2021 | HOPE ON THE HORIZON
Thirty-five years ago, the Straus Institute was founded at our law school to serve as an academic center committed to the field of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). We recognized that helping students develop skills in negotiation and problem solving prepares them to more successfully advocate on behalf of their clients. If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that our survival depends on one another and our ability to collaborate in times of conflict. I can confidently say that our students at Pepperdine Caruso Law are equipped to lead and empowered to serve in connection with the challenges that lay ahead, and that the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution has played a key role in furthering their abilities and commitment.
Paul Caron Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Contents 2 Reignite, Repair, Restore 3 Straus Institute Awarded JAMS Foundation Grant 4 Judge Danny Weinstein Appointed Distinguished Mediator In Residence 5 JAMS Scholars Join Incoming LLM Class 6 14th Annual AALS ADR Works-in-Progress Conference 7 ADR at the Roots Symposium
8 Faculty Making Waves 11 Honors for Faculty Practitioners 12 Youth Summit Advances Conflict Resolution in High Schools
13 Dispute Resolution Law Journal Hosts Annual Symposium 13 First-Ever Student Mediation Competition 14 Alumni Leading the Way 15 Straus in the News
Inside straus 2021 Inside Straus is the annual publication of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. The institute also publishes the blog Inside Straus and an e-newsletter, Common Ground, for its audience of students, alumni, faculty, and friends.
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Reignite, Repair, Restore We all remember where we were when the world shut down last year. Whether we heard the news at work, at home, at school, or on social media, we remember the moment we packed our things, the fear we felt for the health of our loved ones, and the uncertainty of heading into uncharted waters. This year has felt different. Vaccinations have paved the way for cautious optimism and reopening, and finally, our students returned to school and our campus felt alive. Meeting these bright minds from around the world, so full of passion for dispute resolution, reminded me of what matters most—our connection to one another, as friends, colleagues, and a community committed to peacemaking. Thus, we decided to invest in relationships this year—reigniting them, repairing them, and restoring our ties with one another. We reignited our community with a two-week orientation, welcoming our students, faculty, and staff back to campus and fostering friendship and collaboration within our newest cohort. In just two months, our students have formed meaningful bonds, challenging one another in the classroom, collaborating on shared interests, and supporting their peers. Through a generous grant by the JAMS Foundation, we aim to repair relationships across Los Angeles between law enforcement officials and community members. Stemming from last summer’s nationwide movement for racial justice, we are excited to see how dispute resolution principles can transform and heal this complex relationship. We were delighted to host the 14th annual AALS ADR Works-inProgress Conference this October, restoring this important and collegial event for our community of dispute resolution scholars and researchers. By offering the event in a hybrid format, we welcomed friends both on campus and online to share their ideas and feedback, spurring inquiry and scholarship in the ADR field. I am confident that our investment in one another will be the key to getting through these next few months and years as this pandemic wanes. I would like to thank my fantastic team of faculty colleagues and professionals who help advance our institute’s diverse priorities. Best wishes to you for good health.
Sukhsimranjit Singh Judge Danny Weinstein Managing Director Associate Professor of Law and Practice Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
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Read more about the JAMS GRANT
Straus Institute Awarded JAMS Foundation Grant In July 2021 the Straus Institute was awarded a grant of $450,000 by the JAMS Foundation in support of its planned two-year training and engagement program to address the relationship between the Los Angeles community and law enforcement. The institute has trained more than 900 law enforcement personnel in workplace conflict resolution strategies to date. “We see this initiative as a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and Los Angeles community members. We are grateful to have the support of the JAMS Foundation as we look to provide our community with tools to resolve conflict, share experiences and encourage empathy for one another,” said professor Sukhsimranjit Singh.
of Los Angeles’ complex history with law enforcement” said David Brandon, JAMS Foundation managing director. In June, the institute welcomed a delegation from the Korean National Police Agency to exchange ideas and explore collaboration. MDR student and LAPD Captain Andrew Neiman (pictured below), shared his experience with the international officials, stating, “Police training is very traditional, which can be good, but the training that I’ve received at Straus has been great. The skills learned to deescalate high-tension situations has benefitted law enforcement relations within the LA community.”
