Session Day: Saturday

Judicial and Practitioner Perspectives on How Restorative Practices in Mediation Can Foster Resolutions and Repair Relationships

Conflicts often arise in the midst of communal, familial, or business relations that are ongoing. Settling for money, property, or even policy may solve the immediate conflict without addressing the deeper emotional and relational dynamics in need of repair. Drawing from real-life experience navigating disputes in the areas of education, housing, and family law, panelists […]

Climbing Down the Assumption Ladder: Using Curiosity to Transform Conflict

Climbing Down the Assumption Ladder: Using Curiosity to Transform Conflict Conflict is rarely just about what happened—it’s about the meaning we assign to what happened. In real time, we observe behavior, interpret intent, construct a story, and then react to that story as if it were fact. In this interactive, workshop-style session, participants will work […]

Confidentiality Under Pressure

Many assert that mediator confidentiality provides the foundation for candid and productive conversations during mediation. Today, that assertion is being put to the test. This workshop will explore the past, present, and potential future of mediation confidentiality, from its historical development to the challenges mediators face in a post-Girardi world. Against the backdrop of proposed […]

The Power of Partnership: Lessons from a Decade of Leading Mediation Nonprofits Together

Jason Harper and Jack Goetz spent a decade together in non-profit leadership guiding two different non-profit mediation organizations, KMC and MC3. Together, they saw benefits in creating a partnership that took the best of each partner to accentuate their strengths and overcome any individual weaknesses they may have had. Their collegial approach to organization building […]

Reading the Room Before Negotiating the Deal: Resolving High-Stakes Disputes

Experienced mediators know that what happens between the words can be just as important as what is said at the negotiating table. A disputant goes quiet. An attorney becomes increasingly rigid. Someone who appeared ready to negotiate suddenly digs in. Another participant keeps repeating the same argument despite hearing every logical reason to reconsider. What […]

The Art of Effective Follow-Up

Not every case settles at mediation, but attorneys expect, parties deserve, and reputations are built on effective follow-up. With over 7,000 mediations between them, Wendy Kramer and Mark Lemke will share their tools, tips, and techniques for effective follow-up. Avoid spinning your wheels, rehashing the same arguments, and find what works best to bring cases […]

What’s Next for Mediation? Designing Your Practice for the Next Decade

The profession of mediation has never stood still, and today’s pace of change is faster than ever. Artificial intelligence, evolving client expectations, new technologies, and changing business models are reshaping how professionals build and sustain successful practices. In this interactive program, Susan Guthrie explores what every mediator should be considering today to remain relevant, resilient, […]