After 24 years of mediating cases, participating as an advocate in mediation, teaching mediation and negotiation classes, leading and participating in mediation workshops and panels, my philosophy is that mediation is a collaborative problem-solving process. The mediator's role is to energize all of the participants to engage in the settlement process--looking for a reasonable way to resolve a particular dispute--and to create a positive, congenial and safe environment for the participants. I actively solicit the help of counsel in formulating a successful negotiation strategy, and, when permitted by counsel, actively interact with the parties when appropriate. I am not an evaluative mediator, in the sense that I do not tell the parties what I think they should do, but I do offer valuable feedback from the point of view of an impartial, neutral third party. Trust and confidence reposed in the mediator is an important ingredient in the mediation process. Most importantly, the mediator's role is to accurately communicate information as requested by the parties, keep track of settlement offers and counter-offers, keep the process dynamic and forward-moving and help the parties look realistically at the settlement options. In my pre-suit divorce and paternity mediations, I meet with the parties on average three times, and there is a great deal of modeling for future peaceful problem solving between the participants. The parties experience that in spite of their differences, they have been able to work together to successfully resolve contentious family conflicts.

• University of Miami (LLM, Taxation-2005)
• Columbia University (MBA-1977; JD-1976)
• University of Rochester (BA-1973).

• Florida Academy of Professional Mediators / Past President and Diplomat Member
• Broward County Bar Association /Past Chair Alternative Dispute Resolution Section and Member
• Association of Broward County Mediators/ Past President and Board Member
• ADR Section of the Florida Bar/ Past Chair and member of Executive Council
• Association of Broward County Hispanic Lawyers/ Member
• Association of Broward County Women Lawyers/ Member
• American Bar Association/ Member

$375 Per Hour

Spanish