ARBITRATOR: American Arbitration Association (AAA) – International (ICDR), Commercial (Large Complex Cases