Mediator Resume

Experienced employment attorney with nearly 30 years of practice in federal courts nationwide, representing parties (primarily but not exclusively plaintiffs) in litigation, arbitration, EEOC proceedings, and mediations. Expertise includes discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, FLSA claims, New York Labor Law and Whistleblower claims, and related employment matters. Serve as both mediator and arbitrator in employment disputes. Teaching experience includes adjunct positions at University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law (Employment Law, Legal Writing), New York Law School (Mediation Clinic-Mentor), and Brooklyn Law School (Legal Writing).

Houlding ADR PC; Houlding Law PC

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator

Owner, Houlding Law PC, 2025 - Present; Partner, Friedman & Houlding LLP, 2014 - 2025; Of Counsel, Law Offices of Joshua Friedman, 2006 - 2014; Associate, Beranbaum Menken Ben-Asher & Bierman LLP, 2002 - 2006; Associate, Goldstein and Morris LLP, 2000 - 2002; Associate, Law Office of Richard J. Silverberg, P.C., 1996 - 2000.

For approximately 30 years, has been litigating federal employment cases and representing parties in administrative proceedings before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state commissions, handling matters across the country involving Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 USC 1981, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, and related state laws. Practice encompasses hostile work environment, disparate treatment, retaliation, race discrimination, gender/sex discrimination, disability discrimination, age discrimination, national origin discrimination, sexual harassment, assault and abuse, and wrongful discharge including constructive discharge claims. Has litigated police misconduct cases as well as Title VI and Title IX hostile school and discrimination on behalf of students with race and sex claims. Has represented parties at the Office of Civil Rights. Has represented multiple plaintiffs in complex matters, ranging from three to 60 individual plaintiffs in a single case, and have substantial class action experience. Has litigated across multiple industries, including federal contractors, and in federal and state courts and before state agencies. Also handles Fair Labor Standards Act claims, misclassification matters, failure to pay commissions, and overtime disputes, as well as New York Whistleblower claims and New York Labor Law claims. Has represented individuals in arbitration proceedings and have litigated the enforceability of arbitration agreements. In addition to litigation and arbitration, has experience with severance negotiations, COBRA violations, equity agreements, and advising small businesses on employment matters. Counseling work includes guidance on internal complaints of harassment, employee handbooks, workplace policies, and related employment issues. Serves as an arbitrator in employment and consumer disputes. Teaching experience includes creating and teaching employment-law courses at the University of Hawaii Richardson School of Law, as well as legal writing and lawyering courses at UH and Brooklyn Law School. Also served as an adjunct at New York Law School, in the mediation clinic, mentoring students in small claims court.

Mediation Experience (2018-present): As a neutral mediator, has resolved disputes involving sexual harassment, racial harassment, sex discrimination, race discrimination, disability discrimination, age discrimination, national origin discrimination, hostile work environment claims, retaliation claims, parental leave claims, Section 1983 civil rights claims, FLSA violations, New York state wage and hour claims, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act claims, and government-prosecuted employment matters. Has mediated individual disputes and multi-party claims in federal employment cases and matters referred through the Hawaii Commission on Human Rights. Has also served as a mentor mediator through New York Law School in small claims court cases, where supervised student mediators handling a variety of consumer disputes. Representation Experience (29+ years): Has represented hundreds of parties across mediation proceedings, including complex multi-day mediations involving numerous parties, which has provided me with comprehensive insight into negotiation dynamics, settlement strategy, and party interests across diverse dispute types.

Issues mediated include whether allegedly harassing conduct was sufficiently severe or pervasive under federal law to create a hostile work environment, whether an employer could be held liable for a hostile environment, whether conduct was sufficiently adverse to violate federal or state discrimination laws, whether an employee could demonstrate conduct constituted illegal retaliation, whether an employer’s internship program was proper under the FLSA, whether an employer violated the FLSA.

I believe mediation is likely to be more successful where the parties focus on disputed issues prior to the mediation date, and accordingly, conduct a pre-mediation meeting, request mediation statements two weeks in advance where possible, and schedule ex parte mediation calls with counsel before the mediation to ensure that parties have necessary information that is more likely to lead to a resolution. I learn the facts and law necessary but focus on the issues presented, working within the framework sought by the parties. I remain open-minded and work hard to ensure all sides feel heard and respected. I approach each mediation on its own terms and therefore, use a facilitative approach where needed, but offer an evaluation when requested by the parties and when such an evaluation will more likely lead to settlement of issues. I avoid a “cookie-cutter” style of mediation, recognizing that not all cases should be handled in the same way.

Proficient in conducting hearings and mediations using on-line platforms. Willing to conduct hybrid arbitration hearings and mediations. Preference for receiving most submissions and evidence in electronic format. Comfortable with technology and using/learning specialized programs. Experience negotiating ESI protocols and reviewing materials in various formats.

University of Minnesota School of Law (JD, cum laude - 1995); Carleton College (BA, cum laude - 1992).

Admitted to Bar: New York (2001); U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1996), Southern (2001), Eastern (2002), Northern (2010), and Western (2011) Districts of New York, Eastern (2014) and Western (2014) Districts of Michigan, Northern (2018) and Central (2019) Districts of Illinois, District of Connecticut (2023); U.S. Court of Appeal: Third (1997), Fourth (2014), Sixth (2008), and Eighth (2019) Circuits; admitted in numerous federal district and appellate courts across the country.

New York City Bar Association (2025 - present); Association for Conflict Resolution, Greater New York (2021 - present); NYSBA - ADR Panel (2024 - present); Mediation Advisory Committee - SDNY (2024 - present); National Employment Lawyers Association - New York (2003 - present); National Employment Lawyers Association - National (2014 - present).

Speaker/panelist at various continuing legal education conferences including 2024 ABA-Labor & Employment Section; NELA/NY and NELA on various topics including EEOC Guidance, damages in employment cases, amendments to the federal rules of procedure, pre-trial publicity, electronically stored evidence, and proving hostile work environment claims.

Within the five boroughs, no charge for travel time or expense.

Hourly Rate: $600.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $600.00/hr Cancellation: $600.00/hr Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: No cancellation fee will be due but study time will be charged.

English

United States of America

Brooklyn, New York