News
BLC Wins Law Firm ADR Award
On January 13, 2010, the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (“CPR”) presented its Law Firm Award for Excellence in ADR at the organization’s annual meeting in New York. CPR is one of the leading organizations in the world promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution.
BLC Receives ABA “Lawyer as Problem Solver” Award
On April 16, 2009, BLC received the American Bar Association’s “Lawyer as Problem Solver” Award. The award was presented to BLC founding member, David Hoffman, at the annual meeting of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution in New York. For more information about the award, click here.
BLC picked by ABA Section of Family Law to offer the Section's first Family Mediation Training November 9-13, 2009
BLC will present a 40-hour training in Family Meditation at its offices in Boston. The training will include the following trainers: David Hoffman, Esq. (lead trainer), Israela Brill-Cass, Esq., Nicole DiPentima, Susan Miller, CPA, CFP, CDFA, Rita Pollak, Esq., Vicki Shemin, Esq., LICSW, and Dr. Richard Wolman. If you are interested, or know someone who might be; information is available here. To register online, please click here.
BLC Executive Director Co-Chairs MCLE's First Annual ADR and the Law Conference
BLC’s Executive Director Israela Brill-Cass was asked to co-chair with Attorney John Wofford, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)’s First Annual ADR and the Law Conference. The full-day conference took place on October 26, 2009 at MCLE and included workshops with attorneys and conflict resolution professionals as well as a Judge’s Panel.
BLC Attorney Becomes Superior Court Judge
On April 15, 2009, the appointment of BLC attorney Janet Kenton-Walker to become an Associate Justice of the Superior Court was unanimously approved by the Governor’s Council. Janet was nominated by Governor Deval Patrick, who praised Janet for her “top-notch legal skills, even temperament, high integrity and long-standing commitment to justice.” Her official duties as a judge will begin after she is sworn in on May 7, 2009. A reception in Janet’s honor will be held at BLC on May 21, 2009, at 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Uniform Collaborative Law Act
On November 20, 2009, Hofstra Law School hosted a symposium on the Uniform Collaborative Law Act, and BLC member David Hoffman will be one of the speakers. David is co-chair of the Collaborative Law Committee of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution.
Training Down Under
On November 24, 2009, BLC's David Hoffman presented a one-day workshop on "Bringing Peace into the Room" in Sydney, Australia, sponsored by Interrelate Family Centres.
Collaborative Law Workshop
On October 25, 2009, at the 10th annual Forum of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, BLC member David Hoffman presented a workshop on “Building Bridges: The Art (and Science) of Collaborative Relationships.”
Mediation Pedagogy Conference
From May 15-16, 2009, The Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School held its first-ever "Mediation Pedagogy Conference." BLC’s David Hoffman (who teaches Mediation at Harvard Law School) was one of the panelists and spoke on the subject “How Can We Get Our Students in a Mediating Frame of Mind.”
Building Relationships: The Mortar that Holds Mediations Together
On June 19, 2009 BLC’s David Hoffman presented a workshop on “Building Relationships: The Mortar that Holds Mediations Together” at The Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution’s Annual Conference in Greenbelt, Maryland.
Silverman Article on Parenting Options
BLC attorney Craig Silverman published an article on April 9, 2009, on parenting options – mediation, collaborative law, parenting coordinators, and litigation – that was picked up and published in several newspapers in Massachusetts and five other states. For a copy of the article, click here.
Employment ADR Panel
In February 2009, BLC launched its Workplace and Employment ADR Panel, providing mediation, arbitration, fact-finding, and other dispute resolution services, plus training on sexual harassment and other workplace issues. The Panel is a highly diverse group of experienced workplace mediators and arbitrators from across the United States, including Loretta Attardo, Melissa Brodrick, Dana Curtis, Joan Dolan, Sarah Kerr Garraty, James Grumbach, David Hoffman, Paul Holtzman, Vivian Hsu, Marvin Johnson, Homer La Rue, Steve Linsky, Melinda Milberg, Linda Toyo Obayashi, Marsha Saylor, Jay Siegel, Lamont Stallworth, and John Wofford. BLC’s Nicole DiPentima is the Panel Administrator.
Inauguration Day
BLC's David Hoffman, Marc Marrero, and Mandy Swamy attended the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2009. They found a spot near the Smithsonian at about 7:30 a.m., and although the temperature was 16 degrees, the enthusiasm of the crowd and the significance of the moment overcame their fear of frostbite.
Article Award
On January 15, 2009, the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (www.cpradr.org) gave one of its two annual article awards to BLC’s David Hoffman. The article – contending that Microsoft and Yahoo should have used mediation to close their failed merger deal – was published in the Christian Science Monitor and is available at the BLC web site: http://tinyurl.com/6qx7cl.
Teaching Mediation
BLC’s David Hoffman was recently named John H. Watson, Jr. Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, where he teaches the Mediation course. David has also been selected for a sixth consecutive year for the book The Best Lawyers in America – he is listed in three categories: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Collaborative Family Law, and Family Mediation.
New Lawyer
On January 5, 2009, attorney Janet Kenton-Walker joined the BLC team – she is Of Counsel to the firm. Janet has had a distinguished career, and was appointed by Chief Justice Margaret Marshall to serve on the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Board and the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers. She has also served as a trustee of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, vice-president of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and as a board member of the Committee for Public Counsel Services. At BLC, Janet will continue her practice of business and other civil litigation, family law, bankruptcy litigation, and criminal defense. Janet is an honors graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Suffolk University Law School.
New Staff Members
In 2008, two new members of the BLC team joined us. Marc Marrero and Mandakini Swamy are our newest Family Law Administrators. Mandy recently graduated with a B.A. in Political Science and a Certificate in African Studies from Indiana University, where she held various positions in student government and other student organizations. Marc is a recent graduate of Tufts University; Marc has worked at the Chilean Supreme Court with Corporación de Promoción y Defensa de los Derechos del Pueblo (CODEPU), an international human rights NGO in Santiago.
Rising Star
BLC attorney Mary LaCivita has been selected for a fourth consecutive year as a Rising Star in the annual “Super Lawyers” publication for 2008. She is the only Family Law attorney in Massachusetts to have been selected in each of those years.
Keynote Speech in Icy Wisconsin
On December 12, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman braved the snow and sub-zero temperatures of Kohler, Wisconsin, to deliver a keynote lecture at the annual meeting of the Divorce Cooperation Institute. David’s topic was “Creating an Effective Dispute Resolution Practice: From Soup to Nuts.”
Mindfulness and Mediation
On December 4, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman gave a lecture at the UMass/Boston Graduate Program in Dispute Resolution on the subject of “Mindfulness and Mediation.” David discussed the challenges of maintaining non-judgmental awareness even when the people or circumstances of the mediation push our emotional buttons.
Construction Mediation Training
On December 2, 2008, BLC hosted a Construction Mediation Skills Training with construction professional Stuart Baker of Conscious Cooperation, construction mediator and arbitrator John Fieldsteel of Urbelis & Fieldsteel, BLC Member David Hoffman, and BLC Executive Director and ADR Case Manager Israela Brill-Cass. The one-day training was aimed at architects, contractors, owners, engineers, and others involved in construction work.
Quinnipiac – Yale Lecture
On November 10, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman delivered a lecture at Yale Law School on "Colliding Worlds of Dispute Resolution: Toward a Unified Field Theory of ADR." The talk was part of a joint forum with Quinnipiac Law School’s Dispute Resolution Program.
Civil and Family Mediation Training
In November 2008 and November 2009, BLC’s Israela Brill-Cass, Nicole DiPentima, and David Hoffman, along with BLC Affiliate Dr. Richard Wolman, led a day of Civil Mediation Training at Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, and also presented Family Mediation Training in January 2008 and January 2009.
Collaboration and Bringing Peace into the Room
On October 31, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman was the keynote speaker at the 11th Annual ADR Institute sponsored by Minnesota Continuing Legal Education in Minneapolis. David gave talks on Collaborative Practice and the subject of his book (with co-editor Daniel Bowling) Bringing Peace into the Room: How the Personal Qualities of the Mediator Impact the Process of Conflict Resolution.
Communicating Collaboratively in Cyberspace
On October 19, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman presented a workshop on "Communicating Collaboratively in Cyberspace: How to Bring Peace into the Electronic Room" at the annual Forum of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals in New Orleans. (David’s article, on which the talk was based, can be accessed on his profile page.)
Enlightened Cultural Competence
On October 3, 2008, mediators Daniel Bowling, Marvin Johnson, Homer La Rue and BLC Member David Hoffman presented a one-day workshop on "Exploring the Crossroads of Diversity and Spirituality." For more information, contact Nicole DiPentima at BLC or click here.
Colliding Worlds
On September 22, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman delivered the annual Gloria and Stanley Plesent Lecture at Cardozo School of Law in New York. The title of his talk was "Colliding Worlds of Dispute Resolution: Toward a Unified Field Theory of ADR." (David’s article, on which the talk was based, can be accessed on his profile page.)
Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corporation Wage Garnishment Hearing
BLC Executive Director and ADR Case Manager Israela Brill-Cass has been selected by the Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corporation, doing business as American Student Assistance ("ASA"), to serve as a neutral hearing officer in wage garnishment cases where in-person hearings are requested. ASA is a guaranty agency participating in the Federal Family Education Loan Program and the hearing officer's role is to render a determination as to whether a borrower has defaulted on federally backed student loans and if so, whether wage garnishment through a borrower's employer is appropriate.
Correction: In our recent mailing to colleagues, clients and friends we referred to American Student Assistance as a “state agency participating in the Federal Family Education Loan Program” when in fact it is not a state agency and should have been referred to (as it is above) as a “guaranty agency participating in the Federal Family Loan Program.” We apologize for this error and any confusion it may have caused.
Spirituality and Diversity
On May 15, 2008, mediators Marvin Johnson, Homer La Rue and BLC Member David Hoffman presented a workshop on "Spirituality and Diversity" at the semi-annual meeting of the International Academy of Mediators in Coral Gables, Florida.
The Power of Apology
On June 6, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman gave a talk on "The Power of Apology" at the Community Dispute Settlement Center's program entitled, "Mediation Skills Refresher & Conflict Clinic."
Communicating Collaboratively
On June 21, 2008, BLC Member David Hoffman will be presented a workshop, with mediator Don Greenstein, at the 21st annual Conference of the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Greenbelt, MD, on "Communicating Collaboratively in Cyberspace: Exploring the Crossroads of Technology and Dispute Resolution."
BLC Member Attends AAML Training
In May 2008, BLC Member Olive Larson attended and completed the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Arbitration Training Institute. The AAML strives to raise the bar in matrimonial law through a membership of the most skilled family law attorneys. For more information about the AAML click here.
BLC Member Presents at Family Law Paralegal Conference
In May 2008, BLC Member Olive Larson was invited to present at Half Moon Seminar's Advanced Family Law Practice for Paralegals. Attorney Larson spoke specifically about assisting with alimony issues as well as the difficulties in ascertaining income. For more information about the seminar click here.
BLC Member Elected Vice President of Regional Theater Organization
This year, BLC Member Olive Larson was elected Vice President of the Board of Directors of Theater in the Open. Theater in the Open is a non-profit organization based in Newburyport that is in its 29th season. The Company remains a staple of the North Shore's artistic community and performances are held at Maudslay State Park.
BLC Attorney serves as Chief Justice in National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC)
In March 2008 BLC Attorney Craig Silverman served as a judge for the 2007-08 Boston Regional National Appellate Advocacy Competition (NAAC); he acted as the Chief Justice on the three-judge panel. The NAAC is one of the largest moot court competitions in the country with 190 teams from 15 states competing. The teams were narrowed down to 31 by the time the competition reached Boston and the top 4 teams selected in Boston continue to compete in the national rounds in Chicago. Competitors participated in a hypothetical appeal to the United States Supreme Court and were required to write a 40-page brief as either respondent or petitioner and then arguing the case in front of the mock court on which Craig Silverman served.
BLC Member Speaks at Vermont Bar Association
On March 7, 2008 BLC Member David Hoffman presented a workshop on "Collaborative Communication Skills" co-sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association's Collaborative Law Section and ADR Section. For information regarding the workshop click here.
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