Making Mediation Work
Every legal dispute resolves—the only question is when and how.
Parties thus face a choice: will they settle their conflict before time and treasure are poured into litigation, or only after those resources have been expended? Will they abandon control over the resolution of their dispute to a jury or judge, or would they prefer to fashion the resolution themselves? Through mediation, parties retain control over the settlement process, including the possibility of settling early, avoiding an “all or nothing” outcome, and securing deal terms that a court could never award.
While not every dispute settles at mediation, parties can take certain steps to optimize the chance of success. One such step is selecting the right mediator who can help both sides evaluate their theories, narratives, and positions. Another is preparing for mediation with the same seriousness that one applies to the trial process. Proper preparation increases the odds that the logical conclusion and consequence of mediation is a successful resolution of the dispute.
Our Neutrals
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Peter Rukin
My work as a mediator grows out of decades spent advising and representing employees and management in every conceivable type of employment law matter. Over the years, my clients included Fortune 500 businesses, public employers, company presidents and senior executives, professional employees, and rank and file workers. I represented “both sides of the v” in cases ranging from high stakes class action discrimination and complex wage and hour cases to breach of contract and individual equal employment opportunity claims.
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John F. Hyland
A substantial part of my professional practice involves serving as a mediator. I obtained certification as an employment law mediator from Cornell University’s School of Industrial Relations and from the ADR Program of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. I serve as a mediator for the Northern District’s settlement conference program and an evaluator in the Court’s Early Neutral Evaluation Program. I also serve as a settlement conference panelist for the Sonoma County Superior Court.
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Jean Hyams
I have been mediating employment, fair housing, and other disputes for more than two decades. What started as service to the courts has transformed into a thriving private mediation practice. My experience and reputation as a seasoned trial lawyer representing employees helps me convey the risks of litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants and gives me credibility with everyone in the room. I approach mediation as a collaborative effort and believe that everyone in the process can contribute valuable information, insights, and ideas to reach the shared goal of resolution.
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Salman Ravala
As a mediator, I regularly draw on my experiences with Board service and in-house counsel work to help parties reach practical and durable solutions to their disputes. My legal practice and neutral work includes the area of domestic and international business law, commercial litigation, and employment law. I have represented both Plaintiffs and Defendants in New York state, federal, and appellate courts. I am a graduate of the Harvard Negotiation Institute Advanced Mediation Workshop and work as a neutral in mediation and arbitration forums across the United States and globally.