About Me
Professional Background
PRESENT: Practice restricted to serving as an arbitrator & mediator of workplace disputes;
1989 – 2005: Associate Attorney with PSE&G, representing the utility in employment litigation, and before labor arbitrators;
1988 – 1994: Adjunct Professor, Seton Hall Law School;
1983 - 1988: Associate Attorney, Epstein, Becker & Green specializing in employment litigation;
1978 - 1982: Arbitrated private and public sector grievances, and mediated public sector contract renewals
1971 – 1978: Director of the American Arbitration Association's (AAA) NJ Office responsible for labor, insurance, and commercial arbitrations;
1968 – 1971: Assistant Director of AAA’s Chicago Office, serving 6 Midwestern states;
1967 - 1968: Adminstered commerical arbitrations for the AAA
Approach
SUMMARY: When mediating employment disputes, I adjust my style based on the issues, and the "human equation." My approach, in the jargon of the profession, ranges from "facilitative" to "mildly evaluative."
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE PARTIES?: Employment disputes are often cloaked in misunderstandings, mutual mistakes, disappointed expectations, and feelings of broken trust. I model respect in order create an setting in which anger and frustration are reduced as impediments to open communication. Under my guidance, each party identifies its interests, and examines realistic settlement options. I help them to test realty based on my experience, and knowledge of substantive law. If appropriate, I will apply a bit of pressure in a prudent way.
Fees
$265.00 per hour, or $1,100 per day. Your choice!
Other Information
ADR Panel Memberships: American Arbitration Association—Labor Panel EEOC —
Newark & Philadelphia Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
National Mediation Board
National Association of Security Dealers
New Jersey State Board of Mediation
New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission
New Jersey Member of the NY/NJ Port Authority Employee Relations Panel R. 1:40
Mediator, New Jersey Superior Court R. 1:40
Civil Arbitrator, New Jersey Superior Court
Areas of Practice
- ADA
- Civil (general)
- EEOC
- Employment
- Labor - Management
- Police
- Work Place
Professional Services
- Mediator
- Mediator-Arbitrator
- Fact-Finder
PATRICK R. WESTERKAMP, ESQ.
Patrick R. Westerkamp, of Westerkamp ADR Services, LLC in Matawan, New Jersey, restricts his practice to serving as a neutral in employment and labor dispute resolution. He has extensive career experience in arbitration and mediation, and is a R. 1:40 Mediator for the New Jersey Superior Court and a R. 1:40 Civil Arbitrator for Monmouth County.
Mr. Westerkamp is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Labor Panel, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Newark and Philadelphia, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the National Mediation Board, the National Association of Security Dealers, the New Jersey State Board of Mediation, the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission and the New York/New Jersey Port Authority Employee Relations Panel. Past President of the NYC Chapter of the Industrial Relations Research Association, he is also a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association Labor & Employment and Dispute Resolution Sections, the Association for Conflict Resolution, the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM) and the New Jersey Chapter of the Labor and Employment Relations Association.
Mr. Westerkamp is a former adjunct professor at Seton Hall School of Law, where he taught dispute resolution including negotiations, mediation and arbitration. In prior years, he taught collective bargaining on the adjunct faculties of Rutgers, Fairleigh Dickinson and Seton Hall Universities. His articles have appeared in professional journals.
Mr. Westerkamp received his B.A. from Hofstra University, his M.S. from Loyola University and his J.D. from Seton Hall Law School.