Resolutions: A Podcast About Dispute Resolution and Prevention

When workplace tensions rise, how can we move beyond defending positions and toward solving problems? In this episode, we welcome Audrey J. Lee, Harvard Law School Lecturer and Senior Mediator at Boston Law Collaborative, to discuss her new book, Navigating Conflict at Work: A Guide to Workplace Mediation. Together, we explore when to bring in a mediator, what neutrality really means, and how early intervention can prevent conflict from escalating. From challenging team dynamics and power imbalances to stalled conversations, Audrey shares practical insights on navigating workplace conflict, identifying underlying interests, and fostering constructive dialogue. Whether you're a lawyer, mediator, HR professional, or manager, this conversation offers valuable takeaways for the many roles we play in the workplace. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.

In this episode of Resolutions, host Alex Green IV talks with Harvard Law lecturer and mediator David Hoffman about his book The Art of Impasse Breaking in Mediation. They discuss process versus substantive interventions, the underused tools of caucusing and lawyer-only joint sessions, the role of apology and relationship repair, the benefits of Zoom mediation, and weighing the most likely outcome if a case goes to court.  This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today!

In this episode of Resolutions, host Aaron Gothelf sits down with ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Chair Doug Mintz for a preview of the 2026 Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute, taking place virtually on October 21–22. Celebrating its 23rd year, the Institute has become one of the ABA's premier mediation programs by combining practical advocacy skills with the latest developments in psychology, behavioral science, ethics, technology, and negotiation. Aaron and Doug discuss the program's evolution, this year's keynote conversation with former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, and sessions on breaking impasse, artificial intelligence, cross-border disputes, ethics, and specialized mediation practice areas. Whether you're an experienced mediator, advocate, or attorney looking to strengthen your dispute resolution skills, this episode offers an inside look at why the Institute continues to be a must-attend event for ADR professionals. Register for the 2026 Advanced Mediation & Advocacy Skills Institute here. 

How should we handle bigger conflicts that take more than a half day or full day to address? What happens when parties to the dispute are in the hundreds, or thousands? Hear from Bill Froehlich, Director of the Divided Community Project at Ohio State University, on how he and his team have worked with communities across the country on some of the most tense conflicts. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.

American Arbitration Association Commercial Vice President Aaron Gothelf sits down with family law mediator and author Paula Lawhon to discuss her new book, Effectively Steering the Ship: A Case Management Manual for Family Law Mediators. Use code SUMMER20 to save 20%.  Drawing on two decades as a full-time mediator, Paula makes the case that great mediators aren't just skilled negotiators—they're case managers who coordinate professionals, manage emotionally charged disputes, and guide cases from intake to final judgment. Together, they unpack why traditional civil mediation models fall short in family law, and the practical frameworks that keep cases efficient without sacrificing neutrality. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.

Host Juliana Rigato sits down with international lawyer and football enthusiast Ana Lombardía to discuss the intersection of sports, law, and dispute resolution. Ana shares how her ADR background helped shape her career and contributed to her success as Corporate Legal Counsel at FIFA. Whether you're interested in ADR, the sports industry, or football culture, this episode explores the skills needed to succeed and the unique parallels between football referees and arbitrators as neutral decision-makers in disputes. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today!

How has the field of arbitration evolved, and what can arbitrators learn from the judiciary? In this episode, host Dr. Larry Schooler sits down with Judge J. Michelle Childs of the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, and keynote speaker at the ABA Dispute Resolution Section's Arbitration Institute, to explore the intersection of arbitration and litigation. Judge Childs shares her perspective on how each method can inform and strengthen the other, and what the future may hold for dispute resolution. To hear Judge Childs speak live, join us at the ABA Dispute Resolution Section's Arbitration Institute on June 3–4, 2026. Register before May 29 at https://ambar.org/arb2026 and use promo code DRPODCAST for 15% off. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.

In this episode of Resolutions, host Rekha Rangachari sits down with Wisconsin State Bar Ethics Counsel Timothy Pierce to unpack ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 518 — issued October 2025 and focused on a mediator's duty to avoid misleading communications when serving as a third-party neutral. They examine what the Opinion means in practice: the heightened obligation to maintain neutrality, the line between permissible evaluation and prohibited recommendations, and how Model Rules 2.4, 4.1, and 8.4(c) govern candor in mediation. Whether you're a seasoned neutral or newly stepping into the role, this conversation will help you recalibrate your ethical compass. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.

In this episode of Resolutions, American Arbitration Association Commercial Vice President Aaron Gothelf speaks with Peter Silverman, Chair of the EDR Institute, and Tracey Frisch, Division Vice President of Mediation at the American Arbitration Association, about how Early Dispute Resolution and risk-adjusted value decision trees are transforming the way disputes are resolved. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today!

As courts face increasingly heavy dockets and complex cases, court-appointed neutrals play a vital role in helping the justice system operate more efficiently and effectively. In this episode, Merril Hirsh and Tara Emory of the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals share insight into their work and that of their colleagues, highlighting the many ways they support courts nationwide. They also preview the Academy’s upcoming national conference next March in Berkeley, California. To learn more about the Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals and register for the Academy's annual meeting, please visit: https://acan.memberclicks.net/annual-meeting  This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.