Culture and Conflict – Reflections on the WIP Conference

Another engrossing Works-in-Progress Conference wrapped up on Saturday with two presentations focusing on the challenges presented by conflicting cultural paradigms in our increasingly interconnected world. Mariana Hernandez-Crespo (St. Thomas, Minn.) made a passionate plea for the integration rather than assimilation of different cultures, the better to foster the multiplicity of ideas that spurs innovation. Recognizing … Continue reading Culture and Conflict – Reflections on the WIP Conference

Adding By Subtracting? How Limited Scope Agreements for Dispute Resolution Representation Can Increase Access to Attorney Services, by Kristen M. Blankley

Professor Kristen Blankley, of the University of Nebraska College of Law, gave an informative talk about a little discussed device — limited scope representation. Here is Kristen’s abstract: Given the complexities of the legal system, pro se litigants understandably have difficulties navigating the legal labyrinth, and empirical evidence confirms that unrepresented parties rarely prevail in … Continue reading Adding By Subtracting? How Limited Scope Agreements for Dispute Resolution Representation Can Increase Access to Attorney Services, by Kristen M. Blankley

Justice Sotomayor on Arbitration

Pace Law School was honored today to welcome U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor to our campus to spend the day visiting and chatting with faculty, students, alumni and invited guests.  See http://newswire.blogs.law.pace.edu/2012/10/25/supreme-court-justice-sonia-sotomayor-to-visit-pace-law-school/. I for one grabbed the opportunity to ask her privately about her views on the Supreme Court’s arbitration law jurisprudence.  While she … Continue reading Justice Sotomayor on Arbitration

Report from AALS Works-in-Progress/Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution Symposium

We just completed our annual Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution Annual Symposium, which this year also served as the AALS Sixth Annual Works-in-Progress Conference. I thought the conference was a great success! As Art mentioned, we had many wonderful presentations (some of which – our “new voices,” highlighting young scholars working in the dispute … Continue reading Report from AALS Works-in-Progress/Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution Symposium

George Friedman, longtime Director of Dispute Resolution at FINRA, to retire at end of year

George Friedman has been a top executive at FINRA Dispute Resolution since he joined its predecessor NASD fourteen years ago in 1998.  Currently Executive Vice President and Director of Dispute Resolution, Mr. Friedman recently announced he will retire at the end of this year. George has been a stellar leader of FINRA’s arbitration program, among other roles, … Continue reading George Friedman, longtime Director of Dispute Resolution at FINRA, to retire at end of year

Supreme Court grants certiorari in important arbitration case

Yesterday the Supreme Court granted the petition for a writ of certiorari in American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant, No. 12-133, 2012 WL 3096737 (U.S. Nov. 9, 2012), to decide the following question presented:  “Whether the Federal Arbitration Act permits courts, invoking the ‘federal substantive law of arbitrability,’ to invalidate arbitration agreements on the ground … Continue reading Supreme Court grants certiorari in important arbitration case

Greetings from the Works-in-Progress Conference

I’m sitting here the WIP Conference and it’s been a fabulous day so far.  I say that because there  have been some fantastic presentations, and at this point (mid-afternoon) two that have stood out were from Jen Reynolds (propaganda, persuasion, manipulation, and how we teach negotiation) and Ken Kressel (tacit knowledge of mediators).  At this point I’m not … Continue reading Greetings from the Works-in-Progress Conference

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