ADR Section News & Tips June 2018
Message From the Chair
The ADR Section concluded a very successful meeting during The Florida Bar Annual Convention. Some highlights: 

We held a well-attended CLE that presented a mock mediation of a fictional sexual harassment claim —with several different mediators taking the helm and explaining what they were doing and why it mattered. Great feedback from the attendees confirmed that our CLE was interesting, timely and presented by skilled practitioners, including premier lawyers taking on the roles of the opposing advocates in the case. Thanks again to all who participated or attended.  
Following the CLE, we held our annual ADR reception, this year at an earlier time to allow ADR Section members the chance to come to our event without conflicting with the law school receptions taking place later that evening. Another great success, and if you missed it, please note it on your calendar for next year’s Annual Convention.

Our ADR Section Executive Council meeting took place on Friday. We are following some substantial issues that will impact dispute resolution in Florida in significant ways. We are waiting for ADR Rules & Policy to submit its proposed rule change to the Florida Supreme Court regarding mandatory certification. Once that proposal is submitted, then the Supreme Court will provide another opportunity for comment. The section will take that up and determine whether and how to respond.    

In addition, we are planning a NITA-style Academy for advanced mediation skills, as well as at least one CLE dealing with high-level arbitration issues. If you have ideas for other areas that you would like to see the section cover for CLE, please reach out to me or any member of the Executive Council. Our committees on Social Media and Health & Wellness are welcoming new members, so if you are seeking a way to become more active in the section, please consider joining one of these. 

Christina Magee, Chair
Brevard Mediation Services, Satellite Beach
ADR Section Awards
Please join us in congratulating each of the section's 2018 award winners!

During  The Florida Bar Annual Convention, 2017-2018 Section Chair Bob Cole honored Michael H. Lax of Miami with the section's Lifetime Professionalism Award, and named Ricardo J. Cata, also of Miami, as the recipient of the Mediation Publication of the Year Award.  Aaron J. Horowitz was presented with the Young Lawyer Member of the Year award.
Photos from The Florida Bar Annual Convention
A.J. Horowitz receives the ADR Section's inaugural Young Lawyer of the Year Award from 2017-19 Section Chair Bob Cole.
Moderator Chris Magee and panelists for "Inside the Mediator's Mind" CLE during The Florida Bar Annual Convention.
ADR Section Immediate Past Chair Bob Cole with 2018-19 Chair Chris Magee.
ADR Section Executive Council members Bob Cole, Lawrence Kolin and Jeffrey Fleming with Florida Bar President-Elect John Stewart.
Florida Bar President Michelle Suskauer
Please welcome new Florida Bar President  Michelle Rosenkranz Suskauer , the first former public defender to serve as President.  Michelle is a criminal defense attorney at Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A., which focuses on criminal defense and finance fraud with offices in West Palm Beach, Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Michelle began her legal career as an assistant public defender in West Palm Beach. She has been practicing in Palm Beach County since 1991 with a focus in criminal law in both state and federal courts.
Sanchez Presents NBI Seminars
Executive Council member Oscar A. Sanchez recently was a presenter on ethics at the National Business Institute's "Marijuana Business Law in Florida" seminars in Miami and West Palm Beach. He spoke on marijuana and rules of professional conduct, duty to pursue justice, attorney use of cannabis products and attorney ownership of cannabis. Sanchez is the founder of OAS Mediation in Miami and is a Florida Supreme Court Civil Circuit and Appellate certified mediator.
UWWM CLE Presenters
Rodney A. Max , a principal with Upchurch Watson White and Max Mediation Group, and UWWM mediator Steven Jaffe recently presented "Bringing Class Actions & Mass Claims to Resolution," a CLE on how to maintain ethical standards and civil discourse during mediations that arise from class and mass actions. UWWM mediator Jeffrey M. Fleming , an ADR Section Executive Council member, served as moderator. Jeffrey is an arbitrator and special magistrate.
Rodney A. Max
Jeffrey M. Fleming
Foundation Announces New Executive Director
The Florida Bar Foundation Board of Directors has selected Dominic C. “Donny” MacKenzie as its Executive Director effective August 20, 2018. The Foundation is a statewide charitable organization whose mission is to provide greater access to justice.

After serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for eight years, MacKenzie took office as its president in 2015-16. He has served on the Foundation’s Legal Assistance for the Poor, Law Student Assistance, Grants, Interest on Trust Account Operations, Development, Strategic Reset, and Executive Committees.
Change of Address? Update the DRC
Here's a reminder to update your contact information with the  Florida Courts   Dispute Resolution Center . Pursuant to Rule 10.120, all mediators must notify the DRC of any name, contact or other information changes within 30 days of the change. To do so, send an email to drcmail@flcourts.org or a fax to (850) 922-9290. All mediators must provide the DRC with a physical address for the receipt of certified mail.
Save the Date! ADR Section In-State Retreat
SAVE THE DATE! Don't miss the section's Sept. 7-9 in-state retreat at  Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa  in Jenson Beach. Join your section colleagues for networking, meetings and fun during the fall executive council meeting. We hope to see you there!
Submit Your News
The ADR Section monthly newsletter will publish updates about your firm, recent speaking engagements, awards, announcements and more. Please email your news to Section Administrator Gabby Tollok at GTollok@floridabar.org .
Call For Authors and Speakers
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Section is seeking volunteers to contribute to our CLE events and publications. We welcome new perspectives! If you have a recent blog post or speech that you can submit as an article for an upcoming issue of the ADR News & Tips or if you have a CLE topic idea you'd like to present, please contact Florida Bar CLE Commmittee Representative Kim Torres.
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