NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation)

What makes mediation work in high-stakes medical malpractice cases? Two of our neutrals are weighing in at the New York City Bar Association Medical Malpractice Conference. Hon. Ellen Spodek (Ret.) and Hon Judith McMahon (Ret.) of NAM will join Nancy Block of NYU Langone Health and Alfred Vigorito of Westchester Medical Center Health Network for “Trial Practice – Effective Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution Strategies.” They’ll bring perspectives from the bench and from inside major health systems on how to get cases resolved. October 26, 2026 | 1:30pm - 2:25pm | New York City Bar Association, 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036 We hope to see you there!

Today is Conflict Resolution Day, a chance to recognize the power of dialogue, understanding, and creative problem-solving in settling disputes. Conflict is a natural part of life and business, but it doesn’t have to end in a courtroom. Mediation and arbitration give people a faster, more private, and often less costly way to find solutions that work for everyone involved. To all the mediators, arbitrators, and professionals who help people move forward every day: thank you.

Mitch Kahn, Esq. recognizes the difference between a number that settles a case and the number that leaves both parties feeling settled. With more than 30 years of personal injury litigation experience, Mr. Kahn has spent his career evaluating complex claims from every angle. Today, that experience informs an approach to mediation grounded in fair valuation, practical judgment, and an understanding of what parties on both sides of the table need to reach closure. Hear his approach to resolution in his own words. Review Mitchell R. Kahn, Esq.'s full resume and schedule a mediation exclusively through NAM. https://lnkd.in/d_v3ZyCt

Some clients just need to hear a number. Others need to know they’ve been heard. Knowing which one you have in front of you can make all the difference. Jennifer Herscovici, Esq. spent years as a Supervisor and Negotiator in the New York City Law Department’s Tort Division, settling thousands of cases and learning that resolution doesn’t always begin with the same conversation. Sometimes it means confronting the realistic value of a case. Sometimes it means giving a client the room to get it off their chest before they’re ready to hear anything else. The skill is knowing the difference. It’s a judgment Jennifer now brings to every mediation at NAM, helping attorneys and their clients get to the conversation that can actually move a matter forward. Review Jennifer Herscovici, Esq.'s full resume and schedule a mediation exclusively through NAM. https://lnkd.in/dgkPFxum

We're proud to announce that NAM is sponsoring the AHRMNY Upstate New York Educational Conference on October 19 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown! For more than 40 years, the Association for Healthcare Risk Management of New York has brought together the professionals who work every day to protect patients, reduce risk, and strengthen healthcare organizations across the state. We're honored to support that mission as both an exhibitor and this year's lunch sponsor. If you're attending, stop by our table in the main conference room. We'd love to meet you and talk about practical ways to resolve disputes earlier, more efficiently, and with less risk. Irini Bekhit

NAM is proud to sponsor the New York City Bar Association's Medical Malpractice Conference 2026! Join judges, trial lawyers, and industry leaders on Monday, October 26 at the City Bar (42 West 44th St.) for a full day on the latest in med mal litigation, including cross-examination techniques, Pattern Jury Instruction updates, appellate review, long-term care litigation, damages, and mediation and ADR strategies. Don't miss NAM neutrals Judge McMahon and Judge Ellen Spodek on "Trial Practice – Effective Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution Strategies" at 1:30 PM, and Judge Lewis J. Lubell on "Trial Practice – Presenting and Defending Damages" at 3:40 PM. Members of the NAM team will also be in attendance, so if you see us, be sure to say hello. We'd love to connect! Whether you represent plaintiffs or defendants, it's a great chance to sharpen your practice, earn CLE credit (6.0 NY), and network with colleagues over lunch. We hope to see you there!

Smart mediators know when to say yes and when to say no. But the smartest know when to say neither. For George Freitag, Esq., one of mediation’s greatest strengths is that the parties remain in control of the outcome. That means there is room for maybe. For not right now. For taking a position, reconsidering it, and deciding that the time to move on from a disagreement hasn’t come yet. Because the most important part of a mediator’s job is to know the difference between creating momentum and forcing it. After 30 years practicing law and thousands of matters as a mediator and arbitrator, George brings that respect for timing, judgment, and self-determination to every mediation at NAM. Review George Freitag, Esq.’s full resume and schedule a mediation exclusively through NAM. https://lnkd.in/dCea4U4M

"I have walked in everyone's shoes, and I have a deep appreciation for the challenges they face." — Hon. Lewis J. Lubell (Ret.) How does seeing litigation as both a trial attorney and a judge shape a neutral's approach to resolution? What should attorneys do to prepare for mediation or arbitration? In our NAM Neutral Perspective, Hon. Lewis J. Lubell (Ret.) shares thoughtful insights drawn from more than two decades on the New York State Supreme Court, including his service as Supervising Judge for Matrimonial Matters throughout the 9th Judicial District. Read more: https://lnkd.in/evu2Xx28

They say you can’t please everyone. Unless your name is Joseph L. Ehrlich, Esq. Plaintiff lawyers refer him cases. Defense attorneys refer him cases. Insurance carriers refer him cases. For more than 30 years practicing law and resolving disputes, Joseph L. Ehrlich, Esq. has built a reputation for being fair, level headed, and highly skilled at evaluating what a case is worth. His experience spans hundreds of disputes from inception through trial at venues throughout the New York metropolitan area, giving him a nuanced understanding of how case value can shift depending on where it’s being heard. Mr. Ehrlich has been voted a Top 10 Mediator in the New York Law Journal “Best Of” survey for 15 years and in 2019 was voted both #1 Individual Mediator and #1 Individual Arbitrator. Review Joseph L. Ehrlich, Esq.’s full resume and schedule a mediation or arbitration exclusively through NAM. https://lnkd.in/dgGzqi2c

In high-stakes commercial arbitrations, how do you know your arguments will land before the actual hearing?   In a new article, NAM neutral Hon. Shira A. Scheindlin (Ret.) explains how mock arbitration exercises let counsel test their case in front of experienced former judges and arbitrators. Counsel come away with candid feedback on how persuasive and clear their presentation is and how a tribunal might react, while there's still time to adjust strategy.   As Judge Scheindlin puts it: "The question worth asking is not whether the exercise is expensive, but what it costs to proceed without it."   Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eP668jPF