The program will facilitate positive engagement between police officers and community members to dispel negative perceptions and will provide the groups with unique conflict resolution skills so that interactions between them may begin from a foundation of respect. “We think the program provides an innovative approach that leverages ADR principles to navigate the nuances
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Read more about Judge DANNY WEINSTEIN
Judge Danny Weinstein Appointed Distinguished Mediator In Residence On January 28, 2021, Judge Danny Weinstein (Ret.) joined the Straus Institute as an honorary faculty member and Distinguished Mediator in Residence, co-teaching with professor Sukhsimranjit Singh. The Institute held a virtual meeting to welcome Judge Danny to the Pepperdine Caruso Law family. In addition to Judge Danny and his family members, the event was attended by top University officials and board members and fellows of the Weinstein International Foundation from all over the world. After introductions by Singh, opening remarks from University president Jim Gash, dean Paul Caron, and Weinstein himself, several attendees shared words of congratulations and tribute. Judge Danny’s wife recited an original poem, and Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.) closed the event with a moving original song.
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Judge Danny, who taught courses in the spring and fall semesters, said, “I feel like I am in the right place. I want to be part of this great community, with the faith-based values of Pepperdine, which I share and make me feel like I’m with family.” Throughout his time at the law school, Judge Danny has continued to inspire students with his expertise and global mediation practice.
“I feel like I am in the right place. I want to be part of this great community, with the faith-based values of Pepperdine, which I share and make me feel like I’m with family.” — Judge Danny Weinstein
Three JAMS Scholars Join Incoming LLM Class PRAGYA SHARMA Pragya Sharma was 8 years old when she decided she would become a lawyer. “I was amazed by the theatrical lawyers strutting in courts in their majestic gowns,” she shared. Upon completing her LLB, she received a diploma in corporate law, and joined Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Company, a premier Indian law firm, where she represented clients across high courts and arbitral tribunals. She first became interested in ADR in 2017 when she participated in an international investment arbitration moot court competition. “I was fascinated by a world not confined to the four walls of a courtroom, but the possibilities of a more efficient justice system,” Sharma stated. In the long term, Sharma hopes to join the Indian judiciary. “I am positive that an LLM from Straus will be a crucial step in achieving my goals.”
PAUL SHIN Wooseok “Paul” Shin, an accomplished Korean lawyer, joined the Straus Institute’s fall LLM class after receiving his bachelor of law from Tsinghua University School of Law, in Beijing, China. He has been interested in crossborder transactions since starting his legal studies. “It was my third year when I first encountered the world of international arbitration,” Shin stated, and he became convinced that ADR was a perfect mechanism for conflicts in international transactions. Shin hopes to study further and become an arbitrator who resolves disputes peacefully and impartially, with great efficiency. “I hope I can enjoy the honor of being part of investment arbitration tribunals and share my experiences and thoughts with the next generation to facilitate academic progress,” he said.
DMITRIY BOGORODSKIY Dmitriy Bogorodskiy is an experienced litigator from Russia in the area of international asset recovery, who became interested in ADR when he realized that in 80 percent of his cases, the best option was to settle. “That is when you need ADR mechanisms,” he stated. A colleague from a top-tier firm informed Bogorodskiy about the Straus Institute and he appreciated the hands-on approach of the faculty in the admissions process. “I applied to many top programs in the US, but Straus was the only institute that met with me prior to my admission, and connected me with the director, professor Singh. To me, that meant that Straus cared about its students.” Bogorodskiy has enjoyed his first semester at Straus, saying, “I would like to make conflict my comfort zone.”
