Mediator Resume

Practice is now confined to arbitration and mediation.

Sheppe LLP (formerly Reiss Sheppe LLP) - Senior Counsel

Commercial Litigator, Arbitrator, Mediator, Writer

Full-time Arbitrator and Mediator, 2023 - Present; Senior Counsel, Reiss Sheppe LLP, 2015 - 2023, Partner, Reiss Sheppe LLP (and predecessors), 1988 - 2015; Partner, Solin & Breindel, 1985 - 1988; Associate Attorney, Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine, 1978 - 1984; Law Clerk to Judge Charles Metzner, Southern District of New York, 1976 - 1977.

Since 1976 focused on commercial litigation in a wide range of areas including contract, intellectual property, franchising, consumer, insurance, reinsurance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, entertainment and employment. A significant part of the practice involved insurance and reinsurance disputes, some in excess of $100M, as well as disputes involving securities, performance contracts, acquisitions, software and licensing, employment (largely contractual and discrimination claims on behalf of employers), franchise terminations, real estate, corporate breakups, shareholder agreements, and valuations. Over the past 25 years have served as an arbitrator and mediator in well over 200 matters involving Fortune 100 companies, medium-sized and small businesses, governmental entities both domestic and foreign, international banks, insurance companies, unions, entertainment companies, computer companies, healthcare companies and individuals. For approximately 25 years, represented a major international reinsurer in many reinsurance arbitrations against other reinsurers in the United State and Europe. Participated in numerous negotiations, settlements and arbitration presentations involving facultative, treaty and retrocessional reinsurance matters. In that capacity, involved in analyzing coverage issues, claims and policy language. Have also served as an arbitrator on matters involving insurance coverage disputes.

Served as an arbitrator for over 30 years and as a mediator for over 25 years, mediating matters for both private and public companies, as well as for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the New York State Supreme Court, New York County and the American Arbitration Association. Has participated in a mediation program for a large Fortune 100 company, two mediation panels dealing with Super-Storm Sandy involving disputes between insureds and insurers, one set up by Ken Feinberg and the other by the AAA. Also serves on the panel for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution. Among the matters mediated include a dispute between the Federal Government and the City of New York regarding uniform officers and pensions, a dispute between one of the big four sports leagues with respect to their premier world event, and numerous contract and IP disputes, disputes between employers and employees, between partners, and with respect to insurance matters. As an advocate, has been involved in numerous mediations, some private, some through the court system and some through the AAA and other ADR providers. A number of these mediations have gone beyond a single day, involved multiple parties and involved six and seven figure settlements. Contract performance, intellectual property and insurance were the main subject areas. Formal mediation training began in 1995 through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and has continued thereafter through formal programs offered by the Southern District and the AAA, among other organizations. Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators, a member of the New York State Dispute Resolution Association and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

The largest percentage of the matters mediated involve contractual disputes pertaining to insurance, partnership, intellectual property and performance issues. There have been a significant number of matters involving fulfillment contracts and employment issues. Two recent mediated matters involved a dispute between the Federal government and New York City with respect to pensions and one of the big national sports leagues with regard to a dispute arising during one its premier events. Other recent mediations have involved insureds and insurers dealing with the aftermath of Super-Storm Sandy.

I view the mediator as the "agent of reality," whose goal is to encourage the parties to talk to each other, instead of at each other. I try not to be evaluative, certainly not early on. Early on I try to facilitate an open dialogue about the issues, as well as the risks and alternatives the parties face by continuing to litigate or arbitrate. The parties need to understand each other's position if they are to come up with an acceptable resolution which is why I encourage the parties to prepare for mediation by exchanging information in advance and providing me with an ex parte memo along with documents they feel are important to review. I believe that successful mediations often require small steps and should not be abandoned simple because a settlement cannot be reached after one meeting. I do not like to give up as long as I see the possibility of a resolution, something I can often sense during my private meetings with the parties. I believe that representatives of the parties with authority or access to the decision makers must always be present.

Experienced with e-discovery, electronically stored information, information management, computers, and computer programming.

Columbia University (JD, Law Review Board of Editors, Stone Scholar-1976); Dartmouth College (AB, summa cum laude-1973).

Admitted to the Bar: New York (1977); U.S. District Court: Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals: Second, Third, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits; U.S. Supreme Court.

Association of the Bar of the City of New York (former member of Committee on Alternate Dispute Resolution); New York State Bar Association (Section on Alternate Dispute Resolution); College of Commercial Arbitrators (Fellow); Dartmouth Lawyers' Association; New York State Dispute Resolution Association; Chartered Institute of Arbitrators; Litigation Counsel of America (Fellow);Member of National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals/New York Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators; CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention an Resolution, FINRA.

"Personal Injury and Product Liability Litigation", Prentice Hall, 1987; served for many years as a Judge in the National Moot Court Competition, and for many years taught the "Practice of Law" course at Columbia Law School; also serves on Boards of two non-profits; co-founder of Sunday Supper, an organization that feeds the hungry. Has authored 15 novels.

New York Metropolitan Area.

Hourly Rate: $450.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $450.00/hr Cancellation: $3,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 4 Days Comment: The cancellation rate only applies if the mediation or arbitration is cancelled four business days or less in advance of the scheduled mediation or arbitration. Travel rate applies only where it takes over an hour.

English

United States of America

Valley Cottage, New York