Mediator Resume

Extensive experience serving as an arbitrator and mediator in over 100 cases, including 10+ 3-panel arbitrations and 15+ large complex cases. Over 40 years’ experience as a business transaction attorney serving clients in various industries, including railroad, aviation, healthcare, technology and other areas. Negotiated at least 5 transactions valued at over $100 million each. Served in senior management of a $1B company for 4 years, overseeing a staff of 40 and at least 7 programs over $50 million. Primary areas of legal expertise include commercial contract matters, family business and partnership matters, franchise disputes, healthcare, tech, publishing, and railroad and airline industries.

Accord LLC - Owner Weintraub Legal Services - Attorney SkillBites LLC - CEO

Attorney, Mediator, Arbitrator, Trainer, Entrepreneur

Accord LLC and Weintraub Legal Services, 1998 - Present; Attorney, Advanced Business Law Resources, 2009 - 2020; Founder, SkillBites LLC, 2012 - Present; General Manager (Equipment Design and Acquisition) 1994 - 1998; In House Counsel, Amtrak, 1988 - 1994; Associate, Shaw Pittman Potts Trowbridge, 1984 - 1987; Judicial Clerk to The Hon. W. Arthur Garrity Jr., U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, 1983 - 1984.

A lawyer, ADR neutral, business executive and entrepreneur with 25+ years’ experience serving as a mediator and arbitrator. Legal practice includes over 40 years' experience negotiating complex commercial transactions, including several $100+ million acquisitions of equipment with international manufacturers, leveraged lease financings for such equipment, and multi-million dollar long term outsourcing contracts. Currently representing clients in healthcare, technology, wealth management, app development and other industries. Founder of Accord LLC, providing neutral services for arbitration, mediation, and neutral evaluation, as well as development of systems for prevention of disputes. Have mediated and arbitrated over 100 disputes. Founder of Weintraub Legal Services, representing high technology companies, engineering firms, telecom consultants, healthcare firms, financial advisors, IT firms, consulting companies, app developers, and others. Founder and CEO of SkillBites LLC, a book writing and publishing company.

Mediated many commercial disputes including disputes in the areas of (i) the professional relationship between lawyers and clients, franchisors and franchisees, accountants and clients, and business partners; and (ii) contractual disputes involving technology, healthcare, real estate, transportation, distributorship, landlord/tenant, retail. Have also mediated several cases for courts, agencies and individuals, including neighborhood disputes, marital, employment (age discrimination; ADA; wrongful termination), and personal injury claims. Issues in contractual disputes involved contract interpretation, compliance with specifications, franchise duties, payment, warranty, license and consent issues and remedies for non-compliance. Issues with business partners included decision-making authority, financial matters, company strategy and buy/sell matters. Employment disputes involved age discrimination and disability discrimination claims, as well as wrongful termination. Marital dispute involved division of property and assets.

Issues in commercial disputes involved contract interpretation, compliance with specifications, franchise duties, payment, warranty, license and consent issues and remedies for non-compliance. Issues with business partners included decision-making authority, financial matters, company strategy and buy/sell matters. Employment disputes involved age discrimination and disability discrimination claims, as well as wrongful termination. Marital dispute involved division of property and assets. Issues in commercial disputes involved contract interpretation, compliance with specifications, payment, warranty, license and consent issues and remedies for non-compliance. Issues with business partners included decision-making authority, financial matters, company strategy and buy/sell matters. Employment disputes involved age discrimination and disability discrimination claims, as well as wrongful termination. Marital dispute involved division of property and assets.

Mediation is a highly effective process for resolving disputes amicably and efficiently. The mediator serves a critical role in the process, performing the following functions: (1) ensuring that each party has the opportunity to present its case and that each party understands the position and needs of the other party(ies), (2) facilitating the discussion, (3) skillfully probing the parties' positions, (4) helping the parties develop alternative resolutions to meet the needs of the parties, (5) managing the different personalities and emotions in the meetings, and (6) assisting the parties to overcome impasse. I mainly use a facilitative approach in the mediation, encouraging the party representatives to ask questions and provide input. I find that disputes often can be approached as problems to be solved, which transforms the parties into problem-solvers aiming to develop creative solutions that will meet the needs of each party. I look for each party to come to the table in good faith, well prepared, with a desire to resolve the dispute amicably, and with an open mind, ready to listen to the needs and interests of the others.

Adept at holding virtual hearings via Zoom and other video conference platforms as well as mixed in person and virtual hearings (some witnesses appearing virtually), including features such as screen sharing, whiteboard and breakout rooms. Adept in use of AI; completed a certification; taught a course on using AI in a mediation practice which included the ethics of using AI as a neutral. Proficiency in Word, Excel, CRMs, contract management, QuickBooks, time and billing programs, and other software programs.

University of Michigan (JD, cum laude - 1983); Mt. Holyoke College (BA, Philosophy and Mathematics, summa cum laude - 1980); New Hall College, Cambridge University, England (Junior year).

Admitted to the Bar: Pennsylvania (2001), District of Columbia (1984-inactive), Maryland (1998-inactive).

FINRA Arbitration Panel; CPR mediator and arbitrator; Chester County Bar Dispute Resolution Program and Fee Dispute Program; PA Bar Fee Dispute Program; Pennsylvania Bar Association (ADR Section, formerly Chair of ADR CLE Committee; Business Law Section; Women in the Profession Section); Chester County Bar Association (ADR Committee; Business Law Committee; Small firm/Solo Practitioner Committee); Volunteer with Wills for Heroes Program; District of Columbia Bar Association (inactive); Maryland Bar Association (inactive).

Recent Speaking Engagements: Using AI in Mediation Practice (PA Council of Mediators, April, 2026) Author, “Case Study Shows $1 Billion+ in Major Procurements With No Disputes, On-Time Delivery and No Cost Overruns” (CPR’s Alternatives, July/August 2024) Using ADR for your Practice (PA Bar, December, 2022) Promoting Civility and Professionalism Under Fire in Contentious ADR Proceedings (PA Bar, March 2022) Effective Mediation Advocacy: Top Ten Mistakes to Avoid (PA Bar June, 2020) Preparing for the Green Light: Navigating the New Normal Through ADR (PA Bar, June, 2020) Effective Arbitration Advocacy: Important Considerations (Chester County Bar, May, 2020) Cybersecurity and Data Privacy – the importance of protecting confidential information to meet ethical obligations and avoid liability and hefty fines (Chester County Bar, October, 2019) Hot Topics in Arbitration (Chester County Bar, May, 2019) [And many others prior to 2019] Publications: Co-author of article series on ADR for The Legal Intelligencer (series appearing every other month in 2013 and 2014); Co-author of a 12-part series on Mediation Advocacy for The Legal Intelligencer (series appeared monthly, starting in January 2012); Co-Author of "Know All Your Options for Resolving Workplace Disputes" (Philadelphia Business Journal, January 2012) and "Is Workplace Conflict Eating Up Productivity: Count to 10" (Philadelphia Business Journal, November 2011); Author, The Essentials of Negotiating Effectively (published 2012); Author, Building Successful Partnerships (Published 2012).

Travel within 10 miles of arbitrator's location.

Hourly Rate: $650.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $650.00/hr Cancellation: $650.00/hr Cancellation Period: 3 Days Comment: Postpone/cancel Fee: all applicable travel cancellation fees plus four hours compensation if mediation is postponed or cancelled within three days of scheduled mediation.

English

United States of America

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania