In January of 2016, NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation) published the article "The Pre-Mediation Mediation - When, Where and Why" by L'Abbate Balkan partner, Richard P. Byrne.
The article discusses how it is a better practice to first conduct an “informational meeting” as opposed to an initial Mediation session (termed as such to manage the attendees’ expectations). This allows the Mediator to then schedule one or more pre-Mediation sessions among the defendants.
Click here to read the complete article on the NAM website.
Richard P. Byrne, Esq., is a member of NAM’s (National Arbitration and Mediation) Hearing Officer Panel and is available to arbitrate and mediate cases throughout the United States. In 2018, for the fourth year in a row, he was voted one of the Top 3 Mediators in the country by National Law Journal Reader Rankings Survey and for the second year in a row, he was named a National Law Journal 2017 Alternative Dispute Resolution Champion, as part of a select group of only 37 nationwide. Further, for the fourth straight year, he was voted a Top Ten Mediator in New York State by the 2017 New York Law Journal Reader Rankings Survey. He is also co-managing partner of L'Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini, L.L.P. and chair of the Firm's Insurance Industry Practice Group.