Mediator Resume

Highly regarded attorney with over 40 years of experience focused on complex commercial matters.

Weir LLP - Member

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Receiver

Partner, Weir LLP (f/k/a Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP f/k/a Weir & Partners LLP), 2002 – Present; Adjunct Professor – Trial Advocacy, Villanova University School of Law, 2004 – 2019; Shareholder/Associate, Mann Ungar Spector & Labovitz P.C. (formerly Mann & Ungar), 1986 – 2002; Associate, Law Offices of Joseph F. Roda P.C. (now Roda Law LLC), 1984 – 1986.

Concentrates practice in the area of complex commercial litigation, arbitration and mediation, representing plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts and numerous arbitration forums. Has litigated disputes involving high-level contract, corporate, accounting, construction, art theft, real estate, banking, insurance, distributorship, trade secret, bankruptcy, UCC and employment issues, as well as business torts, class actions, derivative litigation, attorney ethics and "business divorces," disputes among principals of closely-held entities.

Mediated disputes between or among equity owners of businesses, contractors, debtors and creditors, employers and key employees, condominium associations, real estate developers and many others involving multiple parties and volatile emotions. Federal mediator for U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Since 2006, has served as a member of the volunteer panel of judges pro tempore mediators assisting the Commerce Program of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, at the request of Commerce Program judges. As former chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Business Litigation Committee, successfully spearheaded an effort to reform the rules governing compensation, selection and training of mediators in the Commerce Program. Also co-chaired the ADR subcommittee of the American Bar Association's Commercial & Business Litigation Committee (2006-2016).

Disputes arising from liquidation and valuation of principal’s interest in LLC, guarantor and surety issues, contractor and subcontractor disputes, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, mitigation issues, condominium association’s disputes with condo owners, consequential damage calculation issues, insurance coverage issues, statutory construction, wrongful termination disputes, quantum meruit analysis, counsel fee calculations, vehicle lease disputes.

A mediator is most effective when listening carefully to the parties, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of their respective positions and helping them to reach a meaningful and satisfactory resolution. Little value is gained by simply communicating demands, offers and counter-offers. A mediator must speak candidly to the parties and find a path to the goal line. Where possible, the mediator should use creative strategies to bridge the divide between the parties. Success is achieved most effectively through private caucuses, although a joint meeting may be useful as well in certain situations. The key is to avoid having emotions get in the way of practical decision-making, and that requires skillful diplomacy. A good mediator also recognizes the importance of allowing parties to vent their feelings and express their view of the dispute before constructing a settlement proposal. The mediation requires both patience and persistence to move the discussions forward efficiently. While in-person sessions often are most effective, virtual sessions also can work, when circumstances warrant.

Familiar with most mainstream platforms such as Zoom, LoopUp, Microsoft Teams, GoTo Meeting and the like. Willing to conduct mediation sessions using these platforms. Familiar with document management software including Relativity for review of ESI. Frequent user of Microsoft Word, Adobe and Excel.

Villanova University School of Law (JD-1984); Haverford College (BA-1981)

Admitted to the Bar: New Jersey (1986), Pennsylvania (1984); U.S. District Court: Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, District of New Jersey; U.S. Court of Appeals: Third and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court.

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor, 2023 (Chancellor-elect, 2022; Vice chancellor, 2021); Chair of Board of Governors, 2013; Secretary, 2017-18; Treasurer, 2019-20; Business Litigation Committee, (Chair, 2007-08; Vice Chair, 2005-06) Commission on Judicial Selection & Retention, (Chair, 2025; Vice Chair 2024; member since 2019), Professional Guidance Committee; Federal Courts Committee; Pennsylvania Bar Association (House of Delegates); American Bar Association (Litigation Section, Corporate Counsel Committee co-chair, 2022-2025; Commercial & Business Litigation Committee co-chair, 2019-22); Federal Practice Task Force, 2025-present); Ex-officio board member, Jenkins Law Library, since 2023; former board member, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program; Global Philadelphia Association, Public Interest Law Center, Philadelphia Bar Foundation; Villanova Law School Inn of Court (Past President; Past Counselor and Program Chair); American Inns of Court Foundation (Program Awards Committee); American Bar Foundation (Fellow); Chair, Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, 2017-22; Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia (former Trustee and Director; Jewish Community Relations Council, Past Chair, current Board Member; various other committees; Jewish Council for Public Affairs (Director, 2015-21)

Co-course planner for ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference program entitled, “Corporate Counsel in the Boardroom: Challenges in the Room Where it Happens,” held on May 1, 2024 Co-course planner and moderator for ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference program, "What to Do When it All Goes Wrong: Strategies for Dealing with the Unexpected During a Hearing or Trial," held on May 5, 2022. Co-course planner and speaker for series of ABA roundtables held on January 19, 2021, March 22, 2021 and July 7, 2021 entitled “Virtual ADR: Share What You’ve Learned, Learn What You Need,” highlighting issues arising from mediations and arbitrations conducted virtually. Coordinated and participated in May 24, 2016 American Bar Association Round Table entitled "Nuts & Bolts of Preparing for a Commercial Mediation." Spoke as a panelist at a February 7, 2014 American Bar Association CLE seminar on "Ethical Issues that Arise with a Rogue Employee." Course planner for PBI seminars on June 17, 2008, April 20, 2009, September 18, 2013, March 19, 2018 and September 24, 2019 to train and update judges pro tempore serving in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Case Management Program. Also spoke at the seminars, providing updates on procedural developments and facilitating a discussion among the panelists and judges pro tem in attendance. Co-planner of October 2011 seminar at the Bench Bar Conference of the Philadelphia Bar Association, entitled "Attorney-Client Privilege in the Corporate Environment: Practical Approaches and Recent Developments." Author of two chapters in American Bar Association book, "Rantings of a Partner - and Pushback from the Associate" (Copyright 2011) Course planner for a Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) seminar on September 20, 2008 addressing the Abramson Protocols, a hybrid form of ADR by which parties in the Philadelphia Commerce Program agree to have a three-judge panel decide issues of law and to refer all factual disputes to the binding decision of a neutral arbitrator. Spoke on November 1, 2007 at a Philadelphia Bar Association seminar entitled "When Limited Liability Fails: Piercing the Corporate Veil," addressing practical considerations in pursuing or defending claims against individual shareholders for the liabilities of a corporation. Spoke on September 29, 2007 at the association's Bench Bar Conference on "Practical Insights into Software Licensing Agreements - Drafting Tips and Practical Considerations." Spoke on May 9, 2007 about issues commonly overlooked by transactional attorneys in drafting organizational documents at a seminar sponsored by the Philadelphia Bar Association's Business Litigation Committee and Business Organizations Committee. The seminar was entitled "What Were the Drafters Thinking? Commercial Litigators on Shareholder, Partnership and Operating Agreements."

Hourly Rate: $595.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $595.00/hr Cancellation: $2,500.00/Day Cancellation Period: 3 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania