Mediator Resume

Over 40 years of experience representing clients in complex litigation, employment, arbitration, mediation and other alternate dispute resolution. Over 25 years of experience as a neutral arbitrator and mediator. As an advocate and neutral handled matters live and virtually, involving Fortune 500 companies, privately and family owned businesses, nonprofits, government, professionals and executives. Started and managed three private businesses including law firm. Handle matters involving business disputes, employment and executive contracts, real estate and construction, franchise, legal, accounting and professional firm management, partner disputes and client claims. Extensive speaking and writing on legal, business, ethics, ADR issues.

Griesing Law, LLC - Managing Member

Neutral Arbitrator, Mediator, Settlement Master, Attorney, Educator, Entrepreneur

Managing Member, Griesing Law, LLC (formerly Griesing Mazzeo Law LLC), 2010-Present; Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig LLP, 2007-2010; Equity Member, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, 2000-2007; Litigation Chair/Executive Committee, City of Philadelphia Law Department, 1997-2000; Partner/Associate, Wolf Block Schorr & Solis-Cohen, 1986-1997; Litigation Attorney, Graubard Mollen Dannett & Horowitz, 1985-1986; Litigation Attorney/Summer Intern, Sullivan Cromwell, 1980-1985; Summer Intern, Kirkland & Ellis, 1979.

Over 40 years of experience representing sophisticated clients in business counseling, complex litigation, alternate dispute resolution, employment and government affairs, transactions, including first-chair responsibility for multi-million dollar cases. Over 25 years of experience serving as a neutral arbitrator and mediator in complex commercial cases, employment, real estate and consumer matters. Have handled arbitration and mediation in person and remotely and experience handling matters involving multiple parties and unrepresented parties. Handled business dispute matters in the following areas: commercial transactions, securities/shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, higher education, government affairs, real estate, franchise disputes, hospitality industry (hotels, gaming, casinos, resorts and clubs, event and meeting planning, car rentals, nightclubs, restaurants, travel, leisure, food processing and food service), insurance coverage, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, professional services and legal malpractice defense. Represented employees and employers in employment disputes, trade secrets and non-compete, non-solicitation, non-disparagement, and confidentiality and other restrictive covenants. Served a three-year term under former Mayor Edward Rendell as Litigation Chair and on executive committee of City of Philadelphia's Law Department; served as the City's lead lawyer and negotiator on high-stakes matters involving commercial transactions, compliance, internal investigations, risk management, labor and employment, civil rights, environment issues and mass torts. Advised the Mayor and top officials on wide-ranging legal and policy issues, oversaw over 2,000 matters, supervised and developed 75 in-house lawyers and attendant support staff, and managed outside counsel. Held leadership roles in professional/community organizations and developed expertise in corporate governance and long-range planning. Served as advocate and neutral arbitrator and mediator in virtual litigation, arbitration and mediation and have substantial experience in handling matters online. Experience also includes teaching, writing, and public speaking on legal, ethics and business topics. Taught at Temple University Beasley School of Law and Fox School of Business and Management; guest lecturer at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel Thomas Kline School of Law, as well as presenting hundreds of Continuing Legal Education courses and professional courses for other industries. Courses include ethics, labor and employment, business law, professionalism and law firm management, advocacy skills, arbitration, mediation and alternate dispute resolution. Published in two American Bar Association books - The Road to Independence and Her Story Book 2, regarding professional issues for women lawyers. Write a regular column on arbitration, mediation and other alternate dispute resolution issues for The Legal Intelligencer. Published dozens of articles on legal issues, litigation, employment, ethics, arbitration, mediation, settlement strategy and alternate dispute resolution ethics. After nearly 30 years practicing at national law firms, launched and managed own firm for over 15 years, overseeing team representing clients ranging from Fortune 500 to closely-held businesses as well as government entities, nonprofit organizations, higher education, professionals, executives and other individuals in commercial litigation, alternate dispute resolution, business transactions and other complex matters.

