Mediator Resume

Experience handling complex commercial and financial transactions, in the disciplines of commercial, securities, mergers and acquisitions, and sports, as well as the related contractual and regulatory frameworks. Substantial additional work history related to for-profit and nonprofit corporate setup, corporate governance, compliance, creating and managing regulatory frameworks, and creating and managing dispute resolution systems. Work history includes substantial outside counsel and in-house counsel experience. Awards & Honors: 2025 Hillfield Strathallan College (HS) Alumni Award of Distinction; Elected as Fellow to the New York State Bar Foundation (March 2020). Marquette Law School’s NSLI 2018 Joseph E. O'Neill Award Recipient.

Pilgrim & Associates Arbitration, Law & Mediation LLC - Managing Attorney

Attorney; Business Advisor; Arbitrator, Mediator; Business Owner/Founder, Entrepreneur; Educator Recent Dispute Resolution Training: FLSA - Inside the Room Where It Happens May 2026); Denial: The Strongest Force in the Universe (May 2026); Arbitral Institutions International Perspectives on Handling International Cases (May 2026); Decisions that Matter: Caselaw Year in Review (April 2026); Dispute Resolution Section and Labor & Employment Law Section Joint Spring Meeting (April 2026); NYIAC Arbitration by Design The Rise of Specialized Tribunals (March 2026); Dispute Resolution Opportunities Related to NIL, 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics (Sept 2025); Discovery In Arbitration: Recent Developments, Best Practices, and AI's Impact (June 2025); Ancient & Traditional Approaches to Dispute Resolution; What Modern Practitioners Can Learn (April 2025); Workplace Retaliation Could be Hurting Your Business: Strategies for Prevention and Response (March 2025); Crisis Management ADR: Mediating the Existential Conflict (Feb 2025); Dispute Resolution in the 21st Century; Tradition of Excellence Meets Statewide Trial Court Programs (Jan 2025).

Founder and Managing Attorney, Pilgrim & Associates Arbitration, Law & Mediation LLC, 2020 - Present; Principal Owner, Pilgrim & Associates Law Office, 2009 - 2020; Lecturer in Law, Columbia University Law School (Seminar-"Sports Law; A Dispute Resolution Perspective"), 2020 - Present; Acting Executive Director & General Counsel, Track & Field Athletes Association Inc., 2017 - 2019; Adjunct Lecturer/Professor, Columbia University School of Professional Studies, 2016 - 2017; Senior Counsel, Buckner Law Firm, 2013 - 2014; Consultant, Cultural Care Au Pair, 2012 - 2014; Adjunct Lecturer, Concord Career College, 2012; Principal & Business Counsel, Precise Advisory Group, 2010 - 2016; General Counsel, Ladies Professional Golf Association, 2007 - 2009; General Counsel & Director of Business Affairs, USA Track & Field Inc., 1998 - 2007; Founder and Principal, Pilgrim & Associates, 1990 - 1998; Of Counsel/Corporate Associate, Kurzman Karelson & Frank, 1989 - 1990; Founder of Private Commercial, Entertainment and Sports Law Practice, 1988 - 1989; Corporate Associate, Cowan Liebowitz & Latman, 1986 - 1988; Tax/Corporate Associate, Willkie Far & Gallaher, 1984 - 1986.

Corporate and commercial experience includes detailed regulatory compliance document preparation and/or review pursuant to U.S. tax and securities laws. This involved review or preparation of documents related to the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filings. Have engaged in review of debt financing documents, and due diligence document reviews prior to mergers and/or acquisition of commercial business enterprises. Have incorporated and drafted all initial governance documents for hundreds of entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized, and large businesses, as well as provided legal counsel to owners and C-suite executives. Have reviewed, drafted, and/or revised corporate governance documents, including bylaws, regulations and employee manuals. Have drafted new internal business policy documents in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and for anti-sexual abuse and assault initiatives, investigation and reporting procedures. Have drafted, reviewed and negotiated thousands of commercial business contracts including agreements covering; business sales and/or acquisition, assets acquisition, executive employment and compensation; employee severance, supplier, sponsor, technology services, event hosting, entertainer engagement, venue leasing or purchase, merchandising and retail sales, promoter, insurance, vendor services, law enforcement services, mobile web design and broadcasting. Have developed, drafted and rolled out regulatory scheme for sports agents in the sport of track and field, and developed and conducted educational programs and testing related thereto. Have conducted internal investigation commissioned by major institution of higher education, to assess compliance with Title IX of the Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, and issued 70+ page report. Have represented parties in residential sales and purchases of real estate. Have prepared and negotiated financing documents for real estate transactions. Have reviewed and negotiated commercial leases. Have developed and conducted in-house legal education programs for non-legal business staff of organizations in which was serving as in-house legal counsel. Have been an entrepreneur who at various times launched sports representation agency, sports and business consulting agency, and nonprofit servicing low-income athletes and coaches. Highly experienced with Olympic and professional sports industries, including having represented athletes and sports organizations (as in-house and outside counsel).

