Steven L. Schwartz
Managing Principal, ADRSolutions
Steven L. Schwartz, the Managing Partner of ADRSolutions, has completed facilitations, mediations and arbitrations in computer technology, ICANN domain disputes, business transactions, employment and labor relations, commercial transactions, real estate, insurance, healthcare, construction, securities, government contracts, regulatory, e-commerce, proprietary rights, personal injury, insurance, probate, public policy and professional liability cases. He is a practicing lawyer with thirty years trial and appellate practice before State, Federal, Governmental and International Courts and Tribunals representing both plaintiffs and defendants
Mr. Schwartz is devoted to the application of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Conflict Solution (ADRCS) in a broad range of conflict situations and utilizes a variety of approaches to the achieve successful outcomes: Facilitation; Mediation; Arbitration; Conflict Solution Analysis, Design, Implementation; Strategic Facilitation for business partnering, negotiations and execution; Conflict Resolution Systems and Training; and Public Policy issue resolution. He hasdeveloped ADRCS systems for internal management of disputes; designed ADRCS systems for resolving pending and threatened litigation cases including class actions; and conducts public policy interventions at community and government levels.
Mr. Schwartz has authored numerous articles in this field and co-authored the international awarding-winning 40-hour Mediation Court Rule Training Course for the University of Michigan ICLE now being used as the model mediator training program in many locales. He is an Assistant Professor at the University Of Michigan Ross School Of Business, and a Visiting Special Professor of Management and Conflict Resolution in the Oakland University School of Business Administration instructing courses in the legal environment of business and strategic management of conflict.
Mr. Schwartz’s conflict resolution philosophy is tofocus upon the core values, needs and interests of disputing parties and to apply approaches ranging from collaboration to evaluation to proactive transformation of conflicts into opportunities for meaningful resolution. He applies these approaches in pre-litigation and litigation situations and to conflict resolution training at all levels of leadership, operations and personnel in both the private and public sectors.
Facilitator, Mediator and Arbitrator Appointments and Positions
Arbitrator and Mediator, National Center for Dispute Settlement Mediation and Arbitration Panel, 1999 to present
Construction Arbitration Services, Arbitration Panel, 2003 to present
Mediator/Arbitrator, National Arbitration Forum, National Intellectual Property Mediation and Arbitration Panel, 2003 to 2007
Mediator/Arbitrator, National Arbitration Forum, ICANN Dispute Resolver Panel, 2004-2008
Michigan Supreme Court ADR Court Rule Working Group Advisory Committees, 2000-2
ADR Court Rule Advisory Committee, Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2000-2
Member, ICLE Mediation Advisory Council, 2001-2
Y2K Advisory Committee, American Arbitration Association, 1999
Mediator/Arbitrator, Prudential Insurance Company-American Arbitration Association Class Action Settlement, 1999
Mediator, National Employment Mediation Services, 1999 to present
Mediator, United States Postal Service, 1998 to present
Qualified Mediator, Oakland County Circuit Court, Mediation Court Rule Program, 1997 to present
Mediator, National Association of Securities Dealers, 1996 to 2008
Mediator, Michigan Court of Appeals, 1996 to 2008
Private Mediator and Arbitrator, 1985 to present
Mediator and Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association, 1985 to 2005
Mediator, Oakland County Circuit Court Mediation Tribunal, 1985 to 2008
Facilitator, Mediator and Arbitrator Training and Certifications
Advanced Business to Business Mediation Training, 2006, Michigan State University Law School and the ADR Section, State Bar of Michigan.
Advanced Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Institute, University of Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, March 2003, 2006
Advanced Mediator Training, Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, February 2003
Elder Law and Guardianship Mediation Training, Center for Social Gerontology, January 2003
Hewlett Foundation Grant Public Policy Mediation Training, Michigan Mediation Association, December 2002
Straus Institute For Conflict Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law, The Masters Forum, October 2000, March 2002
American Arbitration Association Advanced Arbitrator Training, March 2002
American Arbitration Association Advanced Mediator Training, September, 2000
International Academy of Mediators Annual Training, 1996-2003
American Arbitration Association Commercial Arbitrator Training, 1999
American Arbitration Association Prudential Insurance Company Class Action Settlement Appeals Training, 1999
United States Postal Service Employment Law Mediator Training, 1998, 2008
National Association of Securities Dealers Advanced Mediator Training, 1997-1998
American Arbitration Association Advanced Employment Law Training, 1997
Oakland County Circuit Court Facilitator/Mediator Training, 1996
American Arbitration Association Securities Mediation Training, 1996
Oakland County Bar Association Mediator Training, 1993
Facilitator, Mediator and Arbitrator Associations, Activities and Recognitions
Member/Consultant, Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court Mediation Court Rule Development Committee, 2003-4
Past President (2001-2), Founding Fellow, and Board of Governors Member, International Academy of Mediators
Chair, Oakland County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Committee, 1995 to 1996, Committee of the Year Award for 1996
Chair, Oakland County Bar Association, ADR in the Schools Committee, 1996-2000
Board of Directors, Oakland County Bar Association, 1998 to 2001
Member, State Bar of Michigan ADR Section, 1994 to present; Employment Law Section, 1990 to 2008; Business Law Section 1990 to 2008.
Chair, ADR Committee, International Law Section, State Bar of Michigan, 1993-9
Member, American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section, 1993 to present; Business Law, Employment Law Sections, 1990 to 2003; Litigation Section 1990 to 2003.
Chair, Michigan Bar Association Computer Law Section, 1992; Board of Directors, 1988-95
EEOC, ADR Advisory Council, 1996 to 2008
Publications
“Alternative Dispute Resolution: The Collaboration Between Profit and Principle In Resolving Business Disputes,” ADR & the Law, 2006 Edition, Fordham Urban Law Journal and AAA
“The Mediated Settlement: Is It Always Just About The Money? Rarely?” Pepperdine Dispute Resolution Law Journal, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2004
“Mediation, Meditation And Electromagnetism”, Oakland County Bar Journal, October 2003
“Mediation—A Magnet For Positive Change,” Dispute Resolution Journal, American Arbitration Association, August-October 2003
"Mediation, Meditation and Electromagnetism: The Changing Framework Of Conflict Resolution", International Academy of Mediators Conference, May 2003; Mediate.com June 2003
"The Mediated Settlement: Is It Only About The Money?" Oakland County Bar Journal, June 2002
“Mediating Technology Cases: Ten Tips for Successful Lawyer Advocacy,” Michigan Computer Lawyer, September/October 2001
“Ten Tips for Successful Lawyer Advocacy in Mediation,” Oakland County Bar Journal, Sept. 2001
“Michigan’s New ADR Rule,” Oakland County Bar Journal, March 2001
“Resolving Year 2000 Disputes Through ADR,” Oakland County Bar Journal, 1999
Editor, Oakland County Bar Association Laches Law Journal, 1995/1998 “ADR Theme Issue”
“Resolving International Business Disputes Through Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Better Way,” The Michigan International Lawyer, Fall 1997
“Alternative Dispute Resolution (‘ADR’), Oakland County Bar Journal, February 1996
“The Business and Legal Communities Look to ADR,” Dispute Resolution Journal, American Arbitration Association, April-September, 1996
“Advantages of ADR in Computer Disputes,” Michigan Bar Journal, 1994
“International Computer Technology Transactions,” Michigan Bar Journal, 1993
Faculty, Appointments and Recognitions
Assistant Professor, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan 2006, courses in Legal Environment of Business
Special Visiting Professor in Management and Conflict Resolution, Oakland University School of Business Administration, 2005-2007
Article Editor, International Journal of Business Law, 2004 to 2007
Adjunct Faculty, Courses in Legal Environment Of Business; Strategic Management of Conflict, Oakland University, School of Business Administration, 2004-5
Co-Trainer, Mediator Training Course, Wayne State University, Masters Degree Program in Dispute Resolution, May-June 2003
"Best CLE Course Award-2002," awarded by the International Association of Continuing Legal Education Administrators to ICLE for its 40-hour Mediator Training Course; designed and developed Course, PowerPoint, course book and presentation format.
