Mediator Resume

KarlanResolutions, LLC-Mediator/Arbitrator/Special Magistrate

Arbitrator, Attorney, Judge, Mediator

Mediator/Arbitrator/Special Magistrate, KarlanResolutions, LLC, 2015 - Present; Senior Judge, State of Florida, 2015 - Present; Circuit Court Judge, State of Florida, 1995 - 2014; President, Sandy Karlan, P.A., 1985 - 1995; Partner, Chaykin, Karlan & Jacobs, 1982 - 1985; Associate, Gars, Dixon & Shapiro, 1979 -1982.

Mediator since 2015, after almost 20 years as an experienced trial court judge with acknowledged expertise in bankruptcy, commercial matters, and family law. Many years of experience practicing commercial litigation and bankruptcy law covering matters such as breach of contract, partnership dissolutions, shareholder disputes and joint ventures. Work included issues regarding stock options, valuations of closely held businesses, fraudulent transfer of assets or hidden income, disputes over commercial property ownership, business restructuring. Served as a special magistrate on complex insurance contract issues and insurance regulations, interference with a business relationship, data breaches and corporate privacy issues, attorney-client issues in organizational representative capacity and privacy. Many years representing creditors in the liquor business in pursuing claims in bankruptcy court, representation of media corporations pursuing claims in bankruptcy court, representing debtors in bankruptcy filings and litigating adversary commercial claims in bankruptcy court. Several years working in the hospitality business and later representing cruise lines in obtaining approval to manage tours, travel agencies or tour companies seeking licenses or disputing administrative licensing issues. Experience in real estate transactions and foreclosures.

Since 2015, has served as a mediator and Special Magistrate, in commercial, bankruptcy, and family law. Cases included issues of corporate dissolution, third-party contract indemnification, stock division, property rights regarding ownership and possession of real estate and corporate entities, business valuation, breach of contract, fraudulent transfers of assets and hidden income and bankruptcy adversarial proceedings between debtors and creditors. During that time I have handled more than 100 + mediations. The primary issues in those mediations were contract disputes and property issues.

Issues mediated include breach of contract, partnership, and shareholder issues; stock options and divisions, valuations of closely held corporations, purchase, sale and transfers of stock, disputes over commercial property ownership, dissolution of businesses, interference in a business relationship; in bankruptcy, adversary proceedings against debtors for fraudulent bankruptcies or transfers of assets, enforcing creditors' rights, enforcing debtors right to discharge of debt, and foreclosure issues.

I believe that mediation is extremely valuable and that no matter should go to trial without a good faith attempt at mediation. I have believed this for most of my professional life, in fact, I took the mediation training prior to becoming a judge and participated in mediations as an attorney for my client and acted as the mediator in some bankruptcy matters during that time. Having served as the final arbiter for almost 20 years and witnessed the kind of anguish and disruption, as well as great expense, that parties experience in litigation, I know that their lives and health will be better served by reaching a mediated settlement in which they have some real participation and control. It has always been known that people are more likely to keep their agreements and follow court orders when they participate in a meaningful way in the outcome. As a facilitator and educator, my role is to educate the parties or have the parties consider the risks, exposure and possible outcomes of their positions and litigation. Some people believe that they will be vindicated if they go to court because the judge will see how they have been mistreated - unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case. In the meantime, the litigation has taken an emotional toll on the parties, interfered with their businesses, and regardless of the subject matter, the parties can think of almost nothing else. So if I do my job properly, and with the assistance of the parties' competent counsel, the parties will be able to reach knowledgeable and educated decisions regarding the matter and leave the mediation knowing that they have weighed the risks and possible consequences and have chosen what is best for them. I conduct a pre-mediation meeting with each party and her/his counsel prior to mediation day. That allows the me to understand the issues and the goals of each party, and it also allows the parties to become familiar with the mediator and the process so that on the day of mediation there will be less concerns by the parties about the unknown. I also welcome pre-mediation briefs or pleadings or summaries prior to our first meeting.

Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad School of Law (J.D.-1978); University of Miami (B.A.-1971).

Admitted to the Bar: Florida (1978). Certified Mediator: Florida (2015).

American Bankruptcy Institute; Governor's Florida Children and Youth Cabinet; Dade County Bar Association; American Bar Association Foundation Fellow; The Florida Bar Foundation Fellow; Florida Association For Women Lawyers.

Monthly Bankruptcy Editorial Reviewer, Matthew Bender Florida Family Law Reporter National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers Invitation to speak in 2016 on bankruptcy Lecture on Bankruptcy for the Florida Bar Marital & Family Certification Review Court Regularly lecture on bankruptcy to circuit civil judges at Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges Regularly lecture on bankruptcy to circuit court judges at the Florida Advanced Judicial Studies College Lecture on cyberstalking and electronic discovery at AFCC Seattle Conference.

All mediations are conducted through zoom unless specifically agreed upon by the Mediator and the parties.

Hourly Rate: $600.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $600.00/hr Cancellation: $2,500.00/Day Cancellation Period: 5 Days Comment: Cancellation is based on 5 working days. There is a minimum deposit of 4 hours when a half day or whole day has been reserved. If the matter is cancelled within five working days in writing there is no charge. If it is less than five working days, the cancellation fee is the 4-hour deposit. For in-person mediations, the parties must pay all travel expenses.

English

United States of America

Miami, Florida