Resolutions: A Podcast About Dispute Resolution and Prevention

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.

NYIAC’s Rekha Rangachari sits down with JAMS President & CEO Kimberly Taylor to discuss her vision for the organization and how technology—AI, digital tools, and emerging rule frameworks like the JAMS AI Disputes Clause & Rules—is reshaping the future of dispute resolution.
They explore the importance of intentionally building knowledge, taking the high road in both work and life, and why Taylor believes success is ultimately rooted in the human element and practicing empathy. Tune in to learn more about Taylor, recently recognized as one of Corporate Counsel Business Journal’s “50 Women to Watch.”
Learn more about Kim Taylor here.
Read JAMS' AI Disputes Clause & Rules here.
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 we celebrate Ombuds Day in October, host Larry Schooler chats with Drs. Shannon Burton and Loraleigh Keashly about their new book The Organizational Ombuds: Foundations, Fundamentals & The Future,  a remarkable compilation of history, stories, and analysis of this fascinating profession and facet of dispute resolution. 
 
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, AAA’s Aaron Gothelf chats with diplomat and author Dennis Ross about what international peace talks can teach us about everyday mediation. From walking in each other’s shoes to the power of active listening, deadlines, and even strategic misdirection, Ross shows how the fundamentals of negotiation are the same—whether you’re brokering peace between nations or resolving a dispute next door.
Learn more from Dennis Ross at the 2025 Advanced Mediation Institute - hosted virtually Oct. 22 & 23, 2025. Register here. 
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, Rekha Rangachari chats with ADR experts Michele Kern-Rappy and Laurie Vahey about early mediation, best practices for success, and how the R.A.I.S.E. Roadmap can streamline the shift from litigation to mediation while balancing professional and personal well-being.
 
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!