Approach to Mediation
Mel has a keen awareness of the mediation process, the personality and ability to collaborate with diverse parties, and a broad range of trial and other legal and mediation experiences allowing him the wisdom and insight to find the strands of risk, value and interest to tie together to settle cases. As a mediator Mel does not act as a judge, but as an active persistent neutral facilitator, to get cases settled.
Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
Each mediation and negotiation is different in multiple ways. Therefore, each mediation/negotiation must be treated differently. Mel conducts a pre-mediation consultation with each party separately, in addition to reviewing information and documents submitted by a party. The consultation is typically by phone but depending on the complexity of the dispute and/or the parties a separate in-person consultation with each attorney and/or party may also take place.
Mel seeks to learn about the dispute, the parties, the attorneys and any special issues, interests, problems, or considerations related to each side. Mel wants to know what is coming in his door on the day of mediation allowing him to prepare and appropriately plan for the mediation, increasing the likelihood of a settlement.
Mediation
Mel is able to develop mutual respect and trust of the participants because:
Experience
"I have 33 years as a trial attorney and 15 years as a mediator. I've been on all sides of the table."
Temperament
"I pride myself on my patience and persistence, along with the communication skills to collaborate with difficult parties."
Understanding
"My reservoir of diverse legal and mediating/negotiating experiences help me find the strands of interest, value and risk in every dispute."
Sense of Fairness
"I strive to have all attorneys and their clients emerge from mediation at least feeling the process was fair and valuable."
Persistence, Persistence, Persistence
"I will be persistent in obtaining settlement and will not give-up unless I believe all avenues of settlement were explored and there is no reasonable way for the parties to settle the case."