top of page

MEDIATION SERVICES

Mediation offers parties the opportunity to resolve disputes in a private, efficient, and strategic way - often before litigation or arbitration outcomes become inevitable. As a commercial mediator based in New York, working nationally and internationally, I guide parties through a structured negotiation process designed to clarify goals, manage risk, and support sustainable resolution.

 

Mediation isn’t about giving up or giving in; it’s about finding a better way through. My role is to guide a process that helps you or your client step outside the conflict long enough to make a clear, confident decision about what comes next.

​

Disputes can lock people into a narrow frame: who’s right, who’s wrong, who should pay. Mediation gives you the chance to reframe the problem, so you can focus on solutions that are practical, fair, and durable. I help parties look at the full picture, hear each other’s concerns, and build a negotiation process everyone can trust. From there, we explore the real options on the table.

​

For resources on how to plan for mediation, draft a mediation brief, and prepare for mediation day, click here.

About Erin

I’m a commercial mediator with over 20 years of experience resolving high-conflict disputes in business, employment, construction, entertainment, and insurance. I bring a well-rounded perspective to mediation, shaped by my background as a litigator, in-house counsel, and neutral.

​

I began mediating in 2005 while earning an LL.M. in Dispute Resolution at the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University School of Law. After that, I led a corporate dispute resolution program for a global financial institution, where I developed mediation strategies and case management systems for complex commercial, securities, and insurance disputes. My focus was on structured negotiation and consensus-building—helping teams resolve cases early, balance strategic and relational interests, and move forward with clarity.

​

Today, I draw on that experience to help parties navigate difficult disputes and make thoughtful, well-informed decisions. I’ve mediated a wide range of matters, from closely held business disputes to employment discrimination claims, from partnership dissolutions to contract and licensing disagreements.

 

As an experienced international disputes mediator, I help parties navigate multi-jurisdictional issues, contract enforcement challenges, cultural dynamics, and negotiation across borders. I provide mediation services for complex commercial disputes, including international and cross-border matters.

​

In addition to my mediation practice, I teach and train the next generation of lawyers and mediators. 

​​​​​

Credentials and Recognition

  • Mediation Panels - CPR, AAA, and Resolute Systems

  • Global Mediation Panel, United Nations Office of the Ombudsman

  • National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

  • Mediation Panel, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

  • Special Master, Appellate Division, First Department

  • Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Commercial Mediation (2020–present)

  • Director of the Mediation Practicum and Amelia A. Gould Representation in Mediation Clinic at Pace Law School (supervise students in real-world mediations and negotiation coaching)

  • Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University School of Law (teach Mediation: Representing Clients using case studies and simulations)

  • Certified by the New York State Unified Court System ADR Office to train new mediators

  • American Arbitration Association Higginbotham Fellow (2016)

  • LLM, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law

Mediation Approach

Every case is different, and so is every mediation. I tailor the process to fit the needs of the people involved, the nature of the dispute, and the broader context—whether that’s litigation, ongoing business relationships, or public-facing issues.

​

I bring a structured yet flexible approach. I work closely with counsel to support both client advocacy and effective negotiation. Attorneys are encouraged to participate in pre-mediation meetings, where we can identify legal and practical challenges, align on process design, and anticipate strategic opportunities. During the session, I create space for attorneys to do what they do best, while also helping clients weigh risks, explore options, and make sound decisions.

​

Having served as in-house counsel myself, I understand what clients often need beyond the legal arguments—cost control, business continuity, internal alignment, regulatory awareness, and reputational sensitivity. That experience helps me engage meaningfully with business clients and support counsel in guiding them toward durable, informed outcomes.

​

Whether the matter is highly adversarial or simply stuck, I aim to build a mediation process that parties can trust—one that encourages focus, flexibility, and movement toward resolution.

Representative Matters

I’ve mediated cases involving U.S. and international parties, including disputes governed by domestic and cross-border contracts, global licensing agreements, ownership and control of closely held businesses, intellectual property rights, construction and vendor agreements, executive compensation, and employment discrimination matters.

 

The examples listed below reflect the range of disputes I have mediated across industries, legal areas, and stages of conflict. Each involved complex dynamics - whether legal, relational, or strategic - and each required a tailored mediation process designed to support informed decision-making and workable resolution. All matters have been described in general terms to maintain confidentiality.

Business & Commercial Mediation

  • Several business dissolution claims, including distribution, accusations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, breach of contract.

  • Nine-figure breach of contract dispute between large international corporations involving performance, warranty, and indemnity issues.

  • Several commercial lease disputes.

  • Disputes among residents and coop/condo.

  • Medical practice business separation.

  • Various breach of commercial contract matters.​

Entertainment

  • Intellectual property dispute among filmmakers as to ownership of joint project.

  • Breach of pre-production agreement and related employment contracts.

  • Breach of option agreements.

  • Dissolution of production company.

  • Royalties disputes.

  • Breach of license agreement, misuse of trademarks, promotion obligations.

Construction

  • Several construction defect matters related to commercial property.

  • Several construction defect matters relating to residential property.

  • Insurance coverage claim involving architects & engineers.

Employment

  • Breach of employment contract claims.

  • Wrongful termination.

  • Discrimination claims involving allegations of race, gender, disability, age, and retaliation, mediating cases related to workplace harassment, disparate treatment, failure to provide reasonable accommodations, and violations of equal employment protections.

  • Mediated claims concerning employer liability, institutional bias, and resolution frameworks aimed at ensuring fair workplace practices.

Insurance Coverage

  • First and third-party.

  • Primary and excess.

  • Commercial general liability.

  • Commercial property/premises liability.

  • Residential property damage.

  • Construction defect (commercial and residential property).

  • Payor/provider disputes between hospitals and health insurance companies.

  • Lawyers' professional liability.

  • Employment practices liability.

  • Medical malpractice.

  • Architects and engineers professional liability.

  

International Disputes

  • Mediations arising by party agreement or pursuant to ICC, ICDR, or CPR dispute resolution clauses.

  • Global licensing and distribution dispute.

  • U.S.–E.U. financial services matter.

  • Cross-border multi-party manufacturing conflict.

  • Multi-national corporation contract dispute with Asian subcontractor.

  • Joint venture control disagreement.

  • International royalty and licensing dispute.

  • Multiparty distribution conflict across continents.

​

​

Mediation Resources

1

Preparing for Mediation

The Mediation Preparation & Representation Plan is a structured tool designed to help attorneys and clients prepare thoughtfully for mediation. It supports strategic planning, effective negotiation, and informed decision-making by addressing legal issues, relationship dynamics, and process design.

2

Writing Mediation Briefs

This guide helps attorneys craft mediation briefs that are strategic, clear, and resolution-oriented. It emphasizes framing, tone, and content that assist the mediator in understanding the dispute, the client’s goals, and potential paths forward.

A mediation brief should not resemble a memo accompanying a dispositive motion.

3

Day-of Mediation Session Preparation

This resource offers practical prompts to reinforce communication strategy, manage impasse, and maintain momentum toward resolution, even when tensions run high or the path forward is unclear. It’s designed to be used in real time, helping participants stay strategic and responsive.

bottom of page