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Read more about the WIP CONFERENCE
14th Annual AALS Adr Works-in-Progress Conference From October 7 to 9, 2021, the Straus Institute hosted the 14th annual American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Section on Dispute Resolution’s Works-in-Progress Conference in a hybrid format, welcoming scholars on campus in Malibu while simultaneously engaging an online audience. The Works-in-Progress Conference convenes scholars and researchers at all levels within the ADR field and cultivates a welcoming atmosphere in which participants can share their work, exchange ideas, and give or receive feedback with colleagues in attendance. The conference was last hosted in person in 2019 by the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the annual event has been held at various law schools since 2007. This year’s conference featured 19 fascinating presentations, with more than 60 faculty members in attendance. The event kicked off with a faculty dinner on Thursday, October 7, which provided a great chance for dispute resolution faculty to meet and reconnect with one another prior to the conference. On Friday, October 8, the conference began with remarks from dean Paul Caron, who welcomed scholars from across the country. Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh invited Elayne
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Greenberg, chair regent of the AALS Section on Dispute Resolution, to present the Section’s 2019 Best Article Award to professor Michael Moffitt of the University of Oregon Law School, for his article “Settlement Malpractice.” Moffitt then shared his article and discussed it with attendees. Straus Institute faculty, professors Singh, Tom Stipanowich, Maureen Weston, and Stephanie Blondell facilitated the presentations, which spanned topics across the ADR spectrum. The in-person guests enjoyed lunch and breaks on the back patio, and the day ended with a memorable reception and dinner at professor Singh’s home. Professors Jack Coe and Michael Helfand joined the evening events and connected with the in-person faculty attendees. The presentations continued into Saturday morning and the event officially concluded with a closing luncheon.
“We are grateful to the AALS Section on Dispute Resolution for giving us the opportunity to host this event,” stated Singh, who worked closely with Aparna Gupta, director of external relations at the institute, to design and execute this conference.
Learn more about ADR at the Roots
R oot s ADR AT THE
EXPLORING DIVERSITY AND EQUITY IN THE FIELD
Symposium Considers Role of Adr in Advancing Justice In April, the Straus Institute hosted “ADR at the Roots: Exploring Diversity and Equity in the Field,” a virtual symposium that convened scholars to consider the role of dispute resolution in advancing fairness and justice within the legal system and for society at large. More than 100 attendees joined the program, including law and ADR faculty, practitioners, and students from around the world. Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh welcomed the symposium’s guests, after which dean Paul Caron shared his gratitude that Straus continues to encourage reflection, collaboration, and social progress. Professor Phyllis Bernard delivered the keynote address in which she identified factors that may lead to social and economic insecurities. The first plenary discussion, “Diversity in Conflict Resolution Education,” centered on obstacles and opportunities to promote diversity in ADR classrooms and practice. Singh moderated the panel with professors Jacqueline Font-Guzmán, Homer La Rue, and Sharon Press, who discussed the importance of safe spaces as a prerequisite for belonging, especially in connection with institutional DEI initiatives. Professor Stephanie Blondell moderated the second plenary session, “Addressing Bias in Dispute Resolution,” with professors Lisa B. Amsler,
Isabelle Gunning, and Andrew Mamo. The panelists shared their scholarly works, which provided opportunities and interventions in mediation practice and design. Judge Danny Weinstein, who serves as the Straus Distinguished Mediator in Residence, presented the Champion for Diversity in ADR award to professor Blake Morant (pictured below). Morant was recognized for his commitment to advancing diversity within the legal profession and his dedication to promoting civil dialogue. Morant spoke on the importance of equity and civility in the symposium’s closing keynote address.
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Faculty Making Waves STEPHANIE BLONDELL LEADS INITIATIVES ON ADR CLINICAL PEDAGOGY IN VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT Professor Stephanie Blondell became co-chair of the ADR Committee in the AALS Section on Clinical Education, with professor Toby Guerin of Maryland Carey School of Law. In this role, she has regularly convened clinical faculty who teach mediation in a virtual think tank, that creates the space to solve pedagogical issues related to the pandemic. She also presented at the ABA Dispute Resolution Spring Conference on this topic, and her remarks centered on how clinical faculty have adapted to court shutdowns, eviction moratoriums, and remote teaching.
TOM STIPANOWICH PUBLISHES “DEAR 1L: FIVE GUIDEPOSTS FOR YOUR FUTURE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE” IN CARDOZO JOURNAL OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION Professor Thomas J. Stipanowich’s article, “Dear 1L: Five Guideposts for Your Future Professional Practice,” has been published in the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution. The article is coauthored with professor Lela P. Love of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. The article serves as a message to law students about the range of skills and insights that lawyers should bring to their work, and advises them to put litigation into a broader perspective.
MAUREEN WESTON PUBLISHED IN GONZAGA LAW REVIEW ON LAW PRACTICE DURING COVID-19 Professor Maureen Arellano Weston’s article, “Lawyering and Representing Organizational Clients in a Public Health Crisis,” has been published in the Gonzaga Law Review, 56 Gonz. L. R. 259 (2020). The article considers the response of the legal profession to the crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The unprecedented public health and financial crisis . . . calls upon the legal profession to go beyond traditional, adversarial, ‘rights’-based representation and disputing force majeure liability toward working with clients and collaborating with counterparts as partners in joint problem solving, innovative thinking, and developing viable options to help meet the parties’ mutual interests in safety, surviving, and perhaps even thriving, during and after the pandemic,” stated Weston.
Keep up with the latest Straus Institute news
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SUKHSIMRANJIT SINGH LEADS GLOBAL JUSTICE MEDIATION TRAINING IN GHANA Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh led a transformative ADR training in Kumasi, Ghana, which was supported by Pepperdine Caruso Law’s Sudreau Global Justice Institute, and the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development of the US Department of Justice. Singh was joined by Straus adjunct professor Selina Shultz, and together they trained a group of legal aid staff in mediation and conflict communication. “We are training and making some great connections, but above all, we are so pleased to meet some of the best people in the world: Ghanians,” said Singh. The week-long training had the specific goal of improving legal services in civil matters, in addition to serving as a key piece in the Sudreau Global Justice Institute’s larger vision of creating a sustainable public defense system in Ghana. Singh and Shultz trained legal aid staff on mediation and conflict resolution, thereby freeing up lawyers to provide direct legal services to those accused of a crime, but lacking legal representation.
Read more about ADR IN GHANA
Singh is immersed in research on global dispute resolution initiatives, and he recently edited a casebook, International Commercial Arbitration with Reference to India as an Emerging Hub, with professor Rajinder Kaur of Panjab University, published by Thomson Reuters (2021). The book discusses international trends in arbitration and focuses on the development of arbitration in India to meet the global parameters. The text provides insights on varied topics, including online arbitration, judicial intrusion, interpretation of public policy, and third-party funding. Professor Jack J. Coe, a notable expert in the field of international commercial arbitration, penned a foreword for the casebook.
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Faculty Making Waves Continued JACK COE PUBLISHES CHAPTER, “CONCURRENT CO-MEDIATION,” IN MEDIATION IN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL AND INVESTMENT DISPUTES Professor Jack J. Coe’s book chapter, “Concurrent Co-Mediation—Toward a More Collaborative Centre of Gravity in Investor-State Dispute Resolution,” was published in Mediation in International Commercial and Investment Disputes by Oxford University Press. The book brings together a group of highly qualified experts from academia, mediation and arbitration institutions, and international legal practice, who address the subject from a variety of angles.
MICHAEL HELFAND PRESENTS “THE FUTURE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES” AT JEWISH CURRENTS FUTURES FORUM Professor Michael A. Helfand spoke on “The Future of Religious Liberties” at a Jewish Currents Futures Forum on October 5, 2021. Helfand’s book chapter, also addressing the interplay of religion and the legal system, “What is Jewish Law? A Conceptual View from US Courts” was published in the Oxford Legal Handbook on Jewish Law. The text considers the assumption that Jewish practices qualify as religion and discusses how US courts treat Jewish law. In the piece, Helfand touches upon arbitration agreements that litigants often enter into by submitting Jewish legal matters to a rabbinical court.
PETER ROBINSON PRESENTS AT 2021 ABA DISPUTE RESOLUTION CONFERENCE Professor Emeritus Peter Robinson presented “The Value of an Effective Apology in Resolving Business Disputes” at the American Bar Association Section on Dispute Resolution Spring 2021 Conference. Professor Robinson is the author of Apology, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation for Good Lawyers and Other Peacemakers, in which he outlines a variety of approaches to apology and forgiveness, thereby empowering readers to better manage their relational conflicts.