Trainer and Course developer, Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 40-Hour SCAO Approved Circuit Court Mediator Trainings, March 2001; June 2001; September 2001; October 2001; March 2002
Trainer and Course developer, Advanced Mediator Training, Traverse City Conflict Resolution Service, "Impasse Resolution," August 16, 2002
Trainer, Michigan Judicial Institute, ADR: An Introduction to ADR and Creating the Local ADR Plan,” September 2000
Hearing Panelist, Attorney Discipline Board, 1986-2003
Trainer, International Academy of Mediators, 1997, 1998, 2000
Editor, Oakland County Bar Association Laches Law Journal, 1995/1998 “ADR Theme Issues”
Faculty Member, Michigan Institute For Continuing Legal Education, 1985-2002
Adjunct Professor, Wayne State University School of Business, Business Law, 1982-84
Adjunct Professor, University of Detroit School of Law, 1979-80
Professor, John F. Kennedy School of Law, Evidence and Appellate Advocacy, 1976-78
Guest Lecturer, University of Michigan Law School, Appellate Advocacy, 1973-5
Speaker and Programs
"Strategic Mediation Advocacy--A Lawyer Skill-Set for 'Winning" In Mediation," Cook County, Illinois Circuit Court Mediator Training, June 18, 2008
"Seven Steps to Successful Mediation Mastery for Advocates and Mediators, Cook County Illinois Circuit Court Mediator Training, November 9, 2006
“Mediation Mastery: Techniques For Avoiding/Breaking Impasse,” Chicago Center For Conflict Resolution, March 20, 2004
“Winning Strategies For the Mediation Advocate,” Holland & Knight and International Academy of Mediators, Chicago, March 19, 2004
"Mediating After Mediation Has 'Failed': Why Mediators Should Never Give Up!", 2nd Annual Advanced Negotiation & Dispute Resolution Institute, March 27, 2003
"Impasse Resolution Processes," Advanced Mediator Training, Conflict Resolution Service,Traverse City, Michigan, August 7, 2002
"Mediating with the Rambo Litigator," ICLE Advanced Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Institute, March 20, 2002
"When It's Just About Money: Techniques for Breaking Impasse in Purely Distributive Bargaining,"
Strauss Institute For Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University School of Law, March 15-16, 2002
"Mediating Intellectual Property Cases," ABA Litigation Section Intellectual Property Committee Roundtable, March 7, 2002
"Mediating with Insurance Counsel'" Oakland County Bar Association In-House Insurance Counsel Committee, February 21, 2002
“Michigan’s New ADR Court Rule,” Michigan State Bar Annual Convention, Negligence Section, September 14, 2001
“Arbitration Agreements—Drafting Tips and Suggestions,” ICLE, Negotiating and Drafting Voluntary Arbitration Agreements, May 10 2001
“Master in Mediation: Advanced Techniques for Avoiding/Breaking Impasse", ABA Dispute Resolution Conference, Washington, D.C. April 27, 2001
“Real Mediation Comes to Michigan Courts,” Michigan State Bar ADR Section/OCBA ADR Committee, December 2000
“Advocating Effectively Under Michigan’s New Mediation Court Rules,” ABA Labor and Employment Law Section, December 2000
“Impasse Breaking Techniques in Mediation,” Grand Traverse County Circuit Court Mediation Program, December 2000
“Michigan’s New ADR Court Rules,” Michigan 2000 Conference on Dispute Resolution, Univ. of Michigan/Eastern Michigan Univ., November 2000
“Michigan’s New ADR Court Rules,” Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, October 2000
“Non-Compete and Confidentiality Agreements,” Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, September, 2000"
“E-Commerce Damages,” Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, July, 2000
“Mediator Confessions (I Did That!) and Other Short Stories,” International Academy of Mediators, Spring Educational Conference, May 2000
“Construction Mediation,” ABA Dispute Resolution Section, ADR by the BAY: The Golden Gate to Collaborative Problem Solving, April 2000
“Mediator’s Perspective on Common Interest Communities,” ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, ABA Annual Convention, 1999
“Zapping the Millenium (Year 2000) Bug: A Primer for Mediators,” International Academy of Mediators, 1999 Spring Conference, San Diego, California
“Resolving 2000 Year Disputes Through ADR,” State Bar of Michigan ADR Section Annual Mid-Year Meeting, 1999
“ADR In The Schools”, International Academy of Mediators, 1998/Fall Conference Houston, Tx.
“Representing 1998 Clients with Year 2000 Problems”, Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, October 1998
“Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution”, Michigan Bar Association, Fourth Annual Opening Doors Conference, October 1998
“Michigan Employment and Labor Law”, National Business Institute, July 1998
“ADR and Employment Law”, Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone, PLC, Annual Employment Law Seminar, April 1998
“Wrongful Termination,” Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 23rd Annual Employment Law Seminar, April 1998
“Representing 1998 Clients with Year 2000 Problems,” State Bar of Michigan Computer Law Section, Michigan Judicial Institute, 1998
“ADR For Judges,” Michigan Judicial Institute, 1995
“Mediation of International Cases” Seminar, Moderator, State Bar of Michigan International Law Section, 1994.
Education
B.A., Michigan State University, 1969
J.D., Wayne State University School of Law, 1972
Original Bar Admission Dates in Michigan 1973 (Active); California 1979; Iowa 1975
