Mediator Resume

Dokson Alternative Resolutions Enterprise, LLC ("DARE")

Attorney

Manager and Sole Owner, Dokson Alternative Resolutions Enterprise LLC ("DARE") 2021 – Present; Principal, Ellis Funk P.C., 1995 – 2021; Partner, Branch Pike & Ganz, 1988 – 1995; Partner, Nall & Miller, 1980 – 1987; Executive Director/Deputy Director/Staff Attorney, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, 1969 – 1980; Teaching Fellow, Harvard Law School, 1971 – 1972.

Over 40 years of civil law practice, engaged primarily in a business and commercial dispute resolution and litigation practice including the above law specialties. Represents plaintiffs and defendants, with client base ranging from local, closely held companies and individuals to large, national public companies. Adjunct Professor 1984-2002, teaching litigation at Georgia State University Law School and Emory University Law School.

Has over two decades of experience as a mediator, and has mediated hundreds of cases covering a wide range of disputes. Mediation experience includes the following: business and professional practice breakups; trade secrets and restrictive covenant matters; contract disputes; defamation and other business tort cases; corporate and shareholder disputes; real estate disputes (including title matters, lien issues, leasing controversies and title insurance matters); franchise disputes; employment disputes; bankruptcy and reorganization cases; professional liability cases (including legal, accounting, insurance agent and psychologist malpractice matters); personal injury cases; intellectual property matters; insurance disputes (including life/health/disability insurance, coverage issues, crop insurance, ERISA, D&O insurance, and property and casualty matters); and trust and estate disputes.

Some examples of the more difficult and complex cases successfully mediated are as follows: an eight (8) year dispute between equal shareholders in a 300 store national yogurt operation; a multi-party title insurance and legal malpractice case; a multi-party dispute among a document search and retention provider, its former client and the hiring law firm; a real estate easement dispute between two adjacent condominium associations; and a medical practice break-up and a dispute between a major health care provider and a health care insurer.

The mediator's mediation philosophy is simple. Based on over 40 years of law practice, and over two decades as a neutral (mediator, arbitrator and Special Master), the mediator recognizes that not every case is a candidate for mediation, but most are. And the mediator firmly believes that in almost all cases the parties are better off, and are happier, if they have a controlling voice in a dispute's resolution, instead of having it imposed on them by an adjudicator (be it arbitrator, judge or jury). Further, the mediator is committed to doing whatever is necessary, and to stay with the process as long as progress is being made, to assist the parties in reaching agreement. Thus, the mediator has settled some cases beginning at 9:00 a. m. and ending as late as 2:00 a. m. or 3:00 a. m. the next morning; and he has settled cases weeks or months after the initial mediation session, sometimes with only telephonic follow-up, other times with additional face-to-face sessions between or among the parties.

Harvard University (LLM-1972); University of Chicago (JD-1969); Brown University (AB-1966); London School of Economics (1965).

Admitted to the Bar: Georgia (1969); U.S. District Court: Northern District of Georgia (1969); U.S. Court of Appeals: Fifth (1969) Circuit, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court (1974). Certified Neutral, Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution (1997 – Present).

American Bar Association; State Bar of Georgia; Atlanta Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section, Chair); Atlanta Lawyers Club; Georgia Arbitrators' Forum (President, 2014); Georgia Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators; Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators.

POVERTY AND CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION CASES AND MATERIALS, Bell & Dokson, 1972; Co-Chair, Georgia Annual Arbitration Institute, 2013; frequent panelist at conferences involving arbitration and mediation topics.

Hourly Rate: $495.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $495.00/hr Cancellation: $495.00/hr Cancellation Period: 30 Days Comment: Cancellations, postponements or rescheduling fee as follows: (i) none if cancelled, postponed or rescheduled more than 30 days before the beginning of the rescheduled hearing; (ii) four (4) hours per scheduled day if cancelled, postponed or rescheduled between fourteen (14) and thirty (30) days before the beginning of the scheduled hearing; and (iii) eight (8) hours per scheduled day if cancelled, postponed or rescheduled less than fourteen (14) days before the beginning of the scheduled hearing. Cancellation fee subject to waiver or reduction in discretion of neutral dependent on circumstances, and not charged if neutral is otherwise able to reschedule session in another case for the day(s) at issue.

English

United States of America

Atlanta, Georgia