![]() Sid Lezak was a long-serving U.S. Attorney for Oregon who had for the past 20 years dedicated his career to furthering creative and constructive dispute resolution, particularly mediation. Sid was a leading mediator in the Pacific Northwest and was widely regarded as the father of mediation in Oregon. Sid was the first Chair of the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission and was an active fellow in the International Academy of Mediators. Sid was of counsel to the law firm Newcomb, Sabin, Schwartz & Landsverk since 1982. From 1961 to 1982, he served as United States Attorney for Oregon. He was a partner in the firm of Bailey, Lezak, Swink and Gates specializing in labor law and trials prior to his nomination as U.S. Attorney by President Kennedy. Most of his professional activities since 1982 involved mediation and facilitation of disputes in all fields except domestic relations. He lectured extensively and taught courses in dispute resolution at Northwestern School of Law, Lewis and Clark Collegeand Willamette University Law School. He has received numerous awards for his work in encouraging mediation. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council, President of the Oregon chapter, and chaired various committees of the Federal Bar Association and Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution. In 1987 he was appointed by Governor Neil Goldschmidt to chair the Oregon Dispute Resolution Advisory Council which successfully prepared and guided its program through the Legislature. He served on the Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission established by the Legislature. Website: www.mediate.com/lezak |
Humor, Rapport, and Experience
(05/10/20)
Sid Lezak describes how he uses humor to lighten the mood of parties coming in and help them focus on what is in their best interests. He also talks about his vast experience and how his responses can be somewhat automatic.
Early Views of Field
(03/25/20)
Sid Lezak talks about how he viewed the field when he first started out. It was like a 'religion' for him and any opposition or criticism made him even more dedicated to the practice and advocacy of mediation.
The Perfect Mediator
(09/01/19)
Sid Lezak talks about how the 'perfect mediator' does not have a fixed number of certain attributes or a certain style. Rather, it is someone who is flexible, who can adjust their problem-solving style to the challenges that are presented.
Interview with Sid Lezak
(07/20/19)
This is the complete interview by Robert Benjamin with former US Attorney and mediator Sid Lezak shortly before his death as part of Mediate.com's 'Views from the Eye of the Storm' Video Series.
Influential Childhood Experiences
(06/20/19)
Sid Lezak relates some of his early childhood experiences in Chicago that he believes may have lended to his interest in accommodating others, negotiating, and 'getting along'.
Sid Lezak: Answering "What Can You Do for Us?" - Video
(09/08/09)
Sid Lezak talks about how he answers the question, 'what is it you do that we should pay you X amount of dollars?'. He answers that he is an agent of reality (or their perceptions of reality) and by the end, the parties will have an opportunity to evaluate whether the offer that's made is in their best interest rather than continuing to struggle.
Sid Lezak: Challenges for Novices - Video
(09/08/09)
Sid Lezak discusses the concerns he has had regarding the field. These include overly extravagant claims made about what the field brings to clientele, over-promising those who are coming into the field, and how difficult it seems for people to 'break into' the field.
Sid Lezak: Start in Mediation was Unconscious - Video
(07/08/09)
Sid Lezak describes how he started practicing mediation without being conscious of it. As a US Attorney, he acted as a 'middle man' between agencies and/or his assistants and the courts and/or opposing attorneys.