Mediation Committee Leadership
- Committee Chairs: Edward Schnitzer and Sylvia Mayer
- Communications: Mo Bauer and Annmarie Chiarello
- Education: Steve Sather and Kara Casteel
- Member Relations: Kevin McCarrell
- Newsletter: Joseph Orbach
- Special Projects: Frank Monaco and Brian Kilmer
Planning Meetings
The Mediation Committee’s leadership meets monthly to discuss upcoming programs and ideas for new programs. At the meetings, each subcommittee provides a report on the past month’s activities and activities for the upcoming month. Before concluding, the meeting is open to any new ideas for articles, panels, webinars, and encouraging new members.
Annual Spring Meeting 2024
The Mediation Committee’s Annual Spring Meeting panel was titled, “Mediation of Consumer Bankruptcy Issues.” Hanna W. Hutman moderated a panel comprised of Hon. Thomas J. Catliota, Kara K. Gendron and Stephen W. Sather that discussed mediation of consumer bankruptcy issues, including the types of issues mediated, selection of a mediator, and special considerations involved in the mediation of consumer issues.
Winter Leadership Conference 2024
The Mediation Committee’s Winter Leadership Conference panel was titled, “Do You Want to Make a Change? The Process to Amend the Bankruptcy Rules,” which was co-hosted by the Legislation Committee. The panelists were Hon. Martin R. Barash, Emery G. Lee and Sylvia Mayer, and Ed Schnitzer moderated the panel, which discussed the process to amend the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, the government agencies involved, how to get involved, and an example of the current proposed amendments to Bankruptcy Rule 9031.
Annual Spring Meeting 2025
The Mediation Committee is in the early stages of planning a panel for ABI’s 2025 Annual Spring Meeting, being held April 24-26 in Washington, D.C. We have not yet decided on a topic.
Independent Networking Events and Special Projects
The Mediation Committee produced its third podcast this year for its podcast series, “Reframing Mediation,” led by Connor Bifferato and Ed Schnitzer. The third podcast featured a debate between Connor and Ed and covered remote vs. in-person mediation, joint caucuses vs. private sessions only, openings vs. no openings, and the role of mediators as being “evaluative” vs. “facilitative.”
Networking
The Mediation Committee is happy to report that 14 new members have joined the committee since April 2023 |