Over 40 years’ experience representing clients and over 25 years serving as neutral mediator in array of commercial, contract, and closely/privately held business, real estate and construction, government and employment and executive contracts, and law firm and professional firm management and partnership disputes. Many of these disputes have overlapping issues, such as real estate, contract and partnership disputes; and employment and executive contract disputes. Experience includes serving as an advocate in private practice and as a government official representing clients in multi-party mediation and in mediations with pro se parties. Have served as a court appointed mediator/settlement master in complex commercial disputes. Both as an advocate and as a neutral mediator, have handled matters in mediation with claims ranging from six figures ($100,000+) to eight figures ($10,000,000+). Commercial Disputes. Handled mediations involving Fortune 500 companies, closely, privately or family-owned businesses, government entities, higher education and non-profit organizations. These have included disputes involving virtually every industry, such as real estate, construction, hospitality industry (hotels, gaming, casinos, resorts and clubs, event and meeting planning, car rentals, nightclubs, restaurants, franchises, travel, leisure, food processing and foodservice), insurance, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, law firms, accounting firms, architects, planners and other professional services. Handled disputes arising in closely held, privately owned and family businesses where stakeholders are in a disagreement and business is at stake. These include small and mid-size businesses, public companies in joint ventures. Often parties have personal and business ties, making dispute more challenging to resolve and strong emotions are involved. Handled disputes arising under merger and acquisition agreements, earn outs, restrictive covenants and buy-sell disputes. Advised private equity and venture firms on mediation, and mediated private equity matters involving disputes between stakeholders or between firm and acquired businesses. Represented parties and handled government mediations as Litigation Chair for Philadelphia Law Department, including resolving disputes between municipal departments, between appointed officials, private citizens or businesses and the government, and between community groups and the government. Mediator in disputes involving negligence, civil rights violations, environmental issues, labor and employment, construction defects, and contracts. Mediated disputes involving high stakes, high profile issues under media scrutiny. Franchise. Mediated disputes pre-complaint between franchisors and franchisees regarding breach of agreement, operations, finances and fees involving professional services, retail, fitness, foodservice and other industries. Real Estate and Construction. Mediated disputes between partners, buyers and sellers over the condition of the property or amounts due after, issues over title and zoning. Employment and Executive Contracts. Mediated disputes between employers and employees including, breach of employment, agreement, compensation and commission disputes and claims arising out of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, trade secrets, non-competes, non-disparagement, non-solicitation, non-disclosure (NDA). Professional Services. Mediated disputes involving law firm, accounting and other professional services including partnership disputes, mergers and professional liability and malpractice. Handled procedural issues related to whether mediation should be conducted live or remotely, how the parties should participate, who may be or must be present and what information should be exchanged in advance to increase the likelihood of reaching agreement.

Common issues addressed in mediation include business and partnership disputes, contract disputes, employment and executive employment, real estate and construction defects, franchise disputes, law firm and other professional services related disputes. Business, Partnership and Contract. Business to Business issues such as breach of contract, lack delivery, nonpayment, inferior or nonconforming products or services. Closely/Privately/Family held businesses involve stakeholder disputes over management, operations, control, generational transition, and compensation. Issues regarding private equity/ venture acquisition and disputes with seller over representations, earn out, noncompetes and other restrictive covenants. Disputes with employees over earning equity especially if terminated before vesting. Employment and Executive Employment. Issues include discrimination/harassment/retaliation, compensation, wrongful termination, failure to accommodate for ADA, gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status. Other issues include workplace injuries, layoffs, change in terms/conditions employment. Issues regarding classification of independent contractor or employee. Real Estate and Construction Defect. Issues include failure to disclose or omission of material conditions of property before sale, valuation disputes where partners seek to sell property. Construction defects include breach of warranty versus failure to maintain, quality of materials. Franchise. Issues arising in pre-complaint mediation between franchisor and franchisee are contract based. Usually both sides assert cross-claims. Franchisor contends franchisee did not abide by the agreement, failing to follow franchise operating procedures and/or to make timely payments. Franchisee contends franchisor did not make full disclosure, made material misrepresentations and/or omissions, failed to provide agreed support or otherwise oversold opportunities or understated challenges. Law Firm and Professional Services Issues. Issues related to management, partnership, employment, and client relationships. Issues include disputes between existing and former partners, shareholders or members depending on the type of entity such as partnership, corporation or limited liability company. These issues usually involve compensation, fees, fee-sharing, distributions and other financial issues. Other issues involve disputes over contacting firm clients and solicitations in breach of agreement or of fiduciary duties. Financial and professional responsibility issues also arise frequently in disputes between lawyers or other professional service providers, on the one hand, and clients on the other. Common issues include client allegations against professionals of overcharging or malpractice and claims against clients for nonpayment. As with any business, professional service firms have employment and independent contractor disputes over compensation, performance, restrictive covenants and nondisclosure agreements and discrimination/harassment/retaliation. Issues common to mediation in different disputes include remedies and damages available under law, whether parties seek to continue doing business or maintaining relationship after mediation, form of agreement, timing of payments, security for payments, enforcing agreement.

