The Dispute Resolution Section continued its program-packed year into 2022 starting off with a Joint program with the Dispute Resolution Section of the Georgia Bar on January 5, 2022.  The program addressed “Best Practices for Arbitrators” and featured as its panelists: Taylor Tapley Daly (Nelson Mullins), Hon. Neal Dickert (Dickert Mediation), Grant Greenwood (James Bates Brannan Groover LLP), and Jeff Ward (Miles Mediation). The program was moderated by Erika Berg (Nelson Mullins).

Our next program was February 2, 2022, featuring John Allen Chalk (Whitaker Chalk Swindle & Schwartz PLLC) and author of the “The Arbitration Newsletter” who presented on the topic “The Arbitrator as Process Manager”. Scott Zucker (Weismann/Zucker) moderated that session.

Recently, on March 4, 2022, the Dispute Resolution Section held a program, together with the Litigation Section of the Atlanta Bar, titled “The Truth About Judicially Hosted Settlement Conferences.” The panelists included: The Honorable Catherine Salinas (United States Magistrate), The Honorable Philip Etheridge (Former Fulton County Superior Court), and Terrence Lee Croft (JAMS). The moderator for that session was Frank A. Lightmas, Jr. (The Law Offices of Frank A. Lightmas Jr.).

The Dispute Resolution Section is hosting another breakfast program on April 6, 2022. The Topic of April’s program will be “Resolving Health Care Disputes Spurred by the COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices and Hot Tips from Atlanta Health Care Experts for Mediating and Resolving Disputes between Health Care Professionals and Their Partners, Employers, Patients, Insurers, and More.” The panelists will be Hunter Allen (Bendin Sumrall & Ladner LLC), Sidney Welch (Akerman LLP), and Bernard Taylor (JAMS). The moderator for the program will be the Hon. Gail S. Tusan (JAMS).

Our last program of the year is scheduled for the evening of May 4, 2022, at Nelson Mullins. The Dispute Resolution Section will be teaming up with some other sections and hosting a “social hour” event, planned to be a hybrid live and in-person event to celebrate the end of the year for the Section and to discuss: “Marketing for Mediators and Arbitrators.” The Program will be led by Doug Witten (Bay Mediation) and Jennifer Grippa (Miles Mediation).

We hope that all the members of the Bar who are interested in learning about dispute resolution or would like to consider becoming mediators or arbitrators themselves join us for a Section program and learn more about your fellow Bar members who participate.