UPCOMING EVENTS
ACR 2011 Annual Conference
Dates: October 12-15, 2011
Place: San Diego Sheraton Hotel & Marina, San Diego, California
Advanced Commercial Mediation Institute V (ACMI)
Wednesday and Thursday, October 12-13, 2011
“Beyond Settlement Broker: Enhancing Your Value as a Mediator”
Speakers:
Michael J. Bayard, Esq. “Skillfully Developing Ethical Mediator Proposals”
Eric Tuchman “Mediator Ethics: Lawsuits Againt Mediators”
Doug Noll “Why Crucial Negotiations Fail: How Modern Strategies Increase the Chance to Resolve Conflicts”
Robert F. Copple, J.D., Ph.D “Decision Trees Revisited – A Valuable Tool for Valuing Settlements; Mediators Increasing their Value”
Don Philbin “ACMI's Deal or No Deal: Leveraging Information to Overcome Decision Errors”
Lee Jay Berman “The Big Debate – The Ethics of Mediator Settlement Proposals” and “The Business of Mediation: Mediator Expand Your Practice”
Ken Cloke, JD, Ph.D “Conflict Revolution: What Commercial Mediators Can Learn From the Lessons of Mediating Evil, War, Injustice and Terrorism”
Program Co-Chairs:
Jerome Allan Landau, Commercial Mediator (Scottsdale, AZ); American Arbitration Association and AAA Advisory Council; International Mediation Institute; Co-Chair, ACMI
Lee Jay Berman, President, American Institute of Mediation and Commercial Mediator; American Arbitration Association (Los Angeles, CA); Co-Chair, ACMI
Richard J. DeWitt, Commercial Mediator; (Miami (Coral Gables), FL), American Arbitration Association, Distinguished Fellow/IAM
Richard J. DeWitt, Commercial Mediator; (Miami (Coral Gables), FL), American Arbitration Association, Distinguished Fellow/IAM
Workshops
The Commercial Section has supported and recommends the following workshops, which will be held at this year’s annual conference, as being of particular interest to people in the commercial field.
Thursday, October 13 at 2:00 pm
Moderator: Cynthia T. Alm
Presenters: Marvin Johnson, Maria R. Volpe, Tajae Gaynor, Angelia Tolbert
Description: The US population is becoming increasingly diverse, and with more and more organizations operating globally, an understanding of issues and concerns relating to diversity is becoming increasingly important. This panel presentation, by leaders in the ADR field who are also committed to promoting diversity, will explore diversity and equity from historical, organizational, and individual perspectives. Specific issues, concerns, and barriers will be discussed as well as ACR’s diversity and equity policy and initiatives. The discussion will cover diversity and equity from both a broad perspective, and as it relates to resolution of commercial disputes. Click to learn more.
Friday, October 14 at 10:45 am
Moderator: Frances I. Mossman
Presenters: James A. Rosenstein, Robert K. Wrede, and Reginald A. Holmes
Description: At the 2010 ACR Annual Conference, the Commercial Section sponsored a program that began to explore the interface between mediation of commercial disputes and mediation of other types of disputes. During that session, the panel and audience discussed ways that some of the tools typically used in commercial mediation can be effectively applied elsewhere. This program will continue that conversation by considering some of the skills that commercial mediators could add to their toolboxes that would enable them to expand their practices, and how they can apply skills they already possess to help address conflicts arising in situations that are closely related to commercial disputes. Click to learn more.
Saturday, October 15 at 9:30 am
Moderator: Lisa Renee Pomerantz
Presenter: Michele S. Riley
Description: Much has been written (mostly critically) about how functions and behaviors ascribed to adjudication processes (such as litigation/arbitration) have permeated the boundaries of non-adversarial processes such as mediation. Some observers have noticed the infiltration of adversarial functions into the mediation process, noting, for example, the growing emphasis on strategic behavior, evaluation of positions, and contentious advocacy. Some have attributed this development to the institution of court-annexed mediation programs, which have brought large numbers of lawyers with adversarial skills and litigation/arbitration expertise into the ADR field. Others have suggested that this development is responsive to party preferences. This migration of functions, tactics, behaviors and culture of one dispute resolution process into another seems to be moving, or is viewed as moving, only in one direction. Our perception, however, is that, as more and more arbitrators are trained in collaborative/problem-solving skills and techniques traditionally associated with the facilitative style and the interest-based model of mediation, the flow can actually take place both ways: arbitrators who are also trained as mediators can utilize the collaborative skills and techniques of mediation, especially to maximize the benefits of the flexibility inherent in the arbitration process. This session will demonstrate the opportunities for arbitrators to use mediation techniques to improve the fairness and cost-effectiveness of the process. Click to learn more.
Saturday, October 15 at 11:15 am
Moderator: Stanley P. Sklar
Presenter: Deborah Rothman
Description: Representatives of the College of Commercial Arbitrators will cover all aspects of the Protocols and their impact upon the arbitration process including the impact of the Protocols on house counsel, trial counsel, ADR providers and ADR educators. Click to learn more.
