PREMi - Articles

News, Updates, & Resources

Mindfulness Revisited – By Joseph C. Basta, JD

Joe Basta Twenty- three years ago, mediation author and teacher Leonard Riskin gave a workshop to the Michigan ADR community entitled “Mindfulness in Dispute Resolution and the Law: Dealing With Stress and Enhancing Satisfaction and Performance.” Riskin was...

Ensuring Client Rights in Mediation: A Guide for Attorneys

. By Robert E. L. Wright,Mediator & Arbitrator Mediation is an increasingly utilized method for resolving disputes, offering clients a flexible, confidential, and self-determined approach to reaching agreements. Attorneys play a pivotal...

Review of Michigan Appellate Decisions Concerning Arbitration Part 2 of 2

By Lee Hornberger,Arbitrator and Mediator Introduction This article is the second of two parts reviewing selected Michigan appellate cases concerning arbitration. MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS–PUBLISHED DECISIONS Pre-award lawsuit concerning arbitrator selection ...

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Laura A. Athens

FROM THE FIELD: Adding Techniques to Your Mediator Toolbox “What is the Value of Closure?”

By Sheldon J. Stark – Mediator and Arbitrator This is the first in a series of “From the Field” columns describing mediator techniques you might find useful in your own practice. I call this issue’s technique “The Value of Closure.” I learned it from...

Self-Determination in Mediation

. By Robert E. L. Wright, Mediator & Arbitrator... First Appearing in the Oakland County Legal News May 2022. Allowing parties to make their own choices and come to their own decisions regarding the outcome of a dispute is a fundamental...

Structuring dispute resolution clauses in international contracts

Harshitha Ram The magnifying global economy largely depends on international business to counter uncertainties in global transactions. A crucial aspect of preserving an enduring business relationship is to choose the right mechanism to resolve disputes. Often...

Negotiation 101: What parties should know about negotiations at the mediation table

By Sheldon J. Stark – Mediator and Arbitrator In the following article, the mediator helps counsel prepare and educate their clients as to the ups and downs of the negotiation process likely to be encountered during the mediation. Introduction For many,...

An old time tactic with a new twist –

Richard L. Hurford An Old Time Tactic with a New Twist-Should Mock Mediations be Considered? A litigation lifetime ago, when jury trials and bench trials were at least ten times more likely to occur than they are today (less than 1% of civil lawsuits...

In Memory of William Louis Weber, Jr.

William Louis Weber, Jr.December 9, 1934 - October 17, 2021 William Louis Weber, Jr., of Kenmore, Washington (formerly from Beverly Hills, Michigan) passed away peacefully surrounded by his beloved wife, Bridget and five devoted children William III and his wife...

Why you should consider joint sessions in your next mediation

By Sheldon J. Stark – Mediator and Arbitrator Introduction1Because no two disputes are precisely alike, the best tools for settling them are probably not the same, either. Fortunately, mediation is a flexible process, which can be tailored to meet the unique aspects...

Football fairness: Lessons for ADR?

Joe Basta “It’s not fair!” How many times have mediators and negotiators heard that refrain? Whether from the mouth of the negotiator across the table or the politician seeking higher taxes, everyone wants their “fair share.” But what is ‘”fairness” anyway? Is...

Are they crazy? No, just human!

Richard L. Hurford In last month’s ADR Spotlight, my PREMI colleague, Laura Athens, authored an incredibly insightful and important article on the psychology of conflict and how litigants process information when in conflict. As this discussion goes to the heart of...