Podcasts about American Arbitration Association

Hold on to your hats - we've finally made it.  Welcome to the 400th Episode Spectacular - recorded live at the LegalWeek Leaders in Tech Law Awards show. This year's LegalWeek conference, hosted by ALM Media and Law.com, was held in New York City from March 24th through March 27th.  More than 6,000 of the biggest names in the industry gathered at the New York Hilton Midtown for the four-day conference.  And yes ... Legal Speak was there conducting live interviews with some of the industry's biggest names - including this special celebratory show. We put together an amazing lineup of six guests to commemorate this milestone.  Joining Patrick Smith and Cedra Mayfield were ALM Global CEO Bill Carter, Emily Lipincott, Senior Legal Futurist at Filevine and a Monica Bay Award Winner, Stephen Poor, Chair Emeritus at Seyfarth Shaw and a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Gina Passarella, Senior Vice President of Content at ALM, Bridget McCormick, President and CEO of the American Arbitration Association, host of the AAAi podcast and a Monica Bay Women in Legal Tech Award Winner and Vanessa Blum Vice President of Legal Product Innovation at ALM. Enjoy !!! Hosts: Cedra Mayfield & Patrick Smith Guests: Bill Carter, Emily Lipincott, Stephen Poor, Gina Passarella, Bridget McCormick & Vanessa Blum  Producer: Charles Garnar

On this week's show: LawNext takes you to the movies. Well, to a specific movie, anyway – a documentary being made to raise public awareness and understanding of the access to justice crisis in this country.  Today's guests are the film's director, documentary filmmaker Laura Hand, who previously directed The Tent Mender, about homelessness on Skid Row in Los Angeles, and Maya Markovich, a legal innovation leader – and two-time previous guest on this show (here and here) – who is serving as a producer and advisor to the documentary. You may know Markovich as executive director of the Justice Technology Association and for her recent appointment as vice president of the American Arbitration Association's thought leadership and research arm.  The documentary, called Justice: Just A Promise?, has been given unprecedented access to film inside the courthouses of the Los Angeles County court system – the largest court system in the world and one where litigants unable to get a lawyer present enormous challenges to the civil justice system.  As this episode airs, the filmmakers have just launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise the money they need to complete and distribute the film. During today's conversation, you'll hear about that campaign, including Hand's surprising explanation of why she went that route to raise funds.  You will also learn all about the making of the film and how the filmmakers aim to raise awareness about a nationwide crisis that far too few are even aware of, let alone understand.  Check out their fundraising page here.    Thank You To Our Sponsors This episode of LawNext is generously made possible by our sponsors. We appreciate their support and hope you will check them out. Paradigm, home to the practice management platforms PracticePanther, Bill4Time, MerusCase and LollyLaw; the e-payments platform Headnote; and the legal accounting software TrustBooks. LEX Reception, Never miss a call, with expert answering service for Lawyers. Legalweek, March 24-27, New York Hilton Midtown. Register today at legalweekshow.com.    If you enjoy listening to LawNext, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.  

Federal civil rights enforcement in the employment area is handled by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC,) the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP,) and the Department of Justice (DOJ.) This webinar will explore efforts to coordinate enforcement by the three agencies and look at ways to avoid duplication of efforts to streamline and strengthen civil rights and equal employment opportunity enforcement in the United States. It will also look at recent efforts by the federal government to increase the presence of DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility) programs in the federal sector and the public response to these developments.Featuring:Jon Greenbaum, Founder, Justice Legal Strategies PLLCProf. George R. La Noue, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Professor Emeritus of Public Policy, University of Maryland Baltimore CountyCraig E. Leen, Partner, K&L Gates; Former Director, OFCCPHon. Jenny R. Yang, Adjunct Professor of Law, New York University School of Law; Former Director, OFCCP; Former Chair, EEOC(Moderator) Robert J. Gaglione, Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association; Former Deputy Director, OFCCP

J.P. Duffy is joined by Jeff Zaino, vice president of the AAA-ICDR's Commercial Division, to discuss the AAA's upcoming centenary and its enduring reputation as a trusted choice for resolving commercial conflicts across industries. The conversation delves into the AAA's significant milestones and accomplishments, highlighting its commitment to innovation, including its approach to AI and the recent appointment of Bridget McCormack as president and CEO. ----more---- Transcript: Intro: Hello and welcome to Arbitral Insights, a podcast series brought to you by our international arbitration practice lawyers here at Reed Smith. I'm Peter Rosher, Global Head of Reed Smith's International Arbitration Practice. I hope you enjoy the industry commentary, insights and anecdotes we share with you in the course of this series, wherever in the world you are. If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed, please do contact our speakers. And with that, let's get started.  J.P.: Welcome back to the next episode of Arbitral Insights, in which we'll discuss the American Arbitration Association with Jeff Zaino, who's the vice president of the AAA's commercial division. I'm J.P. Duffy. I'm an international arbitration partner based in New York that acts as both counsel and arbitrator in international arbitration seated around the world under a variety of governing laws and arbitral rules. I'm qualified in New York, England, and Wales in the DIFC courts in Dubai, where I previously lived and practiced. I routinely represent clients and arbitrations involving a range of issues and frequently sit as an arbitrator in commercial disputes as well. I also have the good fortune to be a member of the AAA's commercial division arbitrator roster, the ICDR panel, and I'm a member of the AAA-ICDR Life Sciences Steering Committee and a member of the ICDR Publications Committee as well. So I get to do a lot with the AAA, which is really a wonderful organization. As I mentioned, with me today is Jeff Zaino, who's the vice president of the commercial division of the AAA in New York. He oversees administration of the large, complex commercial caseload, user outreach, and panel of commercial neutrals in New York. He joined the association in 1990, and Mr. Zaino is dedicated to promoting ADR methods and services. He's also written and published extensively on the topics of electronic reform and ADR, including several podcasts with the ABA, talks on law, and corporate counsel business. And he's appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and Bloomberg to discuss national election reform efforts and the Help America Vote Act. He was deemed a 2018 Alternative Dispute Resolution Champion by the National Law Journal and received awards for his ADR work from the National Academy of Arbitrators, Region 2 and Long Island Labor and Employment Relations Association. In 2022, Jeff received the Alicott Lieber Younger Committee of the Year Award for the New York State Bar Association Commercial and Federal Litigation Section. And in 2023, the Chairman's Award, NYSBA Dispute Resolution Section. So as you can tell, Jeff is a highly experienced, highly lauded arbitration expert, but we're really lucky to have his valuable insights today. So before we begin with some of the substance, let me just give a little bit of background on the AAA and the commercial division so that those that are less familiar have a little bit of information about what we're going to discuss today. The AAA is a non-profit alternative dispute resolution service provider headquartered in New York that administers arbitrations, mediations, and other forms of dispute resolution, such as ombudsperson and dispute avoidance training. It was founded in 1926 to provide an alternative to civil court proceedings, and that makes the AAA one of the oldest arbitral institutions in the world, as well as one of the largest, having administered over 11,553 business-to-business cases in 2023 alone, with a total value of over $19.1 billion. So that should give you a pretty good idea of the scope of what the AAA does. Notably, the AAA has several divisions that offer users substantial subject matter expertise. For instance, the commercial division, which Jeff heads, specializes in business-to-business disputes of all sizes, but has a particular expertise with large complex cases across a variety of industries, including accounting, communications, energy, entertainment, financial services, franchise, hospitality, insurance and reinsurance, life sciences, sports, and technology. There are also separate AAA divisions that focus exclusively on construction issues, consumer disputes, employment matters, government issues, healthcare, and labor disputes. Lastly, as many of our listeners will know, the AAA has a well-known international division, the International Center for Dispute Resolution, or what's colloquially known as the ICDR, that focuses on disputes that have an international component. Before we get into some of our recent developments, Jeff, if you could tell us a bit about what makes the AAA different than other arbitral administrators, I'm sure our audience would love to hear that.  Jeff: Sure. Hey, thanks so much, J.P., for having me today, and thanks for the kind words at the beginning. It's great to be here today. Well, you mentioned it. The AAA is the largest and oldest ADR provider in the world. We have over 700 staff worldwide and 28 offices, including one in Singapore. And we have a huge panel, and you're on that panel. We have 6,000 arbitrators on our panel, and we consider them experts in the industry. And we're really proud of our panel. And like you mentioned, we're hitting our 100th anniversary in 2026. And since then, when I started, I started in the 90s, like you mentioned, 1990. From 1926, when we were founded, to 1990, we did a million cases, one million cases. And then, since then, from 1990 until now, 2024, we hit 8 million, 8 million cases. So it's growing. And I feel that's because of AAA, AAA-ICDR. Again, we've been around for almost 100 years, and we keep on growing. And I feel that we took the A out of ADR. I mean, everyone says alternative dispute resolution, but I really think now it's, and you'll probably agree with me, J.P., that it's dispute resolution. It's something in our toolbox and it's not alternative any longer. And then another thing about us, a huge difference about AAA-ICDR is we're not for profit. That makes us unique in this space. Profit-based companies are a little bit different than what we are. We're not criticizing them, but we're unique in the sense that we work directly for the parties, not for the arbitrators.  J.P.: That's a really interesting stat, Jeff. Let me unpack some of that because I think, first off, if I understood that correctly, you said up until 1990, there were 1 million cases administered. Is that right?  Jeff: That's correct. We did 1 million cases from our founding, 1926, a year after the Federal Arbitration Act in 1925. So we did 1 million when I came on board in 1990. And then from 1990 until now, we've done a total of 8 million. So we doubled that, or tripled it. It's been amazing how the growth that we've seen. And also during a pandemic, we saw a huge growth at AAA-ICDR.  J.P.: And Jeff, one thing that I think you're obviously very involved with the New York State Bar, and I've done quite a bit with the New York State Bar myself over the years. One thing that I noticed, and you just reminded me of this, was an uptick in submission agreements during the pandemic, by which I mean parties taking existing disputes for which there was no arbitration clause, drafting an arbitration clause for it to submit it and move it into arbitration. And I think some of that was a function of the recognition that disputes would founder if the courts were closed and that parties needed things done. Did you see that kind of growth during the pandemic of submission agreements as well?  Jeff: Absolutely. The courts were shut down, like you mentioned, for three to four months worldwide. And the ADR providers, like the AAA-ICDR, did not shut down. And we did have submissions, more submissions than we've ever seen. And usually it's only about, I would say, 2%, 3% of our caseload is submissions, but we saw the court systems. And I had, personally, I had over a billion dollar case, a bankruptcy case that came to us from Texas and it was mediated. We had two mediators, one in Connecticut and one in Texas. We had six parties, 40 people showed up on the Zoom, J.P., it was amazing. And that was a submission to AAA through the court system. The judge talked to the parties and said, listen, we're shut down. This is an important matter. Why don't you go to AAA? And so, yes, we did see submissions during the pandemic. I'm not sure if that's going to continue on. Most of our disputes are features of contract, as you know.  J.P.: Yeah. I mean, that's always going to be the case in arbitration, right? That the vast majority of cases will be subject to a pre-dispute arbitration clause. But I think it's really interesting when you see submission agreements like that, because I think it's a clear recognition that one, arbitration is a really valuable tool. And two, it's a real plus for the AAA and a real nod of confidence that those are submitted to AAA because that's parties taking something they know has to be figured out and saying, all right, AAA is the guy to do. I wanted to pick up, too, on that exponential growth of 8 million cases between 1990 and the present versus 1 million over the first, you know, what is that, 70-something years or 60-plus years?  Jeff: 60-plus years, absolutely, yeah. J.P.: Are there particular industries that you've seen significant growth in since the 1990 period that you were discussing, like between 1990 and the present? Are there particular industries that you are seeing more growth in or that you think there could be more growth in? Just be curious to get your views on that.  Jeff: Sure, sure. And my area of commercial, as you know, because you're on the commercial panel and the ICDR panel, is healthcare. And I know you're a big part of healthcare. Also, financial services. We've seen a huge growth in that in the last five years. We put together an advisory committee for financial services on insurance. And then also, as you probably know, consumer. We saw a big amount of consumer cases during the pandemic and even prior to the pandemic. And that's a big caseload. It's about 30% of our caseload at AAA-ICDR. But again, people criticize that sometimes and say, well, that's not fair to the consumer. They're forced into arbitration. But what I say, J.P., to law students and when I speak at events like this, I say, listen, we don't draft ourselves into contracts. AAA-ICDR does not do that. People draft us into contracts and we just try to make the process, we try to level the playing field. And we do a lot of consumer, but we do a lot of high-end commercial cases, as you know, a lot of international cases and things like that. But the two areas, I would say, a long way to answer to your question, J.P., is I would say healthcare and financial services, insurance, that's where we're seeing a lot of growth and also technology.  J.P.: The consumer aspect is one that is obviously very, very, very hot right now, given things like the mass arbitration rules and things like that. And we will probably touch on that in a bit, but it's a really valuable service to provide. And that's one thing that I think the AAA really does well. As you mentioned, it's a not-for-profit organization. It's not an organization that's out to make money off of consumer disputes. It's really there to help everybody resolve them. So something for everyone to keep in mind.  Jeff: The company bears the cost, not the consumer. And I hope people know that, that we're not out, like you said, we're not out to make a big buck on this. We're just trying to level a playing field and access to justice for these people.  J.P.: Yeah. And that's really what it is. At the end of the day, it's access to justice. And a lot of times the alternative is small claims court, which is not always a great choice. I've sat as an arbitrator in small claims court a few times, and I can tell you it's a great process when it works, but it can be a challenging process as well so  Jeff: Without a doubt.  J.P.: Always something to keep in mind. Yeah. Well, let's talk then about some of the recent developments because there have been quite a few. And as you mentioned, it's coming up on the centennial for the AAA-ICDR. And a lot has happened, obviously, in the 100 years of its existence, almost 100 years of its existence.  Jeff: Sure.  J.P.: And quite a few of those things are pretty monumental. And one of the biggest ones, I guess, is that in February 2023. Bridget McCormack took over as president and CEO of the AAA-ICDR from India Johnson, who was in that role for a lot of years. Bridget was previously the chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, if I'm correct, and was also a professor and associate dean at the prestigious University of Michigan Law School. So she brings a pretty extensive wealth of experience to the AAA. Now that she's been in that role for about a year and a half, how have things been different at the AAA-ICDR under Bridget's leadership?  Jeff: It's been wonderful. I mean, Bridget brings such life to the company right now. I mean, India Johnson was great. She put our house in order, our finances. but Bridget is now doing a wonderful job in getting out there. I'm not sure, J.P., have you met her yet?  J.P.: I have not had the pleasure of meeting her in person, but I'll sort of preview for our listeners that we are in the process of trying to get Bridget into our firm to talk to everyone about what the AAA-ICDR does and give sort of an insider's view for our partners.  Jeff: Oh, wonderful. She's such a dynamic speaker. If you go on YouTube, you'll see she speaks all the time. It's amazing. Whenever I ask her to speak at an event in New York, I feel bad about asking her because I know how busy she is, but she does agree. But I have to find a space in her calendar because if you see on LinkedIn, I know you're on LinkedIn too, J.P., and she is everywhere. It seems like every week she's speaking somewhere, very dynamic, and she embraces AI. And I know we're going to talk about AI a little bit, but also innovation. And she's been doing such a terrific job being the face of the AAA, and we needed that. India, again, did a wonderful job, but Bridget is out there and around the world doing international events, doing events here domestically. And it really, I think, is getting the word out there about ADR and about, well, I should say DR, sorry, dispute resolution, and also access to justice. Being a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan, doing a terrific job. And really, the people in the company are very excited. We have 700 plus employees, and we're excited with our new president. It really has been a great time with her.  J.P.: You know it's funny. The one thing I've universally heard from anyone who works there when I ask about Bridget is everyone says great energy, great leadership, and really, really, really strong presence, which is really wonderful to hear because you seem to be echoing that pretty strongly as well.  Jeff: Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, when she works a room, when she talks at an event, and it's great. We're forward-looking right now, big time. The AAA now is looking, AAA-ICDR, looking towards the future with innovation, with ODR, and we're going to talk about that, and with access to justice, which I love. And she's doing a terrific job.  J.P.: Well, that's great to hear. And I think we are going to talk about odr.com in just a second. But before we do that, I'd just be curious, because they may well be the same thing. But what would you say Bridget's greatest accomplishment is so far?  Jeff: I would say being the face of the AAA and embracing new ideas. For years, we didn't really, we moved kind of slowly. We embraced new ideas, but we moved slowly like a battleship turning around or an aircraft carrier turning around. We moved slowly. We're not doing that any longer. Bridget wants to move on quickly, which is great, and embrace things that are going on. And I think we're ahead of the curve on a lot of things, with acquiring ODR, with our embracing AI, with her ideas about innovation, access to justice. We are, I think, really ahead of the curve with respect to these areas, ahead of law firms, ahead of some of our competitors. And I attribute that to Bridget.  J.P.: That's really great to hear. That's really great to hear. And it's really hard with a large organization to be nimble. Exactly. I know we do that pretty well at Reed Smith, I think, too, but it's a challenge, and it does require great leadership in order to get everybody on board with that. So it's wonderful to hear that's happening at the AAA-ICDR, and you see it.  Jeff: Oh, yeah, without a doubt. And also, we're almost 100-year-old organizations, so you would think that we wouldn't be thinking about these innovation things in the future, but we are, which is terrific. We're an old organization, but not really. We're ready for the future.  J.P.: Well, let's talk about that future a bit because it's clear that there's a strong focus on that. And one of the first things that I noticed is the odr.com resourceful internet solutions acquisition. So for those that don't know anything about that, maybe you could fill the audience in and give us a bit of background about that one and what it's done for the AAA-ICDR.  Jeff: Sure. We just recently, a few months ago, acquired odr.com. It's a company that's been around for approximately 25 years. Online dispute resolution that can be completely customized for your needs for online dispute resolution. And they've been doing a wonderful job for many years. Okay. obviously much smaller than the AAA-ICDR, but they've been working with us. I'm not sure if you know this, J.P., but they've helped us with our no-fault business in New York. They help us set up our system initially years ago. So we've had a relationship with them for probably two decades with ODR. So we recently acquired them and we're working with them. Their most important area is right now is mediation. They have mediate.com and we're looking at  our mediation.org and combining those two. Okay. And we want to expand our mediation business. And again, I mentioned it a couple of times, access to justice. We want high volume cases. Okay. We do obviously high-end cases, high dollar cases, but right now we're seeing with odr.com, we can spread the business, we can grow the business and we can expand our mediation business. And that's what we're trying to do because mediation is growing. As you know, J.P., it's it mediation has grown tremendously over the last couple of decades. But now with ODR online dispute resolution, I mean, it's going to really grow, I think. So that's what that's why we acquired it. And, you know, Colin Rule, I'm not sure, J.P., if you've ever met Colin Rule. The head of ODR.com.  J.P.: I have not had the pleasure.  Jeff: Yeah, he's he's phenomenal. know if anyone that's listening to this podcast, you just Google Colin Rule. He's been in this space for many, many years and he's a phenomenal person. And I'm really excited about this acquisition. And I think we're going to work so well together.  J.P.: Jeff, just for people like me that are a little bit less savvy with how some of these things work technologically and sort of mechanically, is odr.com and mediate.com is a function of that, right? Or a part of that?  Jeff: Yeah, it's a part of it. Yeah. And I believe they have arbitration.com, but now it's going to be merged in with the AAA. And the platform of odr.com is going to be used for our mediation services at AAA for online mediation services.  J.P.: Okay. That's what I was getting at. So this is like a platform where users or parties and the mediator all log in, communicate with each other. Exchange their positions, and do everything that way. So is it correct to say it's sort of a virtual mediation platform?  Jeff: Yeah, without a doubt. And now the timing is perfect, J.P., because we just came off the pandemic about a couple of years ago, and we were seeing, as you probably know, as an arbitrator at AAA, we were doing thousands of virtual hearings arbitration and also mediation, and it worked. It really worked.  J.P.: Yeah. And that's really one of the true benefits that came out of the pandemic, in my view. Prior to the pandemic, I had always done certain aspects of cases virtually. And there was video conferencing was something that you could suggest, but that parties and frankly, arbitrators were not always that willing to embrace. But I think the pandemic really showed everyone that you can do things virtually. Efficiently, cost-effectively, and in a way that you don't need an in-person hearing for, and that it can be really successful. So I'm sure the timing has been right for odr.com and that acquisition. In terms of integrating it, what's the full timeline for getting it fully integrated, if you don't mind my asking?  Jeff: Sure. I mean, right now we're focusing on mediation. Okay. That's going to be our focus for the next several months. And then I think we're going to try to see if we can move this into arbitration also, because we're still seeing a lot of arbitrations, not a lot. I mean, I would say that 30% of our arbitrations are still being done in the virtual world. We're starting to see, and JP you've been at my Midtown office in Midtown Manhattan on 42nd Street, and we're starting to see about 60 to 70% capacity as an in-person for arbitration. But there's still a segment that wants to do it in the virtual world. And this is where odr.com comes into play. And right now it's, but the focus right now is mediation and working with our mediation team at the AAA-ICDR.  J.P.: Got it. Well, you know, it's funny. I have an employment partner who told me the odds of them ever doing an employment mediation below a certain value in person again are slim to none.  Jeff: Interesting.  J.P.: Yeah. And I think you guys have really hit the nail on the head with this.  Jeff: Well, with labor similar to employment, we're seeing almost 80% of labor cases now in New York City, I'm talking, are being done virtual, maybe even a little bit more than that. They got so used to doing it in the virtual world for labor cases, union management. It's interesting to see where we're going with this. But commercial type disputes, the type that you handle, J.P., we're starting to see more people coming back into in-person. However, we're not seeing the days of a witness flying in from Paris for one hour because we have all the technology at the offices, our offices around the country, the voice activated camera. So we don't need to ship in people for one hour. It's a waste of money.  J.P.: Yeah. And that's, you know, that's really the great thing that this technology allows for, which is, you know, I just did a, to mention the hearing space, Jeff, I just did a pretty large week-long hearing earlier in the year at the AAA's offices on 42nd Street. And it was great, but there were, you know, and I do, you know, myself prefer in-person for certain things, but, you know, during that hearing, we had witnesses that were exactly what you're describing, I mean, really only required to confirm a few issues or give, you know, a short cross examination and they were located in pretty diverse regions. Absolutely no reason to incur the time or expense or frankly, just the headache of bringing those people in from around the world for scheduling purposes and everything else.  Jeff: Sure.  J.P.: We did those, you know, we did those witnesses virtually and that is a real, that's a real benefit. You know, you sort of do that hybrid approach and you can save, it's way more efficient, It's way more cost-effective, and it is just easier from a scheduling perspective. So this is a really great development.  Jeff: Yeah, and J.P., have you noticed, I mean, when you were probably at my office on 42nd Street, we have now the big monitors. And I've noticed that arbitrators like yourself and advocates like yourself are using more technology in the rooms. We have these cupboards in our hearing rooms where the binders used to go, the big binders for exhibits and things like that. No longer am I seeing that. Most arbitrators are now using our, we provide iPads, we have the big monitors, and it seems like people are going away from paper, which is great too.  J.P.: Yeah, it's funny. I'm sort of like probably the last of the Mohicans where people really had to do things like mini books. Like when I was a real junior associate, we would have hearing bundles that were in mini book form and they were, you'd have 55 volumes and everything would be in there. I mean, there's sort of those nightmare stories where parties would spend hundreds of thousands of dollars just pulling together the paper for a hearing. And that, you know, that to me always seemed a little bit crazy. In this day and age, it is totally unnecessary. I would much prefer to have everything electronically. And that hearing space really allows for that. So really, really great to hear that parties are embracing that because it's such a cost savings and it's an efficiency. You know, it just doesn't need to be the way it was.  Jeff: Sure.  J.P.: Well, let's talk then a bit about some of the AI stuff that you were mentioning, because I think that is really, I have to confess, I don't understand it as well as I should. I think most people, if they were being honest, probably have an inkling of what it does, but don't really know. I'd love to hear what the AAA-ICDR is doing with AI, because it's a really, really, really groundbreaking development.  Jeff: Absolutely. Well, if you Google Bridget McCormack, our president, she speaks on AI quite frequently and it really has embraced it. And how have we embraced that AAA? Well, she encourages the staff to use it. And we have, she's even recommended certain programs that we should use. But with respect to how are we using it with respect to running our business? Well, we have ClauseBuilder and you know about ClauseBuilder. It's a tool that was developed in 2013 where people can go online and develop a clause for arbitration. Now we have ClauseBuilder AI, which as opposed to going through various modules with the original ClauseBuilder, you can just type in, I want an employment clause. I want three arbitrators. I want limited discovery. And the clause builder AI will build that clause for you. That's something we just rolled out. Also for arbitrators, scheduling orders. We have an AI program right now for arbitrators where a scheduling order usually takes an arbitrator, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, J.P., usually about an hour to two hours after you do the preliminary hearing. Well, now AI reduces that time to probably a couple of minutes for an arbitrator. So we rolled that out. And we obviously were having discussions about low dollar cases, high volume cases. Can AI be used? And we're looking into that. We haven't rolled that out yet. It's not going to eliminate you, J.P., but it's something that we're looking at right now. And we are embracing it. I use it for various things. I'll give you an example. I use it for if I'm doing an educational program, I'll type in, you know, I'm doing a program on arbitration and discovery. Can you give me a good title for this program? I've been doing this for years. I've used a lot of different titles for programs, and it's wonderful to use AI for those purposes and for editing things. So I like the fact that our company embraces it. Some companies do not. Some law firms, as you know, J.P., do not embrace AI. And we had that case last year where I think an attorney, it wasn't arbitration, it was litigation, where he cited cases through AI that never existed.  J.P.: Yeah, that's actually happened more than once since then. And it's been kind of amazing to me. Yeah, it's funny. We as a law firm at Reed Smith have definitely embraced AI. We've got a person who's sort of C-suite level that addresses that and that heads that function up. And I know we are trying to bring it in much more for things that are sort of routine, that don't require necessarily true attorney time. And it is a real game changer. I mean, you know, anybody who doesn't get on board with AI is going to get left behind at some point because it is truly, truly the wave of the future, in my view.  Jeff: Oh, absolutely. And the way I look at it, people say, well, it seems scary or whatever. But what about Google Maps and things that we've embraced years ago? I couldn't live, J.P., without Google Maps. So that's technology that it's going to help us. It's not going to take us over or whatever. It's going to help us enhance what we're doing.  J.P.: Yeah, I think the concerns about Skynet are a little bit, you know, Skynet and Terminator are a little bit far-fetched, but it is something that we all need to get on board with. It's a lot like the way that, you know, when I first started practicing the notion of uploading paper documents to be reviewed and then using search terms was really scary for a lot of people, but that, you know, that became commonplace and you couldn't function without it. This will do the same thing to the extent it's not the same. Now, Jeff, what's the overlap, if any, between that you see between some of the AI initiatives and odr.com?  Jeff: We're not really combining those yet, but I think we will. There's discussions about it, but right now we're focusing on mediation with odr.com and we're discussing rolling out AI with various things to help to assist our arbitrators, are mediators, but I think eventually, you know, there'll be a combination, I think, but right now there's not.  J.P.: Got it. Well, we'll stay tuned because I can't imagine those two things are going to stay in separate houses for too long. Well, we could talk all day about what's going on at the AAA-ICDR right now because it's just amazing. I mean, it's really incredibly, incredibly dynamic at the moment. But what I'd like to do is sort of shift ahead to looking ahead to the future. We talked a bit earlier about how the AAA is rapidly approaching its centennial anniversary, And that's kind of a natural reflection point for any organization. If you were to sort of sum things up and say, what accomplishments from its first century of existence that the AAA is most proud of, what do you think you would point to?  Jeff: Well, I would point to two things. First, how amazing the AAA-ICDR was and also other ADR providers. When pandemic hit, within a week, we were up with 700 employees doing thousands and thousands of cases. And I was worried about the arbitrators, not you, J.P., but other arbitrators with the technology. And our 6,000 arbitrators, it was flawless. It was amazing or seamless. It really went well. And that I'm very, very proud of because I had been with the AAA for a long time prior to that. And I was really concerned that the arbitrators weren't going to get it. We weren't going to be able to understand Microsoft Teams, Zoom, all that kind of stuff. So we did a great job during pandemic. We had some of our best years during pandemic with respect to helping society in arbitrating cases. But also some of the things that we've done for state and federal governments, you know, state and federal governments, Storm Sandy, Katrina. Those are the things I'm very proud of. I was a part of the Storm Sandy stuff where we administered 6,000 cases for homeowners and with insurance companies. And we were able to do that very quickly. And we're a not-for-profit. So the federal government and the state governments look at us and will hire us to do those kind of projects. And we can quickly mobilize because of our staff. So those two things really stand out in my career at AAA.  J.P.: That's a really, really interesting thing to point to because that truly embodies the best that the AAA can offer. It's an incredible service that really helped people with real-life issues during really challenging times. So wonderful to hear. What would you see for the next 100 years in the AAA? Like, you know, looking forward, I know it's going to be here for, it's going to be having its two, it's bicentennial at some point. It will absolutely occur. What would you see is, you know, if you were to fast forward yourself a hundred years and still be in the seat, because by then technology will have kept us all alive for the next hundred years, and you're Jeff Zaino 2.0, sitting around in 200 years, where would you see the AAA-ICDR at that point?  Jeff: Well, I'm on part of the committee for the 100-year anniversary. We have a committee already formed two years in advance to get ready for our 100th year anniversary, and we're talking about this stuff. And I think some of the themes that Bridget's talking about, access to justice, I think we're going to be, we saw from 1990 to now 8 million cases, we're going to see far more. We're going to see the public now embracing arbitration. When I was hired by the AAA in the 90s, I didn't even know what AAA stood for. I mean, with the name, American Arbitration Association. I didn't know what arbitration was. We are reaching out to law schools. We're doing collaboration with a lot of law schools in New York and throughout the country, throughout the world. And I think the word's going to get out there that arbitration is the way to go. Our mediation is too. And I'm excited about that. Also, we're going to see far more diversity at AAA and also in the community. And that's something that we really care about at the AAA. Right now, J.P., as you probably know, any list that goes out at the AAA is a minimum of 30% diverse. So we're going to see an increase in that area, but also access to justice for the public.  J.P.: Really, really great. And I think we will all watch with rapt attention to see what happens because it's only good things in the future for the AAA-ICDR, that's for sure. Well, Jeff, I just want to thank you. But before we wrap this up, I'm going to reserve my right to bring you back for another podcast because there's so much more we could talk about. So, but is there anything I missed that we should hit on now that would be great for the audience to hear? I know there's just so much going on.  Jeff: Well, I hope the audience when in 2026, when we have our 100th anniversary, I hope people participate in it because we're going to do things worldwide and we're going to be doing events everywhere. And that year we really are, we have a huge team of people that are working in our 100th year anniversary and not to just necessarily promote AAA-ICDR, but to promote arbitration and mediation. And that's what we're going to be doing in 2026, and I'm very excited about it.  J.P.: You heard it here first, folks. Arbitration is the future. And Jeff said it himself. So we will definitely watch closely. Well, good. And just to give a very quick preview on this one, too, because Jeff, you mentioned it. We are going to, in the future, have your colleagues from the ICDR side of the house come on, and we're going to bring some of the new folks from Singapore and a few other people. So more to come. And it's just incredible to see.  Jeff: We look forward to it. And J.P., I'd love to have another sit down with you. It's been great.  J.P.: Good. We absolutely will. So that then will conclude our discussion at the American Arbitration Association for now. And I want to thank our guest, Jeff Zaino of the AAA Commercial Division for his invaluable insights. And I want to thank you, the audience, for listening today. You should feel free to reach out to Reed Smith about today's podcast with any questions you might have. And you should absolutely as well feel free to reach out to Jeff. I know he's super responsive and he would love to chat with you directly if you have any questions. And we look forward to having you tune in for future episodes of the series, including future updates with Jeff and our podcast with the ICDR as well. So thank you everyone. And we will be back.  Outro: Arbitral Insights is a Reed Smith production. Our producers are Ali McCardell and Shannon Ryan. For more information about Reed Smith's global international arbitration practice, email arbitralinsights@reedsmith.com. To learn about the Reed Smith Arbitration Pricing Calculator, a first-of-its-kind mobile app that forecasts the cost of arbitration around the world, search Arbitration Pricing Calculator on reedsmith.com or download for free through the Apple and Google Play app stores. You can find our podcast on podcast streaming platforms, reedsmith.com, and our social media accounts at Reed Smith LLP.  Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to suggest or establish standards of care applicable to particular lawyers in any given situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Any views, opinions, or comments made by any external guest speaker are not to be attributed to Reed Smith LLP or its individual lawyers.  All rights reserved.  Transcript is auto-generated.

J.P. Duffy welcomes Luis Martinez, vice president of the ICDR, and Thara Gopalan, director of arbitration and ADR for the Asia-Pacific region, to discuss the organization and its strategic plans for expansion in Asia. Together, they explore the ICDR's role in the global arbitration landscape, the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in this dynamic region, and the potential impact of these developments on the global arbitration community. ----more---- Transcript: Intro: Hello and welcome to Arbitral Insights, a podcast series brought to you by our international arbitration practice lawyers here at Reed Smith. I'm Peter Rosher, Global Head of Reed Smith's International Arbitration Practice. I hope you enjoy the industry commentary, insights, and anecdotes we share with you in the course of this series, wherever in the world you are. If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed, please do contact our speakers. And with that, let's get started.  J.P.: Welcome back to the next episode of Arbitral Insights, in which we will discuss the ICDR and its Asia initiatives with Luis Martinez and Thara Gopalan, who are both vice presidents of the International Center for Dispute Resolution, or ICDR. I'm J.P. Duffy. I'm an international arbitration partner with Reed Smith, based in New York, that acts as both counsel and arbitrator in international arbitration seated around the world under a variety of governing laws and arbitral rules. I'm qualified in New York, England, and Wales, and the DIFC courts in Dubai where I previously practiced. I also have the good fortune to be listed on the ICDR arbitrator roster and to regularly sit as an arbitrator in ICDR Matters, as well as acting as counsel in arbitration governed by the ICDR rules. We're very fortunate to have with us today a repeat guest, Luis Martinez. Luis is the vice president for the ICDR, which is the international division of the American Arbitration Association. Luis is responsible for their business development covering the East Coast of the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, the EU, and the UK. He's co-chair of the ABA's International Arbitration Committee and an honorary president of the Inter-American Commercial Arbitration Commission. He's admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey and is a dual citizen of Spain and the United States. And our third guest today is Thara Gopalan. Thara leads the ICDR in Asia and is based in the organization's Asian headquarters in Singapore. Thara brings extensive experience in commercial disputes to the table. Prior to joining the ICDR, she was a commercial disputes attorney, representing clients in international arbitrations and at all levels of the Singapore courts. Her expertise spans a wide range of industries, and she has a proven track record of successfully navigating complex legal issues, including high stakes to bet the company disputes. So as you can see, we have excellent guests today, and Luis and Thara will be able to tell us not just about the ICDR's ongoing initiatives around the world, but in Asia in particular. So we're really looking forward to hearing their insights. Let me just set the table a bit by talking for a moment about the ICDR for those that aren't as familiar with it. The ICDR was established in 1996 and is the international division of the AAA, which was itself founded in 1926. The ICDR provides dispute resolution services to businesses and organizations around the world in cross-border matters and administers all arbitrations filed with the AAA that have an international component. While it's based in New York, the ICDR has offices in Houston, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Singapore. And it also maintains a separate group called ICDR Canada for Canadian disputes. The ICDR has some of the most modern rules in the world, which it last revised in 2021. And you can learn more about those innovations in a podcast I recorded with Luis in April 2021 that's available on iTunes, PodBean, and the Reed Smith website. Now, to give you a sense of the scope of the ICDR's caseload, it administered 848 new claims in 2023 with an amount in controversy of 5 billion. So as you can see, they're one of the largest and most active arbitral administrators in the world. And we're really fortunate to have Luis and Thara here today to talk about that. Now, let's jump right in on that caseload and those caseload statistics for a minute. Luis, of the 848 new cases filed in 2023, what were the top three industries represented?  Luis: Well, thanks, J.P. And it's a real pleasure to join you again on this podcast series and to be here with my colleague from our Asia Case Management Center. To touch base, our statistics are available on our infographics, which we do put one together each year to give some summaries and highlights of our particular caseload. You can find them on our website at icdr.org. But the top three caseloads came in using international arbitration, the ICDR system in the technology sector, the international construction sector, and international financial services. Those are the top three groupings we saw last year in 2023.  J.P.: Now, Luis, that's interesting to me. I think the third category you mentioned was international financial services. Can you expand on that a bit? Because that's an area that I think is underrepresented in most institutions in the international arbitration space.  Luis: Sure. They cover a range of different subtypes in the financial sector. There could be cases involving the financing of infrastructure projects. There could be cases involving financial documents in M&A agreements or shareholder agreements. It is an interesting cross-section, and it is an area that we are focusing on, not only in the international sector, but also working with our colleagues in the domestic divisions. So I think that with the construction and the technology caseloads are areas of focus for us.  J.P.: That's great to hear. Now, Luis, tell me a bit more, too, about the technology sector and the types of cases you're seeing there.  Luis: Sure. And that has been an expanding caseload for us in the last several years. The largest subtypes of these cases, they include, for example, software system developments. We have cases in related to that with partnership and joint ventures. You could have subcontracting agreements with independent contractors and, of course, licensing disputes. An interesting fact that goes with that is that over two-thirds of these technology cases, they actually settle prior to an award hearing and 28% prior to incurring any arbitrator compensation at all. As you know, we do a great deal at the outset to try to explore any procedural efficiencies. As we covered in the rules, the mediation step is actually obligatory with us unless the parties opt out. We will be amenable, of course, especially if the case falls within the appropriate range, use the expedited rules. So whatever the institution can do to bring the parties together and try to get these things settled at the earliest possible step is something that we try to explore.  J.P.: That's really interesting. And I guess it's unsurprising to me that the technology sector would be so highly represented in the case statistics, because we really are seeing a lot more cross-border technology transactions, both in software, hardware. I mean, I think all the different facets of the technology sector, which is really, really broad. So that's pretty interesting. What are some of the other industries, Luis, that you're seeing cases come from?  Luis: The other top leaders that use our rules are the real estate. We have entertainment cases. We actually are the administrators for the International Film and Television Alliance that also has opted to use our rules. Insurance, energy is very important. We have subgroups, by the way, that we've created joint teams internally, combining international and our commercial colleagues to focus on various sectors. So energy, construction, life sciences, financial services are all areas where we're pooling our resources and studying the market and seeing how best to position our domestic and international services. Energy is very important. And I think, you know, the subtopic of that, of course, obviously the upstream and downstream types of disputes, but certainly the ESG-related claims that we're going to be seeing and we're forecasting that that's going to be on the rise, Cases brought to mandate perhaps climate change-related policy or conduct. Cases brought to seek financial redress for damages associated with climate change, etc. And I think the energy sector is going to see a surge on that and probably some other sectors too because it's not limited only to the energy sector.  J.P.: That's really interesting. And just to circle back on one of the earlier industries you mentioned, it's kind of fascinating to me. I've had the opportunity to sit as an arbitrator and to act as counsel in a few entertainment cases. And that's a sector globally that I think gets overlooked on occasion. People tend to not realize how broad that industry is and how much cross-border activity there is in that industry. So pretty fascinating.  Luis: It also plays a large part in our history. I mean, as you mentioned, the ICDR was started in '96, but going far back as 1927, we had a foreign division. And in the 50s, we also worked with the motion picture industry, which really helped us establish offices throughout the country because they wanted to have local offices in many locations where they have theaters. And that really led to our national infrastructure to provide ADR services in the United States.  J.P.: Interesting. I was not aware of that history, but that makes an awful lot of sense. Now, let's turn to Thara for a minute, just to sort of talk about that caseload as well. Thara, how many of those cases had an Asian component to them?  Thara: So we're seeing about 351 Asian parties use our services in 2023. A lot of these parties come out of China, about 174 Chinese parties. And our second largest user is India at about 32 parties. We've got some uses in Central Asia as well as Southeast Asia and Korea as well. Those tend to really focus on construction as well as energy projects.  J.P.: Interesting. So just my sort of back of the napkin calculation, a little over 40% of the cases have an Asian component to them, if I've understood you correctly.  Thara: Absolutely right. 351 out of 848.  J.P.: That's great. And then of those users, predominantly China first and then India second.  Thara: That's correct. So China from really all over the Chinese market, whether that's Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong parties as well. But we're seeing that across a whole gamut of industries, a lot in technology, but quite a significant number in construction as well.  J.P.: That makes a lot of sense. And I would assume, I may have missed you saying it, but I would assume energy is a relatively significant one there as well.  Thara: That's absolutely right. You'll find that a lot of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean contractors are building some of the energy projects that we're seeing in Southeast Asia. And there's a big sort of energy transition era that's going on in Southeast Asia. So a lot of Chinese parties are involved in that, and we're seeing some of that work come to us.  J.P.: That's great. Now, amongst the Indian parties that you're seeing, what sectors do those cases typically fall into, if any?  Thara: Some of those cases are pure commercial cases, things like contractual disputes, partnership disputes. But we are seeing some technology cases, especially from parties situated in Bangalore. And we've got a small number of construction and infrastructure cases as well.  J.P.: Interesting. I would suspect that you're going to see many more technology cases. And I'm also surprised to hear that there aren't more life sciences cases. But I think that is probably coming as well, because those are two sectors I see an awful lot in the Indian market. Unsurprisingly, given the makeup of the Indian economy.  Thara: Yeah, you're absolutely right. I think pharmaceuticals, life sciences is a really big economic driver for India for some time now. And we probably will expect to see a lot more of cases that come out of those regions. But for the time being, really a lot of the stuff that we are seeing is in that technology and construction space.  J.P.: That makes a lot of sense. That makes a lot of sense. Now, amongst the caseload or the 2023 caseload, how many cases were emergency cases?  Thara: Right. So we've actually had about 160 cases up till the end of 31st December 2023 that are emergency arbitration cases. And quite a lot of these disputes, we had 72, I think, where emergency relief was granted either partially or in full. 24 of those cases, parties settled. 21 cases, the application was withdrawn.  J.P.: Interesting. Well, it's such a high number of cases settling at the outset. I think that's a real testament to how the ICDR does things because I'm not sure that's the case with every institution. So kudos to the ICDR for its administration plans.  Thara: You know, some of the things that are really interesting about the ICDR, and I love sharing this number because it's just astonishing, really. We have 72% of cases settle out of all arbitrations that are filed with us, and over 30% of those settle without any arbitrator compensation. That's based on a study that we commissioned in 2016, and we are in the process of updating that, but we expect those statistics to be roughly similar.  J.P.: Interesting. Now, will those statistics also break out? I know you said about 30% of those cases will settle without any arbitrate or compensation. Will it also break out, for instance, cases that settle before the final hearing or after the preliminary hearing conference? It would be interesting to see. And I don't even know how you would capture that easily, but the various stages of which cases settle.  Thara: Well, I've got to discuss that with my data analytics team. I don't think they're going to be my best friends if I make them do all that work. But certainly 72% before final award is just kind of remarkable. I don't think I've seen comparable statistics anywhere else.  J.P.: Yeah, I certainly haven't heard of any, so that's pretty amazing.  Luis: I will add that technology that we are implementing, incorporating AI, has been the focus for us, especially with the arrival of Bridget McCormack, who's really emphasized the need to update and focus on innovation, on the incorporation of AI. We're really looking at what we can do to simplify the capture and tracking of our data with these new tools. And the team has been increased, including adding some data scientists as well. So we all know that data is king, especially in this field. Obviously, we're bound by confidentiality to a great extent. But where we can pull relevant data from the actual process without revealing the identity of the parties, I think will really be helpful for the marketplace to understand the ICDR caseload and system. So it's an exciting time for us with this focus on AI.  J.P.: Yeah, that's really great to hear because it's such an interesting dichotomy that confidentiality is so important and such a valuable aspect of the process, but it does hinder some of the ability to get transparency and understanding from the outside. So finding a happy medium there with tools like AI is really important. Let's transition a bit to talk somewhat more about the ICDR's Asia plans. Thara, you've obviously been on the ground in Singapore for quite a while. Why don't you tell us a little bit and tell the audience a little bit more about the ICDR's presence in Asia?  Thara: Thanks, JP. So we've actually been in Asia since February 2006, where we were invited to come into Singapore to help them with their plans to grow Singapore as a hub for arbitration. We officially started an Asia case management center in 2019, and that's staffed with full-time case managers who handle a substantial portion of our Asian caseload. Apart from our sort of formal setup, what we've been doing in the last couple of months is really establishing inroads into the markets directly across Asia. We've refreshed something called the ICDR Asia Advisory Council, And that's chaired by a leading arbitration practitioner, former president of the CIArb, Francis Xavier Senior Counsel. And we've also set up national committees in Singapore and the greater China region. We will shortly be setting up a committee in India. And we're really excited about that because the whole gamut of AAA-ICDR is actually going to descend on India to launch that in a couple of weeks.  J.P.: That's great to hear. That's great to hear. Well, Francis Xavier is certainly an excellent person to help with that effort. And it's really wonderful to hear about the India Initiative, because that is such an important market. It's one I've practiced in or dealt with, I should say, more accurately for well over 20 years. And it's just such a rich market that really has so much possibility. So really wonderful to hear. Now, in addition to India and China, what are some of the other markets that the ICDR is focusing on?  Thara: Well, we're really looking at sectors, I want to say. So technology and construction are the focus, and we're sort of looking at geographic markets based on those sectors. So for the time being, apart from China and India, there's actually a lot that's going on in Southeast Asia at the moment. Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam all have a ton of infrastructure projects that are up incoming and plans for the construction of significant infrastructure in the next five to 10 years. And a lot of that is being built by Chinese contractors, Japanese contractors, and Korean contractors, in addition to the very large domestic players in each of these markets. So that's really where a lot of our attention is going to be focused on for the next couple of years.  J.P.: Wow, that's really impressive. That's really impressive. Now, what are some of the other initiatives that the ICDR has to strengthen its ties in Asia?  Thara: What we're really focusing on now is trying to spotlight thought leadership that's coming out of Asia. We've got a ton of really clever lawyers all over Asia, and we're trying to give them better opportunities to have a greater voice, rather, on the global stage. So that's something that our national committees are working really hard to do. In Singapore, that's led by Theo Shen Yi Senior Counsel, and in Greater China, that's led by Dr. Zhang Lixia. So there's a bit of a focus on trying to ensure that there's pathways for younger practitioners who are up and coming in the market, that we tap on the expertise of our extremely qualified and senior international panel of arbitrators, but also that we spotlight or we shine the spotlight rather on groups that may not necessarily have as much access to high-powered arbitration careers. So in some jurisdictions, that might be minority racial groups, and in other jurisdictions, that might be gender-diverse groups like women in arbitration, for example. So those are some things that we're really trying to do to ensure we make a positive difference in the market, but also that we're spotlighting local practitioners as we engage in our efforts in those markets.  J.P.: That's excellent to hear. Now, let me drill down on that a bit because some jurisdictions are obviously very well known in Asia for being thought leaders. And the one in which you sit is an obvious one to me. India is certainly an obvious one, and you see a great deal of thought leadership coming out of China as well. But what are some of the specific ways that you're trying to increase visibility for practitioners in those jurisdictions? Is it through increased speaking opportunities, increased publication opportunities. How are you going about that?  Thara: So you've hit the sort of nail right on the head. Speaking opportunities and publications are the main focus of these committees. We will be bringing really substantive programs that involve genuine thought leadership, not purely sort of anecdotal recollections through to major cities across China as well as India. In China, that's Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong. In India, for a start, that's going to be Bombay, Chennai, Bangalore, and Delhi. And of course, in Singapore, we're fairly small in Singapore. So that's really going to be all over Singapore that we're trying to do these programs. But apart from programs, we do have publications that have always been run by the AAA-ICDR, and we're looking to increase Asian content on those publications. Be that the AAA-ICDR blog for sort of short-form contributions up to about 2,500 words, or the AAA-ICDR dispute resolution journal, which is for slightly longer-form content.  J.P.: Excellent to hear. Excellent to hear. And let me put a very quick plug in for the dispute for the DRJ, which is the journal. I published articles in there. I always encourage our associates at Reed Smith to do so. It's a really excellent publication. It's really wide reaching. And it's a huge, huge benefit to you personally to put something in there in the audience. So definitely submit articles. It's a really top-notch publication and a wonderful way to increase your exposure yourself. So excellent to hear that you're going about that. Now, I'm sure we could talk all day. And what I'm going to do is rather than continue to do that, I'm going to reserve my right to call you guys back. But let me move on before I do that to some of the ICDR's other plans. I don't want to lose sight of those before we conclude this podcast today. So one of the things that's really amazing is the AAA has been very active recently. Luis, you mentioned Bridget McCormack taking over as president about a year and a half ago. You talked about some of the IA initiatives. There's been the recent ODR.com acquisition. With all that and the fact that the AAA is coming up on its centennial anniversary in 2026, which is an incredible achievement, there's a natural opportunity there for the organization to reflect upon its future objectives. What would you like to see the ICDR accomplish in the next five years?  Luis: Well, I really like the direction we're going in with exploring our traditional caseloads. Of course, we always start from the position that we want to make sure our services, the administration of arbitrations and mediations are at the top level that they can be. And we've looked at that and how to improve those mechanisms and the related technology in our administrative platforms. But I think there's so many new opportunities for us. You were discussing some particular caseloads. Certainly, you're aware of all our initiatives in the life sciences sector. We have an advisory committee that focuses on that particular market. We're looking at enhanced arbitrator selections and lists that have high levels of experience for those particular types of disputes. Other markets that I think are important is we're seeing a surge in cases that we administer involving sovereigns, states, state-related entities, for example, in Latin America, in construction and infrastructure projects, where the participating sovereigns actually design the arbitral provision they're going to offer perhaps a potential for an investor. And we've been selected to administer a number of caseloads following that type of mechanism and example. The ODR acquisition, which is relatively new, presents us with a number of opportunities. The ODR platform is incredibly sophisticated. It has some incredible features to be able to customize really on a dime for the needs of a particular sector or a caseload. It has language capabilities. And we're looking now as a team, all of us to explore in our assigned regions, what potential opportunities there are to handle caseloads that we would be hard pressed to bring in because we didn't have a tool such as odr.com. So I think that opens the door for us to explore some emerging markets. So looking at technology, looking at emerging markets, looking at cases with sovereigns and the focus on the sectors are all very promising directions for us. And I should really mention, by the way, that the AAA itself has invested considerably and expanded the ICDR team. We now have three new people working in just the business development side. And I think that expansion will allow us to explore opportunities that there were just not enough hours in the day before to do.  J.P.: Wow, that's a very ambitious program. And that's wonderful to see. Not surprising given the trajectory that the AAA ICDR is on, but wonderful to hear. Now Thara, where would you like to see the ICDR in Asia in the next five years?  Thara: You know, I think apart from innovations in procedure and technology, where I think we've really been leading the charge, what I do want to see is us focusing on a lot more appropriate dispute resolution, as opposed to purely alternative dispute resolution. The AAA ICDR really does have the full suite of dispute resolution services, everything from neutral evaluation, mediation, arbitration, as well as disputes, avoidance boards for construction. So we want to see parties have the information and have the resolve to be able to use the most appropriate mechanism for resolving their disputes across all disputes that they come across.  J.P.: Excellent. That is truly, truly, again, a very ambitious and sage outlook. And I'm quite certain you're going to accomplish it with the efforts that you're putting behind it. Well, one thing I just wanted to circle back on quickly is Luis mentioned ODR.com. We are going to have an episode released in the near future where I speak with Jeff Zaino, who's the vice president of the commercial division for the AAA. And he discusses the ODR acquisition a bit more as well. I definitely recommend that to listeners because it's a truly innovative move by the AAA and a really, really good reflection on how forward-thinking the AAA ICDR is. Well, we've got a pretty good idea of what the ICDR has been doing around the globe and in Asia in particular, and we've got a very good sense of where the ICDR would like to see itself in the next five years. So I would definitely like to reserve my right to bring you both back to hear how that's gone because I'm quite certain with all the forward-thinking and all the effort behind it that the ICDR will be highly successful in all its initiatives. But with that, that will then conclude our update on the ICDR and its Asia initiatives. I want to thank our guests, Luis Martinez and Thara Gopalan from the ICDR for their invaluable insights. And I want to thank you, the listeners, for tuning in. You should feel free to reach out to Luis or Thara with any questions you might have, as I'm sure they'd be happy to speak with you directly. You should also feel free to reach out to Reed Smith about today's podcast with any questions you might have. And we look forward to having you tune in to future episodes in the series. So thank you, Luis. Thank you, Thara. And we do hope to have you back soon.  Luis: Thank you.  Thara: Thanks so much for having us, J.P.  Outro: Arbitral Insights is a Reed Smith production. Our producers are Ali McCardell and Shannon Ryan. For more information about Reed Smith's global international arbitration practice, email arbitralinsights@reedsmith.com. To learn about the Reed Smith Arbitration Pricing Calculator, a first-of-its-kind mobile app that forecasts the cost of arbitration around the world, search Arbitration Pricing Calculator on reedsmith.com or download for free through the Apple and Google Play app stores. You can find our podcast on podcast streaming platforms, reedsmith.com, and our social media accounts at Reed Smith LLP.  Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship, nor is it intended to suggest or establish standards of care applicable to particular lawyers in any given situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Any views, opinions, or comments made by any external guest speaker are not to be attributed to Reed Smith LLP or its individual lawyers.  All rights reserved.  Transcript is auto-generated.

In Episode 49, I sit with my mentor Terry DeMeo, ICF Professional Certified Coach, and Martha Beck Master Certified Coach. We chat relationships, stress and so much more. Enjoy!As a coach, Terry is known for her versatility and her wide-ranging experience. Her specialty areas focus on leadership and professional development, maintaining high performance under pressure, emotional self-regulation, effective communication, career strategies and transitions, and the impact of personal issues on professionals. She also presents professional development workshops on such topics such as leadership, team building, decision-making, communication skills, gender-based power dynamics, emotional resilience, confidence, and mindfulness and stress management.She is a certified mindfulness and stress management practitioner, is a certified provider of the Myers-Briggs Typology Instrument, and has completed graduate coursework in somatic clinical psychology. She has done advanced training in such topics as the fundamentals of positive psychology, the science of achieving goals, and gender-based power dynamics. She has trained in Internal Family Systems Coaching and is an IFS-Informed Coach.Between 2008 and 2023, Terry served on the faculty of the Martha Beck Institute, an ICF certified coach-training company, where she taught courses in coaching skills and coaching ethics and professional responsibility. She is also trained as a mediator by the American Arbitration Association. She received her undergraduate and J.D. degrees from the University of Florida.Find out how to work with Terry at www.TerryDeMeo.comYou can find out more about my Sept for my 12 week course here--https://www.youregreat.com/the-bean-protocol

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and John Sciaccotta discuss:Building relationships everywhere you go. Connecting authentically and building trust in the community. The time of building relationships and expected outcomes. Breaking out of the billable hour hampster wheel. Controlling your destiny.  Key Takeaways:Get active, get involved, and maintain friendships within the legal practice. Wherever you have a relationship, give them a business card and tell them what you do. Tell them to think of you first. Make significant touches every single day - social media will allow you to do that easier than ever before. Step one is to be a great lawyer. But that's not all there is to building your own business. You will need to understand more about business and sales than law school has led you to believe. It is never too early to start learning networking, relationships, and non-verbal communication. They are the ingredients to success as a human being, as well as in your law firm.  "Life is about needs. If you can identify the need of a potential client or a referral source, and you can fulfill that need, you're going to get what you want." —  John Sciaccotta Take the BE THAT LAWYER challenge at Fretzin.com/BTLChallenge! Thank you to our Sponsors!Lawmatics: https://www.lawmatics.com/bethatlawyer/Get Staffed Up: https://getstaffedup.com/bethatlawyer/ Episode References: Start with Why Series by Simon Sinek - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVJF819 About John Sciaccotta: John C. Sciaccotta has more than 37 years of trial and litigation experience advocating for clients in complex civil litigation, arbitration, mediation and business counseling matters with a special emphasis on complex civil trial and appellate cases brought in federal and state courts and tribunals throughout the United States. John represents publicly and privately held domestic and foreign business entities, business owners, lenders, employers, municipalities, government bodies and individuals in transactional matters and disputes, which include: Counseling and advocating for business entities and their owners in disputes involving Business Divorce issues, including corporate control, valuation, corporate squeeze-outs, minority oppression, dissolution actions and breaches of fiduciary duty and business tort claims. In addition, John has been appointed as a Neutral Arbitrator and Mediator for many years to resolve and arbitrate business-related disputes. He serves on the Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association's National Roster of Arbitrators. Connect with John Sciaccotta:  Website: https://www.agdglaw.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-c-sciaccotta-7472535Twitter: https://x.com/ScilawFacebook: https://facebook.com/JohncsciaccottaInstagram: https://instagram.com/jcscilaw   Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911  Show notes by Podcastologist Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

This week, on "Movers, Shakers & Rainmakers," we interview Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack, CEO and President of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Bridget served as the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court before assuming leadership of the AAA. In this episode, we journey through the early stages of Bridget's career as a public interest lawyer and professor, before she made the bold move of entering the election for the Michigan Supreme Court in 2012. Bridget tells us about her decision, after an impressive decade on the bench, to join the AAA, where she has worked to provide more people with access to justice by adopting new technologies in online dispute resolution. She highlights the AAA's recent acquisition of ODR.com and speaks to the significant influence of artificial intelligence in the development of alternative dispute resolution. For the move of the week, David covers Cooley's hiring of federal prosecutor John Bostic, who garnered significant renown during the investigation and trial of Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes. Zach discusses Paul Hastings' recent surge of lateral finance and restructuring partner hiring, which includes a group of eleven private credit and special situations partners that just joined the firm, led by Jennifer Daly.

This week, on Movers, Shakers & Rainmakers, we interview Chief Justice Bridget McCormack, CEO and President of the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Bridget served as the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court before assuming leadership of the AAA. In this episode, we journey through the early stages of Bridget's career as a public interest lawyer and professor, before she made the bold move of entering the election for the Michigan Supreme Court in 2012. Bridget tells us about her decision, after an impressive decade on the bench, to join the AAA, where she has worked to provide more people with access to justice by adopting new technologies in online dispute resolution. She highlights the AAA's recent acquisition of ODR.com and speaks to the significant influence of artificial intelligence in the development of alternative dispute resolution. For the move of the week, David covers Cooley's hiring of federal prosecutor John Bostic, who garnered significant renown during the investigation and trial of Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes. Zach discusses Paul Hastings' recent surge of lateral finance and restructuring partner hiring, which includes a group of eleven private credit and special situations partners that just joined the firm, led by Jennifer Daly.

In this episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast, Chris Willis is joined by Troutman Pepper Partner Jeremy Rosenblum and Neil Currie, vice president at the American Arbitration Association (AAA). They discuss the phenomenon of mass arbitration and the recent revisions to the AAA's rules to address this. The conversation covers the new AAA rules, the fee structure, and the benefits of using AAA over other arbitration administrators. They also discuss strategies for drafting arbitration clauses to avoid the challenges of mass arbitrations. The episode provides valuable insights into the complexities of mass arbitration and offers practical advice for businesses navigating this challenging landscape.

As a partner at Wigdor LLP, one of the leading employment law firms in the nation, Marjorie represents clients who have faced discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other violations of their civil rights in the workplace. She has successfully secured over $63 million in settlements and verdicts for her clients, ranging from C-suite executives to government and professional employees. She has also been selected as an arbitrator on the employment and consumer panels of the American Arbitration Association, where she oversaw disputes in an impartial, efficient, and cost-effective manner.With almost 20 years of litigation experience in both federal and state courts, Marjorie is a sharp, quick-witted, and persuasive oral advocate who strives to deliver outstanding results and satisfaction for her clients. She is passionate about fighting for justice and holding employers accountable for their unlawful actions. She also has fluency in French, Haitian Creole, and Italian, which enables her to communicate effectively with diverse and multicultural clients. Her specialties include employment discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, wage and hour, and civil rights. Marjorie is proud to be the HarassmentSlayer™, a trademark that reflects her tenacity, empowerment, and accountability in her practice. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjoriemesidor Wigdor LLP: https://www.wigdorlaw.com/our-team/ Learn more about EmotionTrac and our AI-driven Emotional Intelligence Platform: https://legal.emotiontrac.com/

Today's guest is Darren Heitner, the Founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., an adjunct professor of Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, an adjunct professor of NIL at the University of Miami School of Law, a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, and author of many books published by the American Bar Association (How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know). He has many articles published in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. Heitner has been referred to as one of the foremost experts on name, image, and likeness (NIL) by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, a power player in NIL deals by Action Network. In this episode: How Darren got started in the NIL industry Advice for athletes about contracts How he helped Haley and Hanna Cavinder get their first NIL partnership The impact of collectives and what could happen if athletes are deemed employees Why athletes need to be careful about using their school logos and marks  What Darren sees as the future for NIL    

Happy International Women's Day! CIArb North America Branch is thrilled to announce the upcoming quarterly podcast mini-series Arbitration Horizons: Tales from CIArb North America, by Chris Campbell, Esq., the host of the famous podcast, “Tales of The Tribunal," in collaboration with CIArb NAB. This eagerly anticipated program is set to showcase compelling conversations with distinguished member arbitrators from CIArb across North America, including Mexico and Canada. Our very first program in this quarterly series will host an interview with Chartered Arbitrator, Maureen Beyers, Esq. On March 08, 2024 @ 1 PM EST. Nationally recognized as a top arbitrator, since 1995 Maureen has served as an arbitrator and chairperson in hundreds of arbitrations throughout the United States, involving a variety of business disputes, many of which presented complex commercial issues. Maureen is a member of several ADR organizations including the American Arbitration Association's Large and Complex Case Panel, a Fellow and Chartered Arbitrator with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution. She is also on the roster of National Arbitration and Mediation, and a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators.  Join us as we delve into the insightful narratives and experiences of these esteemed professionals, unraveling the intricacies of arbitration in the diverse and dynamic North American region. Get ready to explore the fascinating world of arbitration with Chris Campbell at the helm!  Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/40833847/admin/   Check out our website: TalesOfTheTribunal.com   For Feedback, comments or submissions contact TalesOfTheTribunal@Gmail.com None of the views shared today or any episode of Disputes Digest is presented as legal advice nor advice of any kind.  No compensation was provided to any organization or party for their inclusion on the show nor do any of the statements made represent any particular organization, legal position or view point.  All interviewees or organizations included appear on an arms-length basis and their appearance should not be construed as any bias or preferred affiliation with the host or host's employer.  All rights reserved.

In this “Spotlight on…” episode, host Gautam Bhattacharyya welcomes arbitrator and SVAMC AI Task Force chair Benjamin Malek (FCIARB) to discuss what led him to a career in international arbitration. The pair discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies like AI, and how to maintain and improve the effectiveness of arbitration in an ever-changing legal landscape.----more---- Transcript: Intro: Hello and welcome to Arbitral Insights, a podcast series brought to you by our International Arbitration practice lawyers here at Reed Smith. I'm Peter Rosher, global head of Reed Smith's International Arbitration Practice. I hope you enjoy the industry commentary, insights and anecdotes we share with you in the course of this series, wherever in the world you are. If you have any questions about any of the topics discussed, please do contact our speakers. With that, let's get started. Gautam: Hello everyone and welcome back to our Arbitral Insights podcast series, and thank you for joining us. I am delighted to have with us as our guest today,  Ben Malek. Uh Hello, Ben. Ben: Hi Gautam, thank you for having me. Gautam: It's great to have you with us. Now, I'm gonna introduce Ben, but I'm gonna preface this by saying I love to see new arbitrator talent emerge and I'm unashamed about that. I love to see it. And Ben epitomizes this new number of arbitrators that I just love to see. Ben has got a very interesting background. Uh he's based in New York, but he – I'm gonna share some interesting stuff about him with you all. He's obviously a practitioner of arbitration. He's also an arbitrator and he has great experience of being in private practice and also working for institutions who deal with arbitration. And we'll come to that in the course of our discussion. He also speaks an incredible number of languages, which would, which certainly is something worth noting. So, so obviously, not only apart from English, but he also speaks fluent German, Romanian, Spanish and French, and he can also turn his hand very ably to Italian, Hebrew, Mandarin and Korean. And I'm just in awe of that, Ben. But so obviously, you can see we're talking uh to, to someone who's truly international. We'll talk a little bit about what you do Ben in the course of this podcast but for our listeners, Ben is with T.H.E Chambers in New York. And as I said, prior to his current role, he has worked in private practice at some major law firms and also with arbitral institutions. So, on that note, a huge welcome again to you, Ben and I'm much looking forward to our discussion. So let me ask you the first thing a little bit about your background because you, you do have a very interesting background just based purely on your geographic origins, your languages and how the world has just seen so much of you. But could you just tell us a little bit about your background and how you found the law and arbitration or conversely how law and arbitration found you. Ben: Thank you so much Gautam for inviting me such an honor to be on your podcast. I always look forward to the new episodes you have so it's uh it's truly a pleasure. Thank you. So I grew up in Germany. I was born and raised in Germany to Romanian parents and my maternal grandparents wanted to talk German to us because that's what first generation immigrants do. However, they spoke a very broken German because they're German just wasn't that good. So my mother had the idea of them talking to me in Romanian, which was their maternal language. And this way, I would have two languages once I hit kindergarten, which is exactly what happened. I talked Romanian at home until I started kindergarten, which is where I learned German. So that was the beginning of my duality, I guess. Later on my parents decided that an international school would be best for my brother and I, I have a twin brother by the way. So we went to an international school where languages was really emphasized. I was taught everything in English. English was my maternal language, German was my first foreign language. And that's when I started to really learn my other languages. French became my second foreign language, Spanish became my third foreign language. So by the time I graduated high school I was fluent in five languages. So that was uh extremely helpful at that time, and, uh, that's when I knew that I needed to do something with languages. Unfortunately, and just to give a little more background, I decided to pursue dentistry. I'm not sure if you knew that Gautam.  Gautam: No, I didn't know this. You're a man of many, many hidden talents. Ben, I had no idea. I I know now. Ben: So I went to dental school and because, because I grew up in, in Germany to Romanian parents, I always wanted to, to understand my origins and see where I'm from. So I went and studied uh dentistry in Romania. So while in Romania, I graduated dentistry, I came back to Germany and actually started practicing dentistry. At which point I realized that that might really not be the best career. And I'll explain why. I loved the attention to detail. I loved the artistry of it. But the one thing that I really couldn't deal with was talking to the walls. And what do we, what do I mean by that? When patients sit in the chair before you and you talk and their mouth is open, they cannot respond. And I never realized how much that would impact me psychologically. I felt like I was in isolation, I was talking to them and I talked to them in so many languages, but nothing was coming back. So at that point, I realized with my first year of practice that even though I like what I do, I don't think I could do that for the rest of my life. So I decided to go back and study law. And during my last year of law school, I got a job at BDO in Romania. And because of my languages, I was on-boarded on an arbitration which was held in English with a German party and a French party. And because they had somebody that spoke German and French, they decided to save some costs and have me translate. So that was my introduction to arbitration. And I thought it was wonderful. It was absolutely delightful, especially in a country where the judicial system is sometimes questionable in the sense that you may win for your clients, but you win such a small insignificant amount that you can't really consider it to be a win. I realized that arbitration is a true fairness out there and it is accessible. So it was that moment during that arbitration that I realized and decided to pursue a master's in arbitration, which I ultimately did. I went to the University of Miami where I pursued my LLM. I had the privilege to study under Jan Paulsson, Marike Paulsson, Carolyn Lamm, Jonathan Hamilton. And I really did have the privilege to study under Martin Hunter who has passed away just a few years ago. So it was, it was an amazing masters and that really gave me the basis to start my career in arbitration. Gautam: Well, now that's an incredible journey and a truly uh a diverse background, a truly a diverse professional background you've had and you know, thank you for sharing those great thoughts. Now figures while you're in international arbitration, because you truly are international Ben, in the truest sense of the word. Now you've mentioned some amazing teachers that you had in the law who are truly not just first class, they're world class in terms of names. But um I'm most interested to hear from our guests as to who they would say have been their biggest mentors and inspirations in their career. So if you were to look at your legal career, and it's not often that I do a podcast with someone who's a qualified dentist as well as a qualified lawyer. But there's always a first for these things. But in your career as a lawyer, I wonder if you could share with us some of those names who have been your great mentors and inspirations. Ben: Absolutely. I think all of us owe our entry especially in arbitration to someone as the saying goes, we we need somebody to open the door, we gotta walk through it ourselves, but somebody is always there to open the door. For me I really had, John Fellas was an amazing mentor. I got to know John during my masters and we've kept in touch ever since. What struck me about John was his humbleness and his absolutely striking kindness. I mean, I was a mere student who just got my feet wet and he always made the time, always respected my time, always trying to see how and where he can help me or brainstorm what to do or where to do. It was a true mentorship. And I value that, especially after so many years, I, I wouldn't be here without him. One more mentor that I can think of is Crenguța Leaua. She's um with LDDP in Romania. Over the years, we've got to know each other. She's just such an amazing practitioner who has truly shown me what there is to do and has helped me or help me guide my way into arbitration. So uh without those two, I wouldn't be where I am. But I would also say I really, I consider that every, every person I worked for in the past, every boss I had potentially got me into where I am. So that being said when I worked at the American Arbitration Association or the ICDR to be more, more precise, Tom Ventrone was an amazing mentor. I mean, I learned so much from that and it was interesting because I only got to know him once I was at the ICDR. I did, I quite frankly and uh I don't know if I should say this out loud, but I've never heard of him before. Um However, when I was there, I realized that I don't think the ICDR would be where it is without Tom Ventrone and his team. So that was absolutely outstanding. Gautam: Thank you very much. And you know, some really great names there, Ben that you've given, who've been your real guiding lights in your career so far and you, you're very fortunate to have had all of those people. Now, you've alluded to it in your answer that you just gave and I mentioned it in the introduction that you've worked at major law firms and you've worked for arbitral institutions. I wonder if you could share with us a few things that you've learned by having had the benefit of working on both sides of the fence, so to speak. Ben: I would say at first when I started off at institutions and in all disclosure, I didn't start my career at the American Arbitration Association, I actually started at CPR Institute in New York. I filled in this case manager after which shortly after I got the opportunity at the ICDR. The one thing I learned was really what an impact an institution can make and what a driving force it is in arbitration. Of course, I've learned and I've been part of adhoc arbitrations and that's when you really start to appreciate institutions and what they can do. So I really do value institutions for what they are. I believe the work is truly in vain. And during my time at the ICDR, I mean, it was high volume, in the sense that we administered many cases. And when COVID hit, it felt like those cases doubled even though they didn't. It was just that the traffic of email because nobody had any, any place to be. There was no traveling, there were no dinners, there were no vacations. Everybody was on their email all the time. But it was uh truly valuable. You learn how to manage your time, you learn how to manage other people's time and you learn how to truly value time and deadlines and how to set them fairly. During my time at the American Arbitration Association, I was truly privileged to be part of what they call IARC which on the international part is the International Administrative Review Committee. Where different challenges are being discussed and decided upon. So having been part of that and having seen many cases come in and out and the decisions thereof have really helped me to make better decisions as counsel. Once I, I left the institution. Gautam: I think that amazing kaleidoscope of experience that you had in private practice and with institutions brings us nicely to the next question I wanted to ask you. And this and again, I'll preface it with, again saying how much I love to see new arbitrator talent coming through. I love to see it because we need new talent, fresh blood coming in and you are certainly one of that group. And so I was mentioning that you are with T.H.E Chambers in New York. And I'd love you to tell us a little bit about the work of T.H.E Chambers where you are an arbitrator and including, first of all, if you wouldn't mind what T.H.E stands for a Ben. Ben: Thank you, Gautam. Absolutely. So, as a young arbitrator, I think it's interesting to see that there are not many out there and if they are, it is always combined with some sort of additional workload, whether that is tribunal secretary or they still work as an associate somewhere else or consultant. It, it it is self explanatory why that happens. Uh But I am privileged, I believe to be part of a small group of young arbitrators. And I, I think it's, it's highly important to understand that even young arbitrators do have a specific know-how that we would not have had 20-25 years ago whenever I'm approached or I'm asked about my expertise, I do unfortunately get the answer oftentimes that people didn't realize that a young practitioner could have so much experience or could have the pertinent know-how. And I think that's where arbitration really expanded and advanced in the last decade or two. We have master degrees at, at so many universities throughout the world. We have so many courses and we have so many practitioners willing to talk and mentor people that it is truly possible at a younger age to become an arbitrator. Gautam: I completely agree and if I'm not mistaken, the, you know, the, T.H.E Chambers stands for Tribunals, Hearings and Enforcement, is that correct Ben? Ben: That is correct. Absolutely. Yes, thank you. So, when I started off sitting as an arbitrator, I was approached and, and I happily work with Arbitra International out of London as a transitional member as they call it. And when thinking about it, I had two options. I could either say this is Benjamin Malek arbitration or I could start something bigger. And that was my goal. So when starting T.H.E Chambers, which as you said, stands for Tribal Hearings and Enforcements, the big challenge was what I call it. And despite the fact that T.H.E, it, it looks very nice together as ‘the', um it does stand for tribunal hearings and enforcements. And that is because I believe that those are the core points that any practitioner will always look for. Uh you need to have a tribunal for an arbitration, you need to have a hearing, any sort of hearing un unless it's a paper arbitration. Um And then the, either the arbitrator or the parties waive the hearing and you gotta make sure that any award is enforceable. So from my council of work that I started off with at the beginning of T.H.E Chambers, that was my expertise, the enforcement part of it. Uh that was also one of the most important aspects that I dealt with while at the ICDR when a case comes in that was the first question. How does the case look and will the award be enforceable? So that is one thing that I definitely learned at the institutions and that I carried with me to always look at the arbitration from the end rather than from the beginning, which is the enforcement stage. T.H.E Chambers -  that's what it stands for. Currently it is set up to on board more younger arbitrators worldwide because of COVID and then changes in COVID, we haven't gotten there yet but I hope we'll get there very soon. Gautam: I've got no doubt you will. And you know, and as the saying goes, if anyone's good enough, they're old enough. And there's no doubt that you and the team bring a lot of great energy and insight into arbitration and it's certainly not something that should be homogenous. So it's fantastic to know that you can bring all your talents to bear. I want to turn next to another aspect of what you do because I know that you are a member of the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center and particularly its Artificial Intelligence task force. Now, one of the things that all of us will be very well aware of is that artificial intelligence, AI, is an incredibly happening concept. It's developing and it'll develop more and more and it has its role and will have its role in arbitration. I know that you've been part of the team that's been looking at guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in international arbitration. And I wonder if you could just share some of your thoughts as to what the potential usage of artificial intelligence might be in international arbitration and some of the risks and issues that we should be aware of. Ben: Yes, thank you. So I have been a part of the Silicon Valley Arbitration Mediation Center for quite some time and um when the New York case versus Avianca came out where the claimants council used chatGPT to come up with cases and, and I use that word deliberately, ‘come up' with cases to use against Avianca. It turned out that all of those were in fact made up by chatGPT as uh what we would call hallucinations. The judge dismissed the case and uh actually sanctioned the attorneys. To that point, I realized that it is only a matter of time until this issue flows into arbitration, especially arbitration. We work in so many jurisdictions with so many different parties. And specifically, since COVID, most arbitrations have been online, some have stayed online, some still have a hearing component in person, but most of it is online. And the big question was, do we need guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in arbitration? So I had discussed that with the leadership at the Silicon Valley Arbitration Mediation Center and they gave me carte blanche to see what we can come up with so I was privileged to have a team of experts help me draft the guidelines for the use of  AI in arbitration. My team was composed of Elizabeth Chan in Hong Kong, Orlando Cabrera in Mexico, Sofia Klot in New York, Dmitri Evseev in London, Marta Garcia Bel, which now is in New York, Soham Panchamiya and Duncan Pickard in New York. I was truly blessed, I would say to have these colleagues. It became a true adventure that we all went on when we started discovering what AI could potentially do and what could potentially be prevented. So we took around nine months to draft guidelines. We had no timeline, but we did come up with what I would say good guidelines or a good basis of guidelines in October, we have put it out for the public to comment on. Uh the commenting period is still open until December and institutions can comment until February. And the goal is not to come up with guidelines that people can use, but to get a full consensus of the arbitration community on how they would like to use these guidelines and what they believe is relevant. If something is not relevant, then there's no reason for us to have it in there. So that was the whole idea behind it. The other aspect we were looking at was when it came to cybersecurity, each institution came up with their own guidelines and quite frankly, they use different words, but they're saying the same thing. And we are hoping to avoid having several guidelines on AI and to comprise it all into one. I think it's gonna be a very difficult task. I'm not sure we will succeed, but we are giving all institutions the opportunity to give their input or it submits their commentary to the guidelines so that every practitioner could look into the commentary for the respective institution when the case goes to arbitration. We were looking at several aspects regarding the use of artificial intelligence in arbitration. Two main aspects are disclosure and confidentiality. With regards to disclosure, we actually have an open option for the community to vote on. And that is whether a two prong test should be used to decide whether a party or the arbitrator should disclose the use of artificial intelligence or whether it should always be up to the parties to decide or to as the tribunal for opposing party to disclose the use of artificial intelligence. We weren't sure internally, we debated heavily and we came to the conclusion to leave that question up for the public to decide on. Um it did come back or as of now, the results are interesting, which is that in Europe, there is a more libertarian approach. Whereas uh the US and some common law jurisdictions voted for a two prong test, which I believe to be quite interesting, uh quite frankly. Um if this continues to be open ended, we might leave it up to the parties to decide which option they would ever put in. But ultimately, the goal is to draw awareness of the use of AI to let parties and arbitrators as well as council understand that artificial intelligence is not open ended. That if it's used outside a closed circuit information can be leaked or can be disclosed one way or another and to just draw attention to the fact that A I can only be used to disclose information, but also to create other sorts of the information that would otherwise not be there. Whether that is good or bad will be up to the parties to decide, but it is important to understand what AI can do and what the consequences are. Gautam: I agree with you and it's something that's gonna develop and develop. There's no doubt about that and we've not seen the last of it. I mean, it's gonna be happening for sure. And we just have to see what does transpire, but look, thank you for your great work on everything you're doing. You're not just, you know, doing arbitrations, you're doing thought leadership, you're driving all of these things and it's really great. And uh I'm just, you know, and I look forward to talking to you more about these things as these things progress. Now with these podcasts, we, we always end our podcast with a little bit of lighthearted conversation because I think our listeners will have got a really good handle on your incredible talent in the course of this podcast, your thoughtfulness and your experience. What I want them to also get a feel of is some of the more fun side of things. Now, I know Ben that you are a very proud daddy to a couple of daughters, one of whom is really a newborn. And uh, and I've, and I'm just so ecstatic for you and Rebeca on your two daughters. But let me ask you this when you do have some spare time from not being a, a very busy daddy as well as a very busy arbitrator. What sort of music do you particularly enjoy listening to? Have you got any favorite bands or groups or singers or even a favorite album that you love to play? Ben: Regarding music that's an interesting topic. Before I went on my dentistry career I actually worked in music management. Gautam: you are so multitalented. It's unbelievable. Go on. Sorry. I just could not resist saying that. Ben: Yeah. No, thank you. It's uh I, I just like life. I like life. Life is important. It's what drives us. I will say this and, and you know, thank you for the question. But we all live to work, but we also work to primarily live. And I think it's really important to, to, to know that I always believe that one of the most important things in life is to live and to know how to live. So, uh I did get into music management very early in my life. We were host to several big names, but to answer your question, my favorite music, as I always said is good music. I especially nowadays where the charts are filled with explicit lyrics. I actually like to go back to the Beatles. The Beatles are one of the foundations I believe of modern music. Now, given the fact that a new song was actually just released with the help of AI, I think that it's, it's worth to go back and, um, and really understand the changes that as Sir Paul McCartney, um and his colleagues have made. Yeah, I would definitely call The Beatles my favorite music. Gautam: Oh, fantastic. Well, it's, you know, that's a great choice. And, uh, you know, again, as a first, I've never done a podcast with someone who worked in music management, then who, who became a dentist and then became a lawyer and who can speak about 10 languages. So this is a complete first for me. So let me just ask you one last question in this podcast. So, you know, you are a very international person and we ascertain that just from speaking to you in the course of this podcast and you've no doubt traveled very widely because you've worked around the world in many places. Is there one place apart from where you grew up, okay, so excluding that, is there one place in the world - and excluding New York where you live - ok, Is there one place that you just love traveling to? Ben: Oh. That's a difficult question. I would have to say, I've always enjoyed traveling to London. My brother is actually a physicist and he did his PhD in Cambridge. I thought those were the most fun trips I've ever had. To fly to London Cambridge is, is amazing. Uh Whoever hasn't been uh it is really missing out. London is just stunning. I mean, the amount of history and just the culture and the multiculture you have. It's, it's just, it's great. Um I guess uh deep down I am a European so London is always there. Paris is absolutely yeah, romantic. I mean, I am married with two kids so Paris is always, it is always a good idea. Gautam: Yes. Ben: Yeah. The only thing I would add is I love, I would love to see more of the world. I do want to travel and see places. I I've never been, I haven't been to Australia yet, but in general, I would love to go see, I hope to go to Hong Kong maybe during ICA, maybe not, but just to see Hong Kong and see uh see more than I have seen yet. Gautam: Fantastic. Well, look, Ben. Thank you. It's been an absolute delight to speak to you in this podcast. Thank you for being such a superb guest and for sharing all of your stories and your background, your thoughts. And uh I look forward to seeing you very soon. You know, I hope you'll because we're recording this podcast on a Friday. So I hope that you will have a great weekend and I look forward to seeing you in person soon. Thank you. Ben: Thank you so much Gautam, Likewise. And if I may just end on one note, I do wanna thank my wife. I don't think I would be the person I am without her. And she inspires me to be a better person every day. Gautam: You know that I, I think that's so fitting Ben. And I'm gonna say this in response, I'm going to say two quick things in response to that. One, you're absolutely correct because I have the great honor and privilege of knowing Rebeca. And I know that she's a wonderful, wonderful lady and you are indeed very lucky to have her. And I also will say the second thing I will say is that many years ago, a judge got sworn in as a Supreme court judge here and one of the former Supreme court judges who was giving a speech when he became a judge said that behind every successful man, there's a surprised woman and Rebeca shouldn't be surprised at how successful you've been. But you know, you are very fortunate to have her. So thank you for mentioning her. Ben: Thank you. And thank you for having me, Gautam. It was an absolute pleasure looking forward to meeting you in person. Gautam: Looking forward to that. Outro: Arbitral Insights is a Reed Smith production. Our producer is Ali McCardell. For more information about Reed Smith's Global International Arbitration practice, email arbitralinsights@reedsmith.com. To learn about the Reed Smith Arbitration Pricing Calculator, a first of its kind mobile app that forecasts the cost of arbitration around the world, search arbitration pricing calculator on reedsmith.com or download for free through the Apple and Google Play app stores. You can find our podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google Play, Stitcher, reedsmith.com and our social media accounts at Reed Smith LLP on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to establish an attorney client relationship nor is it intended to suggest or establish standards of care applicable to particular lawyers in any given situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome, any views, opinions or comments made by any external guest speaker are not to be attributed to Reed Smith LLP or its individual lawyers. All rights reserved. Transcript is auto-generated.

AI is certainly a disruptor in the legal profession, and as such, there is a huge need for deep learning and new implementation of AI tools in legal practice. Bridget McCormack, Linda Beyea, and Diana Didia share their insights on AI solutions that address problems and pain points for lawyers and their clients. They discuss products developed at the American Arbitration Association and their all-in approach to leveraging AI's potential in legal.  Bridget McCormack is President and CEO of the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Linda Beyea is the Vice President of Innovation at the American Arbitration Association. Diana Didia is the Senior Vice President, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution

AI is certainly a disruptor in the legal profession, and as such, there is a huge need for deep learning and new implementation of AI tools in legal practice. Bridget McCormack, Linda Beyea, and Diana Didia share their insights on AI solutions that address problems and pain points for lawyers and their clients. They discuss products developed at the American Arbitration Association and their all-in approach to leveraging AI's potential in legal.  Bridget McCormack is President and CEO of the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution. Linda Beyea is the Vice President of Innovation at the American Arbitration Association. Diana Didia is the Senior Vice President, Chief Information and Innovation Officer at American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution

One year ago, Bridget Mary McCormack, the former chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, took over the helm of the American Arbitration Association, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the world, as its president and chief executive officer. While on the court, McCormack was a leading voice for innovating the justice system to expand access to justice, and since joining the AAA, she is credited with having “supercharged” its innovation efforts – particularly with regard to its adoption of generative AI.  Also critical to those innovation efforts has been Diana Didia, senior vice president and chief information and innovation officer at the AAA, who had helped ignite the association's innovation efforts well before McCormack arrived and whose work not only set the stage for continued innovation but has been critical in helping the organization drive forward into embracing generative AI.  Our guests on today's LawNext, McCormack and Didia – along with many others on their team – have been working full bore over the past year to drive further innovation at the AAA and to integrate AI into its own work and into the broader field of dispute resolution. They recently launched the AAAi Lab, a website supporting AAA users, arbitrators, in-house counsel and law firms with policy guidance, educational webinars and tools for embracing generative AI, and also ClauseBuilder, a generative AI tool for writing clear and effective ADR clauses.  When we spoke, they were preparing to present this week on the AAA's innovation efforts and its adoption of AI as part of a panel at Legalweek in New York.  Thank You To Our Sponsors This episode of LawNext is generously made possible by our sponsors. We appreciate their support and hope you will check them out. Paradigm, home to the practice management platforms PracticePanther, Bill4Time, MerusCase and LollyLaw; the e-payments platform Headnote; and the legal accounting software TrustBooks. Legalweek NY 2024, Described as the “one legal event that hits all the marks for information, education, and networking”    If you enjoy listening to LawNext, please leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.  