After over 25 years as arbitrator, was motivated to become a mediator, in 2020, to assist in early resolution of disputes. Had experience as party representative in mediation, as general counsel for company involved in wrongful termination litigation of business executive. Have mediated two party and multi-party matters. Subject matters related to: breach of contract, wrongful employment termination (Title VII), commercial real estate disputes, residential real estate disputes, real estate developer and land use disputes, consumer services or products disputes, deceptive business practices, fraudulent solicitation of investments, allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, employer wage and hour compensation violations, business financing disputes, non-payment for services rendered disputes, and more. Mediation history includes: Pro-bono Appellate Mediator, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, October 2023-present; Mediator for International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, 2020-present; Mediator for New York Supreme Court Commercial Division ADR Panel 2020-present; Pro-bono Mediator for Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s New York District Office, 2019-present; Mediator for Supreme Court Bronx County, June 2020-present.

Subject matters related to: breach of contract, wrongful employment termination (Title VII), wrongful termination business executive, commercial real estate disputes, residential real estate disputes, real estate developer and land use disputes, consumer services or products disputes, deceptive business practices, fraudulent solicitation of investments, allegations of sexual abuse and harassment, employer wage and hour compensation violations, business financing disputes, non-payment for services rendered disputes, and more.

Adaptive style of mediation, based upon the desired approach of parties to the dispute. Often begin as facilitator, but can switch to evaluative to keep expectations and mediation on course, or if so requested.

Proficient and functional with most commonly used business technology. Can host mediations via Zoom. Able to use TEAMS and Google Meet.

Columbia University School of Law (JD-1984); Alliance Française and Sorbonne (Certificate Programs, Advanced French Language Studies-1981); Princeton University (BA/Certificate in African Studies-1980).

Admitted to the Bar: New York (1985), Indiana (2002); U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York (1995). Notary Public, New York.

Member, New York State Chief Judge’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee; Board Member, International Skating Union Integrity Unit (2026-present); Board Member, Athletics Integrity Unit (March 2020-present); Member, Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics (KCIA) and Member, KCIA Task Force on Racial Equality and KCIA Athlete Issues and Educational Mission Committee (2019-present); New York State Bar Association-Member of Entertainment Arts Sports Law (EASL) Section Executive Committee, Co-Chair of EASL Sports Committee; Past Chair (2024-2025), Delegate ((2025-present) and Executive Committee Member (June 2019-present), New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section; Member, New York State Bar Association Membership Committee (2026-present); Member, New York Women’s Bar Association; Fellow of the New York State Bar Foundation (March 2020); Member, Women in Sports Law (international organization); Advisory Board member, National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School (2006-present); Member, Metropolitan Black Bar Association (2019-present).

Organizer/Moderator, Chaos, Cash and College Sports Panel, hosted by the New York State Bar Association’s Entertainment, Arts & Sports Law Section (Spring Meeting May 2026). Speaker/Panelist, DR Opportunities Related to NIL, 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics, hosted by American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Arbitration Committee, September 2025. Organizer/Moderator, Ancient & Traditional Approaches to Dispute Resolution; What Modern Practitioners Can Learn, hosted by New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, and co-sponsored by the Asian American Bar Association of New York, Caribbean Attorneys Network, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, New York Women’s Bar Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association, CPR Institute, NAM ADR, T. Wang Law P.C., and Alfreida B. Kenny, Esq., April 2025. Moderator of two panels, Employment Mediation: Challenges for Neutrals and Tech Tango in ADR: Debating the Benefits and Pitfalls of Using Technology in Dispute Resolution, hosted by New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Annual Meeting, January 2025. Jill Pilgrim, A Journey to Origins Within Dispute Resolution, 18 N.Y. Disp. Resol. Law. 2 (2025).

The parties will not be charged for travel, lodging and meal expenses for arbitration proceedings held within 80 miles of the five boroughs of New York City.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: Not provided Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United Kingdom; United States of America

New York, New York