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HONORS FOR FACULTY PRACTICTIONERS WESTERN JUSTICE CENTER HONORS SHAPHAN ROBERTS AS CHAMPION OF JUSTICE The Western Justice Center honored professor Shaphan Roberts at its annual Empower Gala with a Champion of Justice award. Founded in 1987, the Western Justice Center is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening communities by growing conflict-resolution skills for youth, educators, and neighborhood partners. Professor Roberts (pictured at right with Sukhsimranjit Singh) teaches Cross-Cultural Dispute Resolution and Mediation as an adjunct professor at the institute and serves as the director of the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Dispute Resolution Program (DRP). In this role, Roberts manages all of DRP’s initiatives, including community mediation services and the Community Police Unification (CPU) Program, an interagency collaboration that aims to cultivate a better understanding between law enforcement and local communities. As part of his efforts in this program, he spearheaded the design of a responsivity tool that helps match mediators with mediation participants. “We are incredibly proud of Shaphan’s innovative work to resolve conflict and usher in peace across Los Angeles County, and we are excited that our students have a chance to learn from such a transformative leader in their course,” said Sukhsimranjit Singh, who attended the event with Stephanie Blondell and Payton Silket (’20, MDR ’21). The Straus Institute has collaborated with the Western Justice Center on its first-ever youth convening, in which its executive director, Elissa Barrett, served as a featured speaker along with staff members Shaun Gatlin and Arturo Magana.
BILL EDDY PRESENTED WITH STAR AWARD BY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MEDIATION ASSOCIATION Bill Eddy was honored with the Star Award for his distinguished conflict resolution career and contributions to family mediation at the Southern California Mediator Association’s annual Family Mediation Institute. Eddy has taught a variety of courses for the institute as an adjunct professor, including Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution: High Conflict Cases. As cofounder of the High Conflict Institute, he has trained lawyers, mediators, judges, mental health professionals, and others on managing highconflict personalities.
REBECCA CALLAHAN (LLM ’07) FEATURED IN LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL Alumna Rebecca Callahan, who teaches Arbitration Theory and Practice as an adjunct professor, was the featured neutral mediator selected and profiled by the Los Angeles Daily Journal on February 5. Callahan is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator who specializes in resolving business disputes. She serves on commercial and complex case panels for the American Arbitration Association, and on a panel for the International Center for Dispute Resolution. After working as a litigator for many years, Callahan found her love for dispute resolution through a court-annexed mediation program launched in 1995 by US Bankruptcy Court judge Barry Russell. She stated, “I loved the process because it gave my clients some other options and it gave me some other skills.”
DAVID TALBOT (MDR ’98) PRESENTED WITH EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARD 2021 Professor and alumnus David Wilburn Talbot was presented the 2021 David McKibbin Excellence in Teaching Award by professors Tom Stipanowich and Sukhsimranjit Singh. The award is given each year to a Caruso Law adjunct faculty member who exemplifies excellence in teaching and devotion to students. The award is named after one of Caruso Law’s former full-time tax professors, David McKibbin, who was beloved by students. Talbot previously served as ombudsman for the World Bank Group, and has been an adjunct professor with the Straus Institute for the past 12 years where he teaches an ombudsman course. He is also a valued mentor to many Straus Institute alumni.
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Youth Summit Introduces High School Students and Educators to Conflict Resolution In December 2020, the Straus Institute hosted “Young Voices in Divided Times,” an inaugural summit that equipped high school students, educators, and administrators with conflict resolution skills. More than 100 attendees, including 50 high school students joined the virtual event, which featured a panel discussion, a training on navigating and responding to conflict, and strategy sessions. The summit was part of the Straus Institute’s Beyond the Dialogue initiative, which advances justice through dispute resolution practice and principles. Judge Danny Weinstein, whose support has made Beyond the Dialogue possible, joined the program to convey his enthusiasm for the event. Professors Sukhismranjit Singh and Shaphan Roberts shared their insights on the role of young people in bridging understanding on difficult issues. Singh shared, “The young brain is incredibly creative. Our goal is to channel this creativity and push it to the forefront of the conflict resolution movement and have the youth be the leaders.” Roberts added,
“I think how a society resolves its conflicts speaks volumes about that society. And I believe that our youth are naturally more invested in the outcome because the future belongs to them.”
