Mediator Resume

Blair Mediation, PLLC

Attorney, Full-time Neutral, Arbitrator and Mediator

Arbitrator/Mediator, Blair Mediation PLLC, 2015 – Present; Partner, Blair Ridder Hurd PLLC, 2014; Partner, Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh PLLC (formerly Hanover, Walsh, Jalenak & Blair, PLLC), 1975 – 2013; Adjunct Professor, University of Memphis Law School, 1973 – 1976 & 1997 – 2014; Associate, Hanover Walsh Barnes & Jalenak, 1971 – 1974; Law Clerk, Chief U.S. District Judge Bailey Brown, 1970 – 1971.

Working as an arbitrator and mediator for 29 years, with the last 15 being full-time. Broad range of experience in arbitration and mediation including employment cases (involving race, age, gender and disability discrimination, FLSA Collective Actions and other employment class actions, retaliation, wrongful discharge, non-compete, FMLA and sexual and racial harassment cases), commercial cases (such as breach of contract, banking, insolvency/bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, securities, insurance coverage and business dissolution disputes), construction cases (such as disputes relating to construction defects, delays, scope of work and site conditions) and injury cases (such as products liability, medical malpractice, big truck, FELA and Jones Act cases). Also considerable experience in large complex cases. Law practice was concentrated primarily in litigation. Successfully argued Firefighters Local Union v. Stotts, 467 U.S. 561 (1983), an affirmative action case, before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Started mediating 29 years ago. Full-time as a mediator and arbitrator for last 15 years. Currently spends 90% of time as a mediator. Cases have involved claims ranging realistically from $50,000,000 down. Mediated cases in numerous industries.

Employment cases have involved race, age, gender, national origin, religious, and disability discrimination. In addition, employment cases have involved claims of sexual and racial harassment, wrongful termination, breach of non-compete agreements, FLSA violations, including class actions and collective actions. Construction cases relating to several issues including scope of work, delays, construction defects and site conditions. Commercial cases have involved breach of contract, banking, insolvency/bankruptcy, mortgage foreclosure, securities, insurance coverage and business dissolution disputes. Injury cases including products liability, medical malpractice, nursing home, FELA and Jones Act disputes.

I am primarily a facilitative mediator, but pride myself on not being simply a "message carrier." I am engaged. I want to know what's happened, how it's affected people, what's going on in the litigation/ arbitration and develop a sense of the people involved and how to drive settlement. Because it is the parties' case, I want the parties to participate fully in the process, expressing themselves as they feel the need and so I develop an appreciation for their view of the dispute(s). I help parties evaluate their cases where appropriate and where the parties feel they need that from the mediator.

Vanderbilt University (JD-1970); University of Wisconsin (BS-1967).

Admitted to the Bar: Tennessee (1970); U.S. District Court: Western District of Tennessee (1970); U.S. Court of Appeals: Sixth (1974) and District of Columbia (1985) Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court (1982).

American Bar Association; Memphis/Shelby County Bar Association; Tennessee Bar Association (Labor and Employment Section, Past Chair; Litigation Section, Past Chair; Dispute Resolution Section, Past Chair); Fellow, College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators; Tennessee Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

"Ethical Dilemmas in Mediation," 31 UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS LAW REVIEW 59, 2000; "Affirmative Action After Stotts," 21 GEORGIA LAW REVIEW 1141, 1987. Frequent speaker on Mediation and Arbitration.

Hourly Rate: $600.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $600.00/hr Cancellation: $1,500.00/Day Cancellation Period: 14 Days Comment: Cancellation Fee is $1,000 per day if cancelled within 2 weeks of hearing date. Travel fee is $200 per hour but only for time in transit. Expenses: Charge for travel related expenses such as cost of transportation, food and lodging. For Class actions the Hearing Rate and Study Rate is $550.00 per hour and the Travel Rate is $200.00 per hour.

English

United States of America

Memphis, Tennessee