ARCHIVED EVENTS
ACR 2010 Annual Conference
Commercial Section Activities and Schedule
The Commercial Section Advisory Council invites you to participate in all of the section’s activities and events planned for the 2010 Conference in Chicago, IL from September 1-4, 2010. We will be updating information about the conference from time-to-time, so check our website for the latest information. To join or renew your Section membership go to www.acrnet.org and click on “Join/Renew.”
Conference Sessions of Special Interest
- Commercial Section Workshop on “The Relevance and Effective Application of Commercial Mediation for ADR Practitioners” -- James Rosenstein, Patricia Barclay and Suzanne Ulicny; Moderator: Frances Mossman. Session No. 6.18 on Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 at 4:00 pm. See details and information about the speakers at www.mediate.com/acrcommercial/ and click on “Events.”
- “Harnessing the Power of the Master Mediator” -- Lee Jay Berman, No. PC-6, Wednesday, September 1 at 8:00 am
- "Mediating Value-based and Identity-based Disputes” -- Larry Susskind, Mini-3, Thursday, September 2 at 11:00 am.
- “Consensus Arbitration: A Model for Negotiation-Based Decision-Making” -- Nathan Witkin, Session No. 303, Friday, Sept. 3, 2010 at 9:15 am.
In Cooperation With the International Section
Register for International Day, which is organized by the International Section, to be held on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. This year the all-day program will focus on managing conflict around international development, better practice in peace building and cross-cultural communications.
Michele Riley, member and Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Commercial Section Advisory Council, will be one of the presenters discussing cross-cultural issues. She will answer the question “We know the theory, but how do we apply it?” For the full program and to register for International Day, go to www.acrnet.org.
Commercial Section Exhibit Table
The Section will have an exhibit table open during the regular hours scheduled for ACR’s Exhibit Hall. It will be located in the Lobby next to Registration. Please stop by and meet your fellow Commercial Section members. This is a chance to talk with members of the Section’s Advisory Council. Find out what is going on and join our Commercial Section Committees. The schedule is:
Wednesday, Sept. 1: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Thursday, Sept. 2: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Friday, Sept. 3: 8:30 am - 11:30 am
Table Top ** Prize Drawings **
Free drawings for special prizes are open to all Commercial Section current members and to those who renew or become new members of the Section at the conference. Bring your business card to enter the drawings.
The drawings will be held on:
Thursday September 2 at 12:45 pm;
Thursday September 2 at 7:00 pm; *
Friday, September 3 at 7:30 pm at the Sections Reception for prizes and the Grand Prize drawings
*The Silent Auction and Exhibit Open House will be on Thursday, September 2 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Be sure to place your bid on the many items that will be available. This could be your lucky night.
Lists of winners will be posted. You do not have to be present to win. However, all prizes must be claimed no later than Friday, September 3 at 7:30 pm or be forfeited.
Commercial Section Drawing Prizes will include real Kona Coffee, original macadamia nuts, Hawaiian chocolate-chip cookies, Starbucks Hawaii theme gift cards, calendars and books. The drawing for very special Grand Prizes will take place on Friday September 3 at 7:30 pm. They include --others to be announced:
The Rethinking Negotiation Teaching series of two books by Christopher Honeyman, et al, including the just published Venturing Beyond the Classroom.
Calling Commercial Section Authors
Looking for a place to display your book? We will have space for authors to display and sell their new books and autograph them. Let us know if you are interested and when you would be available to sign books for 30 minutes or one hour so we can schedule you.
Authors of journal articles, book chapters, and pamphlets that you want to distribute without charge can drop them off at the Commercial Section's Exhibit Table for people to pick-up.
Announce Your Trainings and Events
Do you have an event or are you conducting a course, seminar or training session you want to advertise? Bring your flyers and announcements for display at our exhibit table.
Volunteer to Staff the Commercial Section Table
We need people to operate the Commercial Section table. This is a great way to meet fellow commercial facilitators, mediators and arbitrators. Sign-up with Frances or Michele for openings in the schedule (see below).
ACR Sections Festival
The Commercial Section will have a table at the ACR Sections Festival reception to be held on Friday, September 3 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Be sure to visit us and be there for the Grand Prize drawing at 7:30 pm.
No-Host Commercial Section Gathering
Please let us know if you would like to join us in a no-host informal gathering to be held on Friday, September 3 starting at 8:30 pm at a venue close to the Marriott Downtown Hotel. Reservations are necessary.
NOTE:
For additional information, to volunteer for the Exhibit Table and to make reservations for the Section’s informal no-host gathering, please contact either Frances or Michele:
1. Frances I. Mossman, Hawaii.IDR.group@earthlink.net prior to August 27th or leave a message at the Marriott Downtown hotel desk during the conference.
2. Michele Riley, RileyADR@yahoo.com