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The event included an interactive session conducted by experienced practitioners from the Western Justice Center, an organization that trains youth, educators, and community members on resolving conflict. Among the participants were Kim Schulist and Payton Silket ('20, MDR '21). Schulist, an accomplished litigator in education, shared conflicts her clients have encountered related to COVID-19. Silket addressed youth engagement on societal challenges, commenting, “The youth are not risking some of the things that people who are further along in their careers may be risking. And so, that allows young people to be truth tellers and truth seekers . . . without being bogged down by some of the societal expectations.” Schulist and Silket were joined by students from Malibu High School, Culver City High School, Pacific High School, Palisades Charter High School, and schools from the Bay Area and Arizona.
Dispute Resolution Law Journal Hosts Annual Symposium In April, the Dispute Resolution Law Journal hosted its annual symposium, titled Tokyo 2020 Rescheduled— Implications for Athletes, Governing Bodies, Commercial Parties, and Dispute Resolution. The event brought together top international and Olympic-sport authorities, leaders, arbitrators, and lawyers to discuss the complex issues involved in the first-ever postponement of the Olympic Games.
Lord Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics, provided the keynote address and noted the challenges of coordinating the Olympic Games in a pandemic as well as the many policy issues that intersect with sport. Professor Maureen Weston spearheaded the event as the journal’s faculty advisor, and panelists included Straus alumna Kacie Wallace (LLM ’05), who serves as ombuds of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Jeff Benz from JAMS.
First-Ever Student Mediation Competition The Straus Institute hosted its first-ever mediation competition on March 8, 2021, bringing together student competitors, alumni, and top commercial mediators and lawyers as judges, to evaluate and mentor students. Professor Stephanie Blondell led the event, which featured practitioner-designed COVID-19-themed disputes as simulations. Student competitors (pictured at right) resolved challenges by employing methodology and negotiation strategies, and were scored on their ability to effectively mediate. Top honors went to students Jared Lee, Edwin Weaver, and Sherri Sturgeon. Lee shared, “The mediation competition was an amazing chance to practice my skills as a mediator, and I received very thoughtful and insightful feedback from the experienced judges.”
Dean Paul Caron offered encouraging remarks to begin the final rounds, and Sukhsimranjit Singh thanked the community for inspiring the students. Blondell was assisted in the competition by Judge Alexander Williams, who co-teaches the Mediation Clinic, as well as a team of student volunteers.
Read more about the Mediation Competition
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Alumni Leading the Way LLM ALUMNA PARTNERS WITH MDR STUDENT TO ASSIST REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN Helen Winter (LLM ‘17) founded R3SOLUTE, a Berlin-based nonprofit organization that empowers refugees to manage conflicts in their communities through story-sharing, peer mediation and mental health awareness. Winter has partnered with current MDR student Sofia Ramyar to organize focused group discussions among the large number of Afghan refugees who have arrived in Germany following the collapse of the Afghanistan government and subsequent takeover by the Taliban. The focused group discussions will help participants better understand their new German community and also create a safe space wherein refugees may process their abrupt departure from their home country and imagine a more positive future.
“Every contribution, however big or small, makes a difference in the lives of thousands of people who are suffering from conflict and violence. For this reason, our world needs peacemakers at every level to bring understanding, deescalate conflicts in nonviolent ways, and promote safe and happy communities.” — Sofia Ramyar
ADAM NOAKES (LLM ’20) PUBLISHES OP-ED ON SOLVING POLICING CHALLENGE IN TIMES OF SAN DIEGO Straus Institute alumnus Adam Noakes published an opinion article, “It’s Time for Forgiveness and Reconciliation to Solve Policing Challenge,” in the Times of San Diego. The article proposes establishing a process to resolve grievances between the police and citizens that is based on forgiveness and reconciliation rather than revenge. Serving as an administrative law judge in San Diego, Noakes relates that, “I studied the concepts of apology, forgiveness, and reconciliation in a dispute resolution context with Professor Peter Robinson at the Straus Institute. Integrating a process into our justice system could be transformative, and I believe it may be the only way to move forward in peace."
ALUMNA ELIZABETH EUBANKS (’05, JD ’08) APPOINTED TO ABA COMMISSION ON DISABILITY RIGHTS In August 2021, alumna Elizabeth Eubanks was appointed to the ABA Commission on Disability Rights. Eubanks graduated from Caruso Law with a certificate in dispute resolution, and found her passion for special education advocacy through her courses. “Disability is a natural part of the human experience,” Eubanks shares, “I am thrilled by the opportunity to join the commission and to promote the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in the legal field.”
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Straus in the News SUKHSIMRANJIT SINGH’S CONVERSATION WITH MEDIATOR JEFFREY KRIVIS PUBLISHED IN LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL Sukhsimranjit Singh led a conversation with attorney and expert mediator Jeffrey Krivis on navigating complex, emotionally sensitive cases. The conversation was published in the Los Angeles Daily Journal on July 9, 2021, and in the interview, Krivis discusses his inspiring legal career, the role the Straus Institute played in his mediation journey, and his best practices on approaching challenging disputes.
MAUREEN WESTON FEATURED ON KCBS RADIO ON FRENCH OPEN 2021 Professor Maureen Weston was interviewed on KCBS Radio regarding professional tennis player Naomi Osaka’s fine and withdrawal from the French Open, and athlete mental health. Weston commented on whether the fine was justified and what precedent, if any, it sets for future tennis Grand Slams. She remarked, “When athletes cite mental health, organizations ought to take a pause.”
TOM STIPANOWICH INTERVIEWED BY NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD ON NINTH CIRCUIT DECISION Professor Thomas J. Stipanowich was interviewed in the Northern California Record article, “Split Ninth Circuit Panel Partially Upholds California Statute Banning Arbitration.” The article considers the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s 2-1 decision that particular segments of California Assembly Bill 51 that prohibit mandatory arbitration cannot be preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act.
STRAUS INSTITUTE FEATURED IN PRELAW MAGAZINE AS A NATIONAL LEADER IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Straus Institute was featured in an article in preLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” issue as a national leader in alternative dispute resolution. The issue notes that law schools that focus on teaching real-life skills have played a key role in dealing with the impact of the pandemic. “We teach our students foundational concepts in the field and supplement that understanding with innovative techniques that demonstrate how to exercise these concepts in the real world,” said Sukhsimranjit Singh.
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ABOUT THE STRAUS INSTITUTE Repeatedly recognized as the foremost academic center of its kind, the Straus Institute brings together an unparalleled full-time teaching and research faculty with scholars and practitioners from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the US. Its broad and deep curricular offerings serve emerging lawyers as well as experienced mid-career professionals, businesspersons, and religious and community leaders. In the 35 years since its founding, the institute has established itself as the standard of excellence in preparing effective negotiators, peacemakers, and problem solvers, as well as a driving force for improving the culture of conflict in America.
Take a VIRTUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS
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Save the Date Winter Intensives
Women’s Negotiation Academy
January 3–8, 2022
January 20–21, 2022
Advanced Trial Practice
The Women's Negotiation Academy is an interactive workshop that presents women with specific tools and techniques to increase their effectiveness as negotiators. The two days of instruction will be offered through the lens of gender, with an eye toward the most recent research on gender issues in negotiation.
Arbitration Practice and Advocacy Negotiation Theory and Practice Psychology of Conflict Selected Issues in Dispute Resolution: Decision-Making Under Conflict
Spring Academic Program Begins January 10, 2022
Mediating the Litigated Case February 28–March 4, 2022
Mediating the Litigated Case is a sophisticated sixday program for experienced litigators, in-house counsel, and other practitioners. Professionals study the mediation of litigated cases to either become a mediator or to be a better advocate.
Dispute Resolution Law Journal Symposium March 4, 2022
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY Caruso School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4655
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution straus.pepperdine.edu | dracademics@pepperdine.edu 310.506.4655
Our Programs and Degrees LLM in Dispute Resolution with Concentrations Available in Mediation, Arbitration, or Litigation
LLM in International Commercial Arbitration (ICA) LLM in International Commercial Law and Arbitration (ICLA) LLM in International Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution (ICLDR) LLM in US Law LLM in US Law and Dispute Resolution Master of Dispute Resolution
LS2110045
Certificate of Dispute Resolution