With over 40 years of litigation advocacy experience and over 25 years as a neutral mediator, the experience that most impacts my approach is personal. I have been a party myself in high stakes matters that have resolved through mediation. That experience enhanced my empathy for the stakeholders and their counsel. I bring to bear lessons learned from that experience. I believe that mediation is the parties’ process and that the parties themselves should be given the opportunity to be heard. Often lawyers pursue mediation because they do not feel they can convince clients of the risks of their case or feel the clients need to hear the perspective of an impartial. In my experience, mediators fill that gap. However, in order to be impactful, the mediator should develop rapport with the parties and give them the opportunity to vent and be heard. I prefer to speak with each counsel in advance to allow them to share any particular concerns or impediments to settlement so far. I prefer to take the time to build a dialogue with each party and do not rush the process or try to bully or pressure parties to settle. No rigid view as to initial statements or joint sessions as that depends on the particular case and the parties. I understand that opening statements in joint session can heighten tension especially when individuals are involved and there are personal issues, not just business issues. When in person, I provide nourishment throughout process as parties can think more clearly if they are comfortable. My goal is to try to reach a resolution through crafting a deal that the parties do not regret after the process is concluded. In addition, I have taught many courses to lawyers and business people about the mediation process, how to prepare and what to expect. I also write articles about best practices and ethics issues in mediation and I believe in detailed disclosures upfront so that all participants are assured that the process will be impartial.

Extensive experience with various forms of technology used in law practice, business operations and management, and remote proceedings. Works with common research programs such as WestLaw, sue project management and Contact management programs, as well as time and billing systems, and conflict systems such as Time Matters. Has experience addressing electronically stored information (ESI) and e-discovery issues. Is comfortable using AI tools where helpful to summarize of otherwise save time and money, but does not rely on AI for judgment or analysis. Takes continuing education on AI in legal, business, arbitration, mediation and other ADR applications. Extensive experience handling matters remotely with Zoom, LoopUp, Teams and other programs.

University of Pennsylvania (JD, cum laude-1981); Binghamton University (BA, Political Science, magna cum laude-1978).

Admitted to the Bar: Utah (2026), Arizona (2020), Pennsylvania (1987), New York (1982); U.S. District Court: Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; District of Arizona; U.S. Court of Appeals: Third Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court.

American Bar Association; Philadelphia Bar Association (Women in the Profession Committee, Past Chair); Forum of Executive Women (Board of Directors, Past Member); Pennsylvania Bar Association (Women in the Profession Committee); Philadelphia Bar Education Center (Board of Directors, Past Member); Global Alliance of Hospitality Attorneys; Hospitality Industry Bar Association (Founding Member); National Association of Women Business Owners, National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms; Women Owned Law (Board Member and Former Member); Arizona State Bar Association, Women Lawyers of Utah.

Writes a regular column on Alternate Dispute Resolution for The Legal Intelligencer. Articles focus on best practices and ethics issues in arbitration, mediation and settlement negotiations. Also has an extensive body of published articles involving litigation, advocacy, alternate dispute resolution, negotiation, business and ethics. Is included in two American Bar Association books addressing challenges facing women in the legal profession: The Road to Independence and Her Story Book 2. Has taught law courses and been a guest lecturer at The University of Pennsylvania Law School, The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, Temple University Law School, Temple University Fox Business School and Drexel University Law School. Has taught full semester courses on Business Law and Labor and Employment. MY guest lectures have covered an array of legal skill programs, professional development and substantive law. Has presented hundreds of programs to lawyers and other professional groups through bar associations, private educational institutions and other venues. Recently published an article in the January 2026 issues of Just Resolutions, the ABA Arbitration Committee Newsletter, "Don't Cross the Line: The Importance of Counsel Respecting the Arbitration Process. A list of some more recent publications and speaking can be found at www.griesinglaw.com.

Within 50 miles of Philadelphia City Hall or within 50 miles of Salt Lake City City Hall.

Hourly Rate: $750.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $750.00/hr Cancellation: $6,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 14 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Salt Lake City, Utah