Arrington is a member of the American Arbitration Association's Rosters of Neutrals for arbitration and mediation of commercial, employment, complex, and class action disputes and for non binding arbitration. He has been named as a panel member of the Banking, Accounting and Financial Services, Employment and Tennessee Distinguished Panels of Neutrals with the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR) and is on the roster of arbitrations of the American Health Lawyers (AHLA). He has been approved as a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Dispute Resolution Arbitrator. He is listed with the Tennessee Supreme Court's Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution as a Rule 31 General Civil Mediator. He is also a member of the panels of court approved arbitrators and mediators for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Mr. Arrington is AV-rated in Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating awarded by this most widely-used directory of lawyers. He chairs the firm's Employment Law and  Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice groups. He has attended advanced mediation training from the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. He is also a member of the Tennessee Academy of Mediators and Arbitrators. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-arrington-85358010/ Wilson Worley: https://wwmgs.com/

Episode 2023 – 097 Expert Witnessing For Fun and Profit Presentation to the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants [06 November 2023] Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 098 Charity Clark, Esq. Discusses Arizona v. Dearmon [16 November 2023] Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

America's civil justice system has a variety of problems that must be addressed. Bridget Mary McCormack, a former chief justice on the Michigan Supreme Court and the current head of the American Arbitration Association, has a few ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Annual U.S. litigation cost estimates vary wildly.  Some say $250 billion, others say $430 billion. When you consider indirect costs, such as lost productivity or economic damages, some put the costs as high as  $1.5 trillion. According to Statista, more than $5 billion is spent on employment litigation alone, and another $4.5 billion on commercial litigation. Litigation surrounding intellectual property, product liability, and real estate disputes, cost more than $3 billion each.  Time is also a factor. As any litigator knows, resolution of a lawsuit can take three to five years on average. Some cases drag on for more than a decade.Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is increasingly attractive. Its benefits were  on full display during Covid lockdowns. It's more convenient for almost everyone involved, especially in cross-country or cross-border disputes.  An important and dangerous side effect of litigation expense is access to justice. Everyone will have disputes and conflicts in their lives, but not everyone can afford to go to court. More ADR is moving from mediation to arbitration partly because of the perceived finality of going to a panel. The American Arbitration Association says there were 25,000 ADR cases filed in 2020. Meanwhile, there are more than 400,000 federal suits and as many as 60 million state suits filed each year.Listen to my interview with Rich Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, New Era/ADR as we discuss hot topics and issues involving what is referred to here as "Advanced Dispute Resolution." Before New Era/ADR, Rich was general counsel of a financial technology company that he helped to build, grow, and sell. Rich  serves as an advisor, board member, and investor in technology startups and venture funds and in a leadership role in the Economic Club of Chicago.  He serves on the national Leader's Council of the Legal Services Corporation (a U.S. Senate-funded 501c3) and on the board of Illinois Legal Aid Online. He has a J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.I hope you enjoy the episode. If so, give us a rating!***********This podcast is the audio companion to the Journal of Emerging Issues in Litigation. The Journal is a collaborative project between HB Litigation Conferences and the vLex Fastcase legal research family, which includes Full Court Press, Law Street Media, and Docket Alarm.If you have comments, ideas, or wish to participate, please drop me a note at Editor@LitigationConferences.com.Tom HagyLitigation Enthusiast andHost of the Emerging Litigation PodcastHome PageLinkedIn

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 096 Tom Downey, Esq. Discusses Colorado's Experience Reregulating Plant Medicines [02 October 2023] Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelic Law Library Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 084 Psychedelic Law Library 06 February 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Turbulence in Cannabis Cultivation Psychedelica Lex Episode 2022 – 080 Turbulence in Cannabis Cultivation 27 November 2022 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 083 Cannadelic – Miami with Greg Lake, Esq. Four Updates on Psychedelic Reform 02 February 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Arizona's First Psilocybin Study Bill Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 085 Arizona's First Psilocybin Study Bill 06 February 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 086 Sully Sullivan Discusses SB1271 - Arizona's Hemp-Derived Products (HDP) Safety & Regulation Bill 07 March 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 087 Matthew Brockmeier, Esq. Discusses Colorado's Natural Medicine Health Act 08 March 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Kathryn Tucker, Esq. Returns with Updates on Psilocybin Right to Try Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 088 Kathryn Tucker, Esq. Returns with Updates on Psilocybin Right to Try 17 March 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 089 Gary Smith, Esq. Leads a Panel Discussion on Arbitration for Cannabis Cases 21 March 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 090 Gary Smith, Esq. and Ira Schwartz, Esq. Talk with the Arizona State University Undergraduate Law Association About Careers in the Law 28 March 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 091 Allison Hoots, Esq. Discusses Festival and Trip Sitter Liability “Paving the road to hell with good intentions.” 04 May 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Gary Smith, Esq. Presents Opening Remarks and State of Cannabis 2023 State Bar of Arizona Bar Convention – Arizona Cannabis Bar Association Panel Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 092 Gary Smith, Esq. Presents Opening Remarks and State of Cannabis 2023 State Bar of Arizona Bar Convention – Arizona Cannabis Bar Association Panel 12 June 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelics and The Law - A Talk with Psychedelica Lex Hosted By Phoenix Psychedelic Society Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 093 Psychedelics and The Law - A Talk with Psychedelica Lex Hosted By Phoenix Psychedelic Society 10 July 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 094 Arizona Yage Assembly v DEA Update with Charels Carreon, Esq. and Greg Lake, Esq. 30 August 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 095 Panel: Arbitration for the Cannabis Industry co-sponsored by American Arbitration Association and New York State Bar Association [13 September 2023] Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Psychedelica Lex Episode 2023 – 082 Danni Peterson, Esq. on Psychedelic Religious Win in Colorado and the Ass'n of Entheogenic Practitioners 24 January 2023 Part 1 of 1 ____________________________________________________ Author and host, Gary Michael Smith, Esq., is a decades-experienced, AV rated, attorney, American Arbitration Association panelist, founding director of the Arizona Cannabis Bar Association, board member of the Arizona Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, and general counsel to the nation's oldest federally recognized, 501C3, multi-racial peyote church. Psychedelica Lex is the first book to offer a comprehensive survey of the laws and regulations governing psychedelic substances. ABOUT THE PSYCHEDELICA LEX PODCAST AND CHANNEL President Nixon's enactment of the Controlled Substances Act in 1970 banished most psychedelics to Schedule I, making psychedelics for most purpose illegal. However, as the Congressional Record reveals, psychedelics never got a fair trial and little scientific evidence, if any, was considered by lawmakers. Prohibition was more about politics than public health. Yet, historical record, anecdotal evidence, and scientific studies all suggest that prohibition was an unnecessary and harmful overreaction and that many benefits may be derived from psychedelics. Psychedelica Lex puts the question of psychedelics on trial. Hosted by a veteran litigation attorney, each episode will explore psychedelics from different perspectives. As we explore the evidence together, you - the audience - will serve as jurors. Together we will examine every facet. Applying the rigors of cross examination and the Socratic method, we will seek an objective truth. ____________________________________________________________ The growth, trafficking, sale, possession, or consumption of psychedelics may be a felony punishable by imprisonment, fines, forfeiture of property, or any combination thereof. Most states have regulatory and criminal laws that mimic federal law. This podcast is for general informational purposes only. Material in this podcast is not intended to be and should not be used as a substitute for personal consultation with appropriate professionals. I am not your lawyer, and this podcast is not legal advice. PARENTAL ADVISORY: This podcast discusses psychedelic drugs. This episode may contain content that viewers may find offensive. Potentially offensive topics may include: drugs, sex, violence, religion, politics, science, public policy, economics, freedom of thought, free will, the nature of consciousness, art, and law. Language may be coarse and could include George Carlin's seven dirty words: sh*t, p*ss, f*ck, c*nt, c*cks*ck*r, m*th*rf*ck*r, and t*ts or some combination thereof. Opinions expressed in the podcast belong to the party who expressed them and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Psychedelica Lex or its host. SPECIAL CAUTION - This podcast might place you at risk of changing your mind. Viewer discretion is advised.

Join Ben for his discussion with trial lawyers Larry and Lauren Acker from Travers City, Michigan.  Larry, who has spent his career trying legal and accounting malpractice claims, offers insights into how best to avoid having money embezzled from your law practice and how to avoid being sued for malpractice.  This father and daughter team discuss trying a recent accounting malpractice case together and the approach to communicating these types of cases to jurors. About Lawrence J. Acker_________________________Lawrence J. Acker, P.C/ The Acker Law Firm12930 S. West Bayshore DriveTraverse City, MI 49684248-229-1911 Education:B.A., Oakland University, Rochester MI 1970M.A.T., Oakland University, Rochester MI 1972J.D., Detroit College of Law, Detroit MI 1977 Practice Areas: Legal Malpractice Medical Malpractice Accounting Malpractice Family Law Fraud IssuesPersonal Injury Lawrence Acker is a trial attorney.  He has conducted trials in multiple Federal jurisdictions and multiple State Courts. He has conducted arbitration hearings at the American Arbitration Association, at JAMS and has served as a private arbitrator.Fellow of The American College of Trial Lawyers (FACTL 2007). Fellowship in the ACTL is available only by invitation. Fellows are inducted after rigorous investigation of adherence to the highest standards of trial performance and professional ethics. Membership is available to no more than 1% of the Trial Lawyers in the USA and Canada, after an attorney has established a reputation for excellence in trial advocacy.  Lawrence Acker served as Chairman of the State of Michigan Committee of the American College of Trial Lawyers for a two-year term (2019-2020). Lawrence Acker is a past member of the Michigan Character and Fitness Committee. Lawrence Acker has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Martindale Hubbell Directory of Preeminent Attorneys and Michigan Super Lawyers Lawrence Acker has served on the Editorial Board of Michigan Lawyers Weekly.  He was nominated as “Lawyer of the Year” in 2002 by Lawyers Weekly.   Most recent trial completed: Lake Michigan Carferry vs. DeBoer Baumann, CPA firm. Mason County Circuit Court, Ludington, Michigan; Case No. 2019-000249-NM Entered judgment on jury verdict with interest 6/22/2023 in the amount of $746,918. Co-counsel Ms. Lauren Acker.  About Lauren AckerAssociate, Lawrence J. Acker, P.C/ The Acker Law Firm12930 S. West Bayshore DriveTraverse City, MI 49684 Education:J.D. William & Mary Law School, 2019B.A. Washington & Lee University, 2012 Admitted to Practice:MichiganDistrict of ColumbiaOregon Lauren has been assisting her father, Lawrence J Acker, with cases since November 2019, focusing on professional malpractice and personal injury.  Lauren is involved in all aspects of matters in Michigan State Courts and Federal Court including U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of Michigan; Southern District of Texas, Houston Division; and Central District of California, Los Angeles.  Lauren sat second chair during a jury trial for accounting malpractice that resulted in the largest jury verdict in Mason County, Michigan.

Davida Perry, Esq. – Are Dress Codes Still a Thing?Have you noticed how the people you encounter at different businesses have very different ways of dressing for work? At some there seems to be a consistent dress code, while at others it seems like the wild west. Surely it should match the brand image of that business, but sometimes it doesn't seem to. I was curious as to what you, as the business owner or manager can legally require of your employees. So, I invited Davida Perry, an expert on employment law to join me and help sort this out for you.Listen to this new episode for some ideas that you can use to decide what's right for your business. About Davida Perry:Davida S. Perry is the co-founding and managing partner of Schwartz Perry & Heller, a boutique law firm focusing exclusively on representing individuals in all areas of employment law, including discrimination and sexual harassment cases. Ms. Perry holds an “AV rating with preeminence” from Martindale Hubbell, has been listed by Thompson Reuters as a New York – Metro Area “Super Lawyer” every year since 2009, has been a “Woman Leader In The Law” every year since 2012 by ALM Media and has been recognized by City & State on its Law Power 100 list. Ms. Perry has co-authored numerous articles and publications for programs sponsored by the New York State & City Bar Associations, the National Employment Lawyers Association,. Thomson Reuters and the Practicing Law Institute. Ms. Perry has also lectured extensively on employment law for various continuing legal education providers such as Lawline and The National Law Institute. Ms. Perry is a mediator with the United States District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, as well as with the New York and Richmond County Supreme Courts. Ms. Perry also serves as a mediator and arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.Connect with Davida Perry:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidaperry Davida S. PerrySchwartz Perry & Heller LLP3 Park Avenue, Suite 2700New York, New York 10016P: 212-889-6565dperry@sphlegal.com If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg.comPlease be sure to subscribe to this podcast and leave a review (thanks, it really does make a difference). If you want to get notifications of new episodes and upcoming workshops and webinars, you can sign up at www.ConnectWithAlanBerg.com  

For a second time, physical violence breaks out at a Michigan Republican Party leadership meeting … this time, complete with criminal charges pending. And speaking of Republican criminals, the federal investigation into Trump's efforts to steal the 2020 election now involves testimony from Jocelyn Benson as the investigation spreads to Michigan, Arizona and Georgia. Donald Trump's apparent “get out of jail free” strategy is to get elected President or, at worst, get one of his MAGA wannabes elected so they tell the Justice Department to back off. It's another challenge for a court system under increasing fire for political manipulation, conflicts of interest and outright corruption. We talk about a credibility crisis for the 3rd branch of government with former Michigan Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. McCormack served on the Michigan Supreme Court from 2013 to 2022, first as an associate justice, and as chief justice from 2019 to 2022. Previously she was a professor at the University of Michigan Law School where she served as Michigan Law's associate dean for clinical affairs, clinical professor of law, and co-director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, a non-DNA clinic representing wrongfully convicted Michigan prisoners. McCormack also launched and worked in a pediatric advocacy law clinic focusing on children with health problems, and a domestic violence clinic. She retired from the Supreme Court at the end of 2022 and became President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Arbitration Association in February. Her first campaign featured an online ad that went viral with 1.9 million views. "Walk and Talk the Vote" was a reunion of the West Wing cast focusing on her candidacy. The production was organized by her younger sister Mary – one of the stars of the iconic series – complete with West Wing stars including Martin Sheen, Brad Whitford, Allison Janney, Lily Tomlin and Joshua Malina. =========================== This week's podcast is underwritten in part by EPIC-MRAEPIC ▪ MRA is a full service survey research firm with expertise in: • Public Opinion Surveys • Market Research Studies • Live Telephone Surveys • On-Line and Automated Surveys • Focus Group Research • Bond Proposals - Millage Campaigns • Political Campaigns & Consulting • Ballot Proposals - Issue Advocacy Research • Community - Media Relations • Issue - Image Management • Database Development & List Management =========================== News Stories We're Following This Week Courts Under Fire Bridget McCormack Bio Data for Progress Polling on SCOTUS Supreme Court Term Limits - Brennan Center for Justice The Trump Documents Case Puts the Justice System on Trial - The New York Times Trump Lawyers Seek Indefinite Postponement of Documents Trial - The New York Times Trump centers campaign on his prosecution, vilifying legal system - The Washington Post Alito Took Unreported Luxury Trip With GOP Donor Paul Singer - ProPublica Justice Alito Defends Private Jet Travel to Luxury Fishing Trip - The New York Times The Elite Circle Clarence Thomas Entered That Led to the Supreme Court - The New York Times Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor's staff prodded colleges and libraries to buy her books - AP News Supreme Court justices and donors mingle at campus visits. These documents show the ethical dilemmas - AP News Justices teach when the Supreme Court isn't in session. It can double as an all-expenses-paid trip - AP News Senate panel plans to move forward on Supreme Court ethics bill after Alito report - POLITICO Doughty's social media injunction undoes election disinformation efforts - The Washington Post After 303 Creative Decision, Large Majority of Voters Say Business Owners Should Not Be Able to Deny Services Based on Personal Beliefs How Supreme Court decisions are activating a generation of young voters - The Washington Post Michigan Policy and Politics

This week, as we celebrate Independence Day, we thought we'd revisit our conversation with Bridget Mary McCormack, former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Since we recorded this episode, Chief Justice McCormack has retired and gone on to be president and CEO of the American Arbitration Association, as well as strategic advisor to Penn Carey Law's Future of the Profession Initiative. In our discussion, Chief Justice McCormack talks about her efforts to ensure equal access to justice for all, the importance of public confidence in our court system, and collaborating with other branches of the Michigan state government on civil justice reform. This conversation highlights the incredible work of our country's public servants in solving today's A2J challenges. We hope you enjoy. In this episode, we have the distinct honor of being joined by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack. Her passion for access to justice has been a constant throughout her career in public service. Immediately out of law school in New York, she joined the Legal Aid Society and the Office of the Appellate Defender. As a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, she launched a number of clinics devoted to domestic violence, pediatric health, mediation, low income taxpayers, human trafficking, and juvenile justice. The Michigan Innocence Clinic, which she founded—and in which students represent wrongfully convicted Michiganders—has exonerated more than 22 people so far, and has shined a light on the important justice issues underlying wrongful conviction. She joined the Michigan Supreme Court in January 2013, and became chief justice in January 2019. Since joining the court, Chief Justice McCormack continues to teach at the law school and continues to speak out on important issues around the access to justice problem in our society. Listen in to today's discussion to hear her thoughts on the access to justice challenge and how we can bridge the gap, and why judges should be agents for justice system reform.

Andy Trusevich is a Labor & Employment Attorney. He is also an Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. What is the chance that Trump will be convicted?

Please note that this episode was recorded during the first months of the war in Ukraine, and William and Thomas' commentary is relevant to that time. Since then, circumstances may have changed. Humiliation is reflected in most major historical events, especially in wars. Throughout the centuries, humans continue to be stuck in the same pattern of humiliation. And it has become even more significant in the present. With COVID-19 bringing a sense of interconnectedness and the whole world tuning in to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, author and anthropologist William Ury dissects the root cause of this cycle. He explains that empathy is our most powerful tool in negotiation, as it enables us to understand our "opponents" and communicate with them effectively. *Please note that this episode was recorded during the first months of the war in Ukraine, and William and Thomas' commentary is relevant to that time. Since then, circumstances may have changed.* Key points include: ✔️ How doing our inner work helps us to act more effectively toward the betterment of the collective ✔️ Using strategic empathy to better understand an “opponent” and find a constructive way out of conflict ✔️ How both COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine galvanized the world and made us aware of our interconnectedness ✔️ Fear and crises tune our collective instrument, and we can use them as an opportunity for positive transformation ✔️ Being a “possible-ist” - someone who can see both negative and positive possibilities and potentials, and can act accordingly to move situations in a positive direction --------------- William Ury is one of the world's leading experts on negotiation and mediation. As the co-founder of the Program on Negotiation, he is a driving force behind many new negotiation theories and practices. Ury is the co-author with Roger Fisher and Bruce Patton of Getting to Yes, a 15-million-copy bestseller translated into more than 35 languages, and the author of several other books including the award-winning Getting to Yes with Yourself. Over the last four decades, Ury has served as a negotiation advisor and mediator in conflicts ranging from the Cold War to ethnic and civil wars in the Middle East, Chechnya, Yugoslavia, and most recently in Colombia, where he serves as a senior advisor to President Juan Manuel Santos. In addition to teaching negotiation and mediation to tens of thousands of executives, Ury is the founder of the Abraham Path Initiative, which seeks to bring people together across cultures by opening a long-distance walking route in the Middle East that retraces the footsteps of Abraham and his family. In recognition of his work, he has received the Cloke-Millen Peacemaker Award, the Whitney North Seymour Award from the American Arbitration Association, and the Distinguished Service Medal from the Russian Parliament. --------------- Thomas Hübl is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions and mysticism with the discoveries of science. Since 2004, he has taught and facilitated programs with more than 100,000 people worldwide, including online courses which he began offering in 2008. The origin of his work and more than two decades of study and practice on healing collective trauma is detailed in his book Healing Collective Trauma: A Process for Integrating Our Intergenerational and Cultural Wounds Connect with Thomas here: Website: https://thomashuebl.com/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/Thomas.Huebl.Sangha/ Instagram/Twitter: @thomashuebl YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thomashuebl Sign up for updates by visiting our website:

Humiliation is reflected in most major historical events, especially in wars. Throughout the centuries, humans continue to be stuck in the same pattern of humiliation. And it has become even more significant in the present. Author and negotiation expert William Ury joins Thomas for their second conversation in a three-part series. They discuss how historical traumas contribute to current conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. William emphasizes the need for compassion, empathy, and inclusion in our individual and collective approaches to bringing about peace and positive change in the world. Tune in to learn more

"The single biggest block to getting a yes in any kind of conflict is yourself,” says author and expert negotiator William Ury. In this episode, William Ury shares his expertise in demonstrating spaciousness and empathy in conflict-laden situations, mediation as an intrapersonal exercise, and dissecting trauma in an unsettled society. ▶️ Practicing Spaciousness and Empathy for Conflict Mediation with William Ury Key Points to Discover:  ✔️ Practice the palm pinching technique. Standing in the middle of conflict can be terrifying. Step back and find perspective within by pinching your palm. “It gives you momentary pain, but it'll keep you alert,” William Ury retells. ✔️Befriend your emotions. Trauma brings about emotions we perceive as negative – such as anger, resentment, jealousy, hatred, and fear. William Ury says, “Befriend these emotions. Welcome them. Don't judge them. Host them. Don't suppress them.” Every emotion contains a message. If we're open and paying attention, we can better understand it. ✔️ Conflicts have three sides. The third side is called the whole – the larger community to which the two parties belong. “It's not a conflict between individual A and individual B. It's a collective,” he explains. This unseen side holds a huge responsibility to mediate and gather the two parties to reach a resolution. ✔️ Empathy requires putting yourself in your own shoes. It's hard to put yourself in others' shoes when you have preconceived ideas about them. Be in a place of clarity and gather as much information as you can about the conflicts you witness. This is where real and deep empathy begins. ✔️ The absent parts of ourselves are filled with the past. When we aren't fully integrated with the painful experiences of others, it blocks us from developing genuine empathy, and we might instead find that we're filled with fear, physical tension, and numbness. Healing from intergenerational trauma requires us to feel the fears of our ancestors – merging them into our present flow. This allows us to cultivate greater empathy for the people in our lives. ✔️ Mediation means seeing a way forward. Finding the way forward in conflict calls for inner spaciousness. As a mediator, William Ury recommends taking a step back and viewing the situation from what he calls “going to the balcony” - a removed position from which we can be more present, empathetic, and objective. Take off the blinders of your own biases and see the larger picture. --------------- William Ury is one of the world's leading experts on negotiation and mediation. As the co-founder of the Program on Negotiation, he is a driving force behind many new negotiation theories and practices. Ury is the co-author with Roger Fisher and Bruce Patton of Getting to Yes, a 15-million-copy bestseller translated into more than 35 languages, and the author of several other books including the award-winning Getting to Yes with Yourself. Over the last four decades, Ury has served as a negotiation advisor and mediator in conflicts ranging from the Cold War to ethnic and civil wars in the Middle East, Chechnya, Yugoslavia, and most recently in Colombia, where he serves as a senior advisor to President Juan Manuel Santos. In addition to teaching negotiation and mediation to tens of thousands of executives, Ury is the founder of the Abraham Path Initiative, which seeks to bring people together across cultures by opening a long-distance walking route in the Middle East that retraces the footsteps of Abraham and his family. In recognition of his work, he has received the Cloke-Millen Peacemaker Award, the Whitney North Seymour Award from the American Arbitration Association, and the Distinguished Service Medal from the Russian Parliament. --------------- Sign up for updates by visiting our website pointofrelationpodcast.com. Thomas Hübl is a renowned teacher, author, and international facilitator whose lifelong work integrates the core insights of the great wisdom traditions with the discoveries of science. The focus of his work is collective trauma and global healing. Webpage: https://thomashuebl.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thomas.Huebl.Sangha LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashuebl/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashuebl/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thomashuebl Twitter: https://twitter.com/thomasHuebl "Healing Collective Trauma" is the book by Thomas, published in five languages: https://www.collectivetraumabook.com

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) reports to the Secretary of Labor and is tasked with overseeing federal contractors and subcontractors ensuring they adhere to nondiscrimination laws and regulations. OFCCP's priorities and budget tend to vary greatly between presidential administrations. The Biden Administration has announced a number of reforms since 2020 including a focus on parental leave policies, intersectional discrimination, affirmative action, and more. How have these reforms fared? And what does the future hold? Craig Leen, OFCCP Director under President Trump, and Shirley Wilcher, OFCCP Deputy Assistant Secretary under President Clinton, will join us to discuss these questions and more.Featuring:--Craig E. Leen, Partner, K&L Gates and Former Director, OFCCP, U.S. Department of Labor--Shirley J. Wilcher, Executive Director, American Association for Access Equity and Diversity (AAAED) and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, OFCCP, U.S. Department of Labor--[Moderator] Robert J. Gaglione, Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association and Former Deputy Director, OFCCP, U.S. Department of Labor

Negotiate Like a CEO Jotham Stein, Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C.   – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 862 Jotham Stein Jotham Stein is the principal of the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. He has more than two decades of experience representing entrepreneurs and C-Suite executives running myriad types of companies, board members, venture capitalists, private equity principals, investment bankers as well as less senior employees of all size companies. Stein has negotiated numerous employment agreements, separation agreements, M & A agreements, change in control agreements, stock option agreements, restricted stock agreements, management carve out agreements, non-compete agreements, and much more.   Also, a litigator, Stein has represented individuals and corporate clients in state and federal courts and in multidistrict litigation, before state and federal agencies, and in arbitration, including before JAMS, the American Arbitration Association and FINRA. Stein has also served as part-time General Counsel of a high-technology Silicon Valley company.   A graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University, Stein is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, New York, Colorado, and the District of Columbia, as well as the United States Supreme Court, United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Ninth, and District of Columbia Circuits, and several United States District Courts. He is also a member of multiple bar associations, including the American Bar Association.   Stein is also the author of Executive Employment Law: Protecting Executives, Entrepreneurs and Employees, a how-to guide for practitioners. Executive Employment Law was first published in June 2011 by Oxford University Press and is now published by Matthew Bender (LexisNexis) and in its ninth edition.   Stein's new book, Negotiate Like a CEO, is an engaging look at how all employees can protect themselves with lessons learned from top entrepreneurs and executives and how you can too.   Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Jotham Stein about tips from his book, Negotiate Like a CEO. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show: - How it's vital for entrepreneurs to have their business legally protected on the first day. - Why entrepreneurs with partners must have a professional pre-nuptial-like agreement. - How some lawsuits are inevitable because some companies don't abide their contracts. - Why writing a book anyone can read can really help the everyday person - How you could lose a friend and a business partner if you don't have the right protections in place.   Connect with Jotham: Guest Contact Info LinkedIn Linkedin.com/jotham-s-stein Links Mentioned: negotiatelikeaceobook.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Maximum Mom, your host Elise Buie joined Pamela Grady.Grateful for the opportunity to serve the people and businesses of Madison Parish, Louisiana, and Warren County, Mississippi, Pamela co-founded Crews Grady PLLC in 2013 with the desire to empower her clients and her community. She utilizes her love of communication, technology, research, and planning to create successful outcomes for her clients and economic prosperity for her community.She has a heart for public service and economic development and uses her relationships with her colleagues on the Bench and in the Bar in service of those causes. Committed to access to justice and to educating her clients, she is constantly searching for ways to utilize technology to reach those in need.Pamela brings her background in agriculture and experience as an environmental and floodplain manager for the Department of Homeland Security to her real estate practice and is a licensed title insurance agent in the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. With offices ideally located in Madison Parish, Louisiana, and Warren County, Mississippi, her real estate practice often involves the purchase and sale of large agricultural and recreational tracts situated in both the states of Mississippi and Louisiana on the Mississippi River. ​In addition to maintaining a real estate practice, Pamela has prosecuted and defended civil and criminal cases in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Georgia in State Courts, Federal Courts, and before the American Arbitration Association. ​Pamela and her husband, James "Bud" Grady, live in Madison Parish, Louisiana, where they are raising their two children, Wyatt and Genevieve.4:33 federal judge in Texas 7:55 It's been a real shift12:34 you're conducting yourself a certain way 16:19 you've got to be upfront with people20:40 she's a great partner24:30 who is this person 29:05 you can take another step34:17 yes ma'am38:00 that was a fun gameWatch the interview here.Subscribe to Maximum Mom on your favorite podcast player, so you never miss an episode!Sign up for the Maximum Mom newsletter!

Show Notes Jotham Stein Jotham S. Stein is the principal of the Law Offices of Jotham S. Stein P.C. (www.jotham.com). Mr. Stein has more than twenty-five years of experience representing entrepreneurs, C-Suite executives, board members, venture capitalists, private equity principals, investment bankers as well as employees of companies of all types and sizes. Mr. Stein has negotiated numerous employment agreements, separation agreements, M & A agreements, change in control agreements, stock option agreements, restricted stock agreements, management carve out agreements, non-compete agreements, and much more. Mr. Stein is also a litigator. He has represented individuals and corporate clients in state and federal courts and in multidistrict litigation, before state and federal agencies, and in arbitration, including before JAMS, the American Arbitration Association and FINRA. Mr. Stein has also served as part-time General Counsel of a high-technology Silicon Valley company. Mr. Stein is a graduate of Stanford Law School and Princeton University. He is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, New York, Colorado and the District of Columbia as well as the United States Supreme Court, United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Ninth and District of Columbia Circuits and several United States District Courts. He is also a member of multiple bar associations, including the American Bar Association. Mr. Stein's new book, Negotiate Like a CEO, is an engaging look at how top entrepreneurs and executives protect themselves and how you can too. Mr. Stein is also the author of the professional guide for attorneys: Executive Employment Law: Protecting Executives, Entrepreneurs and Employees (first published by Oxford University Press, and now its ninth edition, published by Mathew Bender/LexisNexis).   We talk about What is better, to get a two-page offer letter or a 50-page offer letter and why? Should negotiations be done face-to-face or with the new world, is zoom, ok? What are the areas of an employment contract that can be negotiated? What are single action and double action triggers in a contract?     Connect with Jothem Stein (3) Jotham S. Stein | LinkedInjothamstein@jotham.com joe@totalexpertinc.com jotham.com  Negotiate Like a CEO – Negotiate Like a CEO, What Every CEO, Entrepreneur, Attorney Should Read! (negotiatelikeaceobook.com)