The Atlanta Lawyer January/February 2014 | Page 32

section update Dispute Resolution Section Update By Herbert H. (Hal) Gray, III Section Chair [email protected] T he Dispute Resolution Section had a great year in 2013 and is looking forward to an exciting 2014. Our breakfast meetings are held at the Buckhead Club at 7:30 am on the first Wednesday of the month, and we welcome non-Section members. So far this year Nick Moraitakis, Esq. of Henning Mediation spoke on “Critical Techniques in Mediation.” Phil Henry, Esq., Judge Brenda Cole of JAMS, and Susan V. Sommers, Esq., V.P. of Risk Management at Northside Hospital, were on a panel moderated by Judge Jon Peters of JAMS, discussing “Mediating Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, and Medical Malpractice Cases.” Additionally, Judson Vaughn of JurisPerfect spoke on “Shaping the Mediation Room: How to Put Clients and Lawyers in the Mood to Compromise" and Glenn Hendrix of AtLAS and Arnall Golden & Gregory brought us (and the Atlanta Bar International Law Section) up-to-date on developments in International Arbitration in Atlanta. Our February meeting will be jointly sponsored with the Atlanta Bar Construction Law Sec tion, and will be held on February 26, also at the Buckhead Club at 7:30 am. Our program will consist of a panel of Construction Arbitrators who will discuss what lawyers can do to better present their cases in arbitration hearings. In March, our speaker will be Linda Beyea, Regional Vice President of the American Arbitration Association, who, with other AAA staff, will discuss the new AAA Rules – both Commercial and Appellate, and will highlight other developments at the AAA. Our final speaker will be Judge Paul Bonapfel of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, who will tell us a little about his approach to and success with mediation in filed Bankruptcy court matters. Again, we welcome all non-Section members. Many of the topics that will be discussed in the coming months are of appeal not only to professional ADR Neutrals, but should be of interest to any and all lawyers who find themselves in mediations and arbitrations representing their clients. Atlanta Bar Association 2014-2015 Election Schedule January 3, 2014 January 27, 2014 Deadline for self-nominations (As self-nominations are received, biographical forms will be provided with the request that they must be received in office by February 1 for the Nominating Committees.) March 6, 2014 First ballots e-mailed and mailed to be returned/completed by March 27, 2014. March 27, 2014 32 Notices e-mailed and mailed by standard mail for selfnominations – deadline to return January 27, 2014 First Ballots counted. THE ATLANTA LAWYER January/February 2014 The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association