Mediator Resume

Experienced AAA commercial arbitrator and mediator serving on the Commercial and Large, Complex Commercial Disputes Panels. Presided over multimillion-dollar disputes involving aviation, construction and design defects, eDiscovery, financial-advisor relationships and book-of-business valuation, fee disputes, and franchises. Served on a three-arbitrator panel in an international dispute between U.S. and Mexican companies. Brings over 30 years of litigation and trial experience, including at an Am Law 100 firm, in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies. Successfully defended a nearly $200 million claim, prosecuted a debt exceeding $1 million, and handled a multimillion-dollar derivative action.

The Axelrod Firm PC - President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

ADR Attorney: Arbitrator, Mediator, Special Master, Client Settlement Counsel, Receiver

President and Chief Executive Officer, The Axelrod Firm, PC, 2007-Present; Attorney, Comroe Hing LLP, 2003-2007; Attorney, Kittredge Donley Elson Fullem & Embick LLP, 2003; Attorney, Schiffrin & Barroway LLP, 2002; Attorney, Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP (now Blank Rome), 1999-2002; Attorney, McCarter & English LLP, 1997-1999; Attorney, Dunn Haase Sullivan Mallon Cherner & Broadt P.C., 1994-1997; Law Clerk, Hon. Sandra Mazer Moss, Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, 1993-1994.

Representative Litigation and Trial Experience • More than 30 years of experience conducting jury and non-jury trials and litigating in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies. • Matters covered by Law360 include the successful defense of a major health-care company against a claim approaching $200 million, successful prosecution of a debt exceeding $1 million, and representation in a multimillion-dollar derivative action. • Experience with complex multiparty litigation, aviation matters, commercial contracts, construction, real estate and title, franchises, health care, financial services, insurance, and disputes among business owners. • Tried an AIR21 airline-whistleblower matter. Note: Strong conversational proficiency in Spanish.

Appointed Judge Pro Tempore (JPT) / Settlement Master by the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Court. Regularly assist parties in fully and completely resolving their disputes. Settle approximately 85% of cases which includes cases in which the parties were ordered to appear and were not prepared to begin settlement negotiations.

Mediated a wide variety of commercial disputes including the following select types of cases: 1. Real estate and real commercial property issues including those surrounding title insurance, foreclosure actions, mortgages, mechanics’ lien claims, and claims for property damage; 2. Disputes between corporate shareholders and other business “divorces”; 3. Insurance coverage issues; 4. Franchise disputes between franchisors and franchisees with related trade secrets and misappropriation disputes; 5. Trade secrets, misappropriation, and fiduciary duty disputes, non-compete, non-solicitation claims, misrepresentation, and fraud claims; and 6. Discovery disputes including e-Discovery disputes.

Effective, open approach, assisting the parties in reaching a resolution in an efficient manner. Provide the parties with written mediation procedures. Offer the parties the opportunity to agree in advance of the Pre-Mediation Conference upon such things as the date their mediation memoranda will be due, the length of the memoranda, and whether the memoranda will be exchanged. Hold a Pre-Mediation Conference to discuss the background of the case and issues in it with the parties, and set the Mediation Briefing Schedule. Thoroughly and carefully review the parties’ paperwork, in advance, coming prepared to mediations with both a plan and questions for the parties. While coming prepared, will also listen carefully, remaining flexible and open to the possibilities, taking care to ensure that the parties are heard, their points are made, and that they are carefully guided toward a resolution. Keep the parties' emotions down and their flexibility and cooperation up. Such work is the subject of a cover story in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine entitled, “Unshakable.”

Experienced with eDiscovery and electronically stored information (ESI), including data hosting and Relativity. Experienced in conducting hearings and conferences through Zoom and other online platforms, addressing cybersecurity issues, and helping counsel and parties resolve technical difficulties in virtual proceedings.

Temple Law School (J.D. - 1993); Brandeis University (B.A., Economics, cum laude - 1990).

Admitted to the Bar: Pennsylvania (1993), New Jersey (1994).

American Arbitration Association - Arbitrator and Mediator, Commercial and Large, Complex Commercial Disputes Panels (2019-Present) National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) – ADR Practice Area Committee Co-Chair (2024-Present); Board of Directors (2023-2025); Member (2012-Present) Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Program - Judge Pro Tempore (2019-Present) Litigation Counsel of America - Past Senior Fellow Temple Law Alumni Association - President (2011-2013); founder of the Women's Initiative and Diversity Committee; Member (1999-Present) National Institute for Trial Advocacy - Past faculty member; taught Next Level Trial Techniques and Deposition Skills Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession - Executive Council (2014-2017); Diversity Committee Co-Chair (2016-2017); Diversity Team Ambassador (2016-2017) Philadelphia Bar Association - Member (1995-Present); Investigative Division, Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention (2009-2016); Law Practice Management Committee Co-Chair (2010); Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee (2000-2003) Women Owned Law - Advisory Board and Diversity and Inclusion Task Force Co-Chair (2017-2023) Diversity Law Institute - Advisory Board Co-Chair (2018-2020)

Subject of cover story, “Unshakable: Sheryl Axelrod Is at Her Best When Emotions Run High,” Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Magazine (2024) (profile of ADR practice). Author, “Why Arbitrate? Why Not? The Benefits of Arbitrating Commercial Disputes,” Business Law Today, American Bar Association (2025) Panelist, “Mediation and Special Master Proceedings When a Government Agency is a Party” (2026) Panelist, “And the Arbitration Award Goes To ...! How to Win at Arbitration” (2025) Presenter, “Becoming a AAA Arbitrator and a Judge Pro Tempore / Settlement Master” (2022) Panelist, “Business Continuity During the COVID-19 Pandemic ... and How Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Help!” (2020)

No travel time or transportation expenses will be charged for proceedings within 20 miles of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; within 20 miles of Moorestown, New Jersey; or anywhere in Delaware. Reasonable lodging and meal expenses will be charged when incurred.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $4,200.00 Study Rate: $525.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: Not provided Comment: Any legal-research assistance would be used only after disclosure to and advance approval by the parties and the AAA, and completion of a conflict check. Approved assistance would be billed at the stated study rate. No cancellation fee. Same rates and comments for large complex cases.

English

United States of America

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania