well as the application of Smartsettle Infinity to a fictionalised resolution of a shareholder dispute
Produce Resolution: Insights From The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, an ADR tool for the produce industry
Thursday, August 22nd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Jaime Bustamante, Director of Trading Assistance, will Present on:
Produce Resolution: Insights From The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation, an ADR tool for the produce industry
Learn about the dispute resolution model is designed to reduce risk and facilitate trade between members.
The Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), a non-profit, membership-based organization serving the produce trade. DRC provides harmonized standards, procedures and services to our members to help them avoid commercial disputes. When differences of opinion occur, we provide consultation, mediation and arbitration services to resolve the issue in a timely and cost-effective manner.
We strive to counsel and educate our members about best practices so they may avoid disputes altogether.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Ottawa Food Bank
Our presenter:
Jaime grew up in the agricultural community of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. After completing his bachelor’s degree in foreign Trade at the University of Valle de Mexico in Mexico City, Jaime started working with the DRC in 2002 and its currently the Director of Trading Assistance. He joined the DRC as a Trading Assistance specialist in the DRC Mexico office and played an integral role in getting the DRC Mexico Office up and running.
In 2005 the DRC consolidated its offices and Jaime moved to Ottawa, Ontario to join the DRC in its Ottawa offices. In his current position as Director of Trading Assistance, Jaime oversees all trading assistance services including helping members identify potential customers, private and confidential consultations, the informal mediation process, the arbitration process, and education and training for members. He is also involved in different DRC projects. He has assisted DRC members resolve thousands of produce and transportation disputes in his role with the DRC Trading Assistance Team.
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Leading Out of Drama® - Conflict with Compassion
Thursday, August 15th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting Bethany Faith Food Pantry
Our special guest this week, Michyl-Shannon Quilty, Mediator | Conflict Consultant | Trainer will Present on:
Leading Out of Drama® - Conflict with Compassion
Conflict is an opportunity for growth. Leading Out of Drama® (LOD) provides groups and individuals with easy-to-apply tools and a common language for navigating conflict without energy-zapping drama. When the energy of conflict is used in compassionate and creative ways we can harness that energy into productive relationships and solutions.
Michyl-Shannon Quilty has 20+ years of experience in conflict management in Hollywood’s entertainment industry. Michyl-Shannon coordinated with producers on network television shows and blockbuster feature films –including three Oscar-nominated movies. She has a Master's Degree in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, in Malibu, CA, and is a licensed provider of Next Element's Leading Out of Drama® system.
Success at Mediation: Lessons From One Lawyer’s Experience
Thursday, August 8th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Amber Finch, Partner and Global Chair, Insurance Recovery Group of Reed Smith LLP, will Present on:
Success at Mediation: Lessons From One Lawyer’s Experience
What does it mean to succeed at mediation? Does it mean the same thing in every case, or to every person? How do you plan for success, and how do you adjust your plan when the mediation swerves? When do you conclude the mediation is not a success – and then what do you do? Amber Finch, Chair of Reed Smith’s Insurance Recovery Group and former Managing Partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office, will share insights to help every lawyer – and every mediator – answer these questions and make every mediation a success.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Our presenter:
Amber Finch is the chair of the firm’s Insurance Recovery Group and former Managing Partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office. Since joining the firm in 2011, Amber has quickly become a go-to lawyer for creating effective risk management solutions. With her litigation background, she has helped her commercial policyholder clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in insurance proceeds. Amber represents a litany of clients from start-up businesses to middle market and Fortune 500. She helps companies manage risk by negotiating broader insurance coverage on the front end, negotiating insurance and indemnity provisions in deal contracts, assisting with tender and collection on insurance and indemnity claims, and litigating insurance and indemnity disputes. Amber has significant experience in standard first party and third party insurance policies, as well as specialty policies, emerging industries and disruptive technologies. Most recently, Amber represents various companies in connection with business income interruption and property damage losses arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, and aviation businesses in connection with losses arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
The Role of Personal Counsel in Successful Settlement Negotiations: It's All About Timing
Thursday, August 1st
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Bradley Levin, President and Shareholder, Levin Sitcoff PC, will Present on:
The Role of Personal Counsel in Successful Settlement Negotiations: It's All About Timing
The timing of settlement negotiations, whether before or after the initiation of litigation, cannot be underestimated. We will discuss when and how to start exploring settlement, and the role that personal counsel can play, in making this an effective risk management tool.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Food Bank of the Rockies
Our presenter:
Bradley A. Levin is a shareholder in the law firm of Levin Sitcoff Waneka PC, with emphasis in tort and commercial litigation, including insurance bad faith and insurance coverage disputes. Mr. Levin received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University, with distinction, where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, n/k/a University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly. He is a member of the California and Colorado bars and the Denver, Colorado, and American Bar Associations, is past President of the Colorado Bar Association Insurance Committee, and is a Colorado Bar Foundation Fellow and American Bar Foundation Fellow. He serves on the Colorado Supreme Court Committee on Civil Jury Instructions, the Colorado Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Colorado Lawyers Committee Board of Directors, and was a member of the Colorado State Commission on Judicial Performance, which he chaired between 2012 through 2015. Mr. Levin has also served as the chair of the Mountain States Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, is on that organization’s National Commission, and chaired its National Litigation Oversight Committee. In addition, Mr. Levin is on the board of directors of National Jewish Health.
Mr. Levin received the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Kenneth N. Kripke Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He was recognized as Best Denver Insurance Lawyer by the Denver Business Journal (2004), as Barrister’s Best Insurance Lawyer (Plaintiff’s) by Law Week Colorado (2014-2018 & 2021), and as a Top Lawyer by 5280 Magazine (2016-2024). Mr. Levin is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Appellate Law, Insurance Law, Litigation-Insurance, and Personal Injury Litigation, has been named Best Lawyers Denver Lawyer of the Year in Insurance Law (2013), Litigation-Insurance (2016 & 2021), Personal Injury Litigation (2015), and Appellate Law (2024), has been included in Band 1 by Chambers USA for Colorado Insurance (2023), and has been recognized in Colorado Super Lawyers as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Colorado (2013, 2016, 2018, & 2019-2024), and as one of the Top 50 (now 100) Lawyers in Colorado (2011, 2012, 2014-2015, & 2017).
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Negotiating in the age of AI
Thursday, July 18th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Joana Matos, Negotiation Expert, will Present on:
Negotiating in the age of AI
Join us for a deep dive into "Negotiating in the Age of AI," where we will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of negotiation. Discover how AI tools can enhance decision-making, optimize strategies, and improve outcomes in your negotiations. We will delve into the ethical considerations and challenges posed by AI, and discuss practical ways to integrate AI technologies while maintaining the human touch. Whether you're a seasoned negotiator or new to the field, this session will provide valuable insights and actionable takeaways for leveraging AI in your negotiation processes.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Tafel Germany
Our presenter:
Joana has conducted training on topics such as negotiation, gender and culture in negotiations, conflict management, and emotional intelligence and has wide international experience. Through her work at Rational Games Inc, she has had the opportunity to teach at several prestigious companies and government institutions such as the German Foreign Ministry, the BBC, Mercator Kollege, University of Zurich, Xing, and EU International Communication Union, to name a few.
Besides Mediation and Advanced Negotiations training from the Harvard Program on Negotiations, she holds an MBA from Reykjavik University, a Master's in Humanitarian Action and Conflict from Uppsala University as well and a diploma in Protocol and Diplomacy from the International School of Diplomacy of Brussels. Furthermore, she has specialized in Humanitarian Negotiations at the Clingendael Institute of International Relations of the Netherlands and is a PhD candidate at the Twente University in Negotiations.
Joana is a Portuguese and Icelandic citizen and is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, English and Icelandic.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Understanding the Power of Mediation to Settle Your Case:“A Guideline for Litigators”
The Standard for Optimal Mediation Results
Successful strategies for interest-based mediation require a clear and systematic process. Ms. Kern-Rappy has developed — and trademarked — such a step-based, transparent and methodological approach entitled R.A.I.S.E.™
RAISE creates a change in thinking from litigation to mediation, facilitating a calm and supportive platform in the midst of high conflict
ADR's Hot Topics and Your Caseload
We will discuss the effects of current ADR news and running an ADR practice.
Sidebar: Effective Communication During Court Processes
Thursday, June 20th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Hon Gayle Williams Byers (ret.), will Present on:
Sidebar: Effective Communication During Court Processes
We will discuss the importance of effective communication during the various stages of the court and trial process
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, Greater Cleveland FoodBank
Our presenter:
Judge Gayle Williams-Byers formerly served as Administrative and Presiding Judge of the South Euclid Municipal Court in South Euclid, Ohio from January 1, 2012 until her retirement on July 31, 2022.
During her tenure, she joined the American Judge’s Association, one of the largest judges-only organizations in North America, which has a mission of providing quality education programs and high-level publications to its members. As a member of the organization, Judge Byers served as President-Elect and Chair of the Education, Domestic Violence, Diversity, Membership, Social Media and Technology and Judicial Wellness Committees.
Prior to joining the bench, Judge Byers served as an Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, ending her career as Supervisor of the Cuyahoga County Grand Jury. Additionally, Judge Byers has been appointed to serve as the only Judicial Fellow for the National Judicial College (Reno, Nevada) where she has honed expert skills in the area of Commercial Drivers, licensing and federal penalties. She teaches courses to judges across the United States and provides guidance to the National Judicial College on topics including but not limited to Judicial Wellbeing and handling Commercial Drivers in Criminal and Traffic courts.
Since retiring in 2022, Judge Byers has appeared as a television host and jurist on A&E network’s Court Night Live where she adjudicated civil matters in a Chicago pop-up courtroom. Additionally, she regularly provides case analysis and legal commentary for CourtTV and serves as co-host with Retired Judge Tom Hodson on the podcast “Next Witness…Please” where basic legal parlance and procedure is decoded for the average listener. “Next Witness..Please” can be found on all major podcast platforms.
Judge Byers received her B.A., M.N.O., and J.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Neurodivergence in Law: The Importance of Advanced Communication in Legal and Neutral Practice
Thursday, June 13th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Christina Hough, Vice President, Membership, The San Diego Paralegal Association, will Present on:
Neurodivergence in Law: The Importance of Advanced Communication in Legal and Neutral Practice
We all communicate in different ways and the way something might sound or appear may not be what was intended to be conveyed. As lawyers, mediators, arbitrators, paralegals, and others in the legal profession, it's important to understand the subtle clues about why certain communication behaviors or styles may not appear to convey what you think is intending to be conveyed. Some people mean different ways to understand information that's provided. Some people may sound angry, but they're really not. Join us for this informative session about communications with clients, lawyers, parties to a dispute or a lawsuit, and others might be approached for the most effective communications.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the food bank, San Diego Food Bank
Our presenter:
Christina Hough is a seasoned legal paraprofessional having worked as a senior paralegal on the in-house litigation team of a Fortune 10 company and a legal secretary on the Business Trials team at an AmLaw 50 firm among prior roles. She has more than 20 years of experience working as a member of pre-litigation and litigation teams at small businesses, large enterprises and law firms of varying sizes and specialties. She has extensive experience in general civil litigation matters, including personal injury, products liability, premises liability, construction defect, pharmacy and administrative law, small claims, and other specialized areas of law. She has also argued in court trials before small claims courts in various jurisdictions throughout the western United States and as a result, has obtained numerous defense verdicts on behalf of a Fortune 10 company.
Christina earned her B.A. in Public Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, graduating summa cum laude and as a Distinguished Scholar with a 4.0 GPA. She received her paralegal certificate with honors in Generalist Curriculum from the University of San Diego Paralegal Program - the very first paralegal program in the U.S. to receive American Bar Association approval. In 2023, she completed her first year of law school at the University of San Diego School of Law and participated in its Summer Abroad program at USD Center in Madrid, Spain.
Christina is a member of the San Diego Paralegal Association, University of San Diego Paralegal Alumni Association, National Notary Association, and other professional and academic associations. She has also published articles discussing continuing legal education opportunities, legal technology, workplace productivity, and human interest stories on LinkedIn and for SDPA's newsletter, Precedents. She recently received recognition as 2023 Notary of the Year from the National Notary Association and the National Association of Legal Assistants Affiliates Award for her work on SDPA's 2022 inaugural Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Educational Conference. She was also recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as a Woman of Influence in Law in 2023.
Offered by Will Work For Food, founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Tagged: #mediate, #mediation, #adr
The Art of Expectation Management in Litigation & ADR
In the complex landscape of legal disputes, managing client expectations is crucial for successful outcomes. This presentation delves into strategies and best practices for attorneys, mediators, and arbitrators to effectively navigate client expectations during litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes. Topics covered include setting realistic goals, transparent communication, risk assessment, and fostering trust. By aligning client expectations with legal realities, professionals can enhance client satisfaction and achieve more favorable results.
Revolting Women: why midlife women walk out and what to do about it.
Thursday, May 30th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Dr. Lucy Ryan, will Present on:
Revolting Women: why midlife women walk out and what to do about it.
Professional women over 50 are faced with a triple whammy of discrimination: they are not male, young or linear in their career paths. As a result, they are leaving corporate life and taking their career into their own hands. And with it, they take their abundant wisdom, energy and ambition. This presentation will examine the results of my five year doctoral project, that is, the three reasons why midlife women leave business and how corporations can attract, retain and promote this invaluable talent pool
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting The Trussell Trust
Our presenter:
Managing Director of Mindspring International for the last 20 years, Lucy has trained, consulted with, and coached over 10,000 leaders in global, blue-chip companies across 29 countries. She is also a passionate advocate for women’s professional development, helping organisations attract, retain, and promote their female leaders and gender proof their succession plans.
Noticing a trend of female midlife clients leaving their corporate roles, she led a unique five-year doctoral research project exploring this phenomenon, filling a long-standing data gap. Lucy’s 2023 book, ‘Revolting Women: why midlife women walk out (and what to do about it)’, was an instant Amazon bestseller, Financial Times book of the month and hailed by the Sunday Times as “clear, pithy and enraging”).
Managing Director of Mindspring International for the last 20 years, Lucy has trained, consulted with, and coached over 10,000 leaders in global, blue-chip companies across 29 countries. She is also a passionate advocate for women’s professional development, helping organisations attract, retain, and promote their female leaders and gender proof their succession plans.
Noticing a trend of female midlife clients leaving their corporate roles, she led a unique five-year doctoral research project exploring this phenomenon, filling a long-standing data gap. Lucy’s 2023 book, ‘Revolting Women: why midlife women walk out (and what to do about it)’, was an instant Amazon bestseller, Financial Times book of the month and hailed by the Sunday Times as “clear, pithy and enraging". Lucy is an accredited Master Practitioner Coach and nominated in 2022 as one of the top 100 global coaches for women, and one of the ‘top 5 women to watch in 2024’. She is a much-requested speaker on the conference circuit and a popular webinar and podcast guest.
With a Masters in Positive Psychology, Lucy lectures in Positive Leadership and Organisational Well Being at the University of East London and is an honorary research fellow at the University of Liverpool.
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Negotiation Made Simple
Thursday, May 23rd
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, John Lowry, President
of the Lowry Group, will Present on:
Negotiation Made Simple
Business and legal professionals spend well over half of their professional time engaged in negotiations. It is the way they do deals, lead people, resolve disputes, and manage relationships. Through his Negotiation Made Simple framework, John Lowry will offer advice on how to make strategic decisions, manage the process, overcome barriers, and deliver the deal. Whether it is executing a business transaction or resolving a complex legal dispute, John will provide professionals with a roadmap for finding success in every type of negotiation.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting The Store
Our presenter:
John Lowry has over 20 years of claims management and dispute resolution experience working with insurance companies and law firms across the country. John serves as president of The Lowry Group, LLC (TLG). At TLG, he provides settlement counsel services in catastrophic claims. John has created a proven approach for working with claims professionals and attorneys to settle the most difficult cases. From 2016-2018, John served as Interim Vice President of Claims for American Excess Insurance Exchange (AEIX).
In addition to his work as settlement counsel, John regularly provides settlement negotiation and conflict management training and consulting for governmental entities, major insurance companies, health care organizations, law firms, and other businesses. John has taught courses for the top ranked Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and Vanderbilt University’s Master’s in Management in Health Care program.
John is author of Negotiation Made Simple, a top selling book on negotiation published in 2023 by HarperCollins.
Offered by Will Work For Food. Founded by Natalie Armstrong-Motin (www.HowToMarketMyMediationPractice.com and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.
Mediation Through the Eyes of In-house Counsel
Thursday, May 16th
8 a.m PST| 11 a.m EST
Our special guest this week, Mark Danis, Vice President - Deputy General Counsel The Clorox Company, will Present on:
Mediation Through the Eyes of In-house Counsel
For the in-house lawyer, a successfully mediation requires choregraphing a host of company stakeholders, balancing enterprise and business interests, and then navigating the players at the mediation theater. Each case is different, and there is not a one-size fits all approach. But knowing and planning for the key hurdles in advance of the mediation can dramatically improve the chances of success and build confidence in the business leaders as to the process. During this presentation, I'll provide an insider's perspective on how a company lawyer approaches a mediation and what is top-of-mind for me before, during, and after a mediation that centers my discipline.
When you’re thinking about where to donate, please consider supporting the Alameda County Community Food Bank
Our presenter:
Mark Danis is Vice President – Deputy General Counsel of The Clorox Company, where he oversees the areas of litigation, cybersecurity, privacy, marketing claims, employment counseling, government investigations.
He is a recognized business and people leader. At Clorox he served on the Specialty Division Leadership Team that oversaw the lifestyle segment of the company’s $7 billion brand portfolio. He leads a team of over twenty professionals and is a senior advisor to the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Mark has deep crisis management experience, leading and setting the strategic direction for responses to cybersecurity incidents, global product recalls, government enforcement actions, and other business disruptions and transformations.
Prior to Clorox, Mark was a partner at the international law firm of Morrison & Foerster, where he specialized in the trial and arbitration of complex patent, trade secret, antitrust, tax, contract, criminal, and constitutional law matters. He served as a Managing Partner of Operations and founded the firm's San Diego office. His international experience includes practicing for four years in the firm's Tokyo office.
Mark is a graduate of the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, and his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. Following law school, he clerked on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for Judge Lawrence W. Pierce.
Mark is a passionate advocate for pro bono, community service, and mentoring. He serves on the board of the Family Violence Law Center and is a leader of the San Quentin prison tennis program.
Offered by Will Work For Food and moderated by Jeff Kichaven (www.JeffKichaven.com ) and Jean Lawler (www.LawlerADR.com)
This worldwide conversation will be like nothing else. Join in! Share, learn, have fun, and raise money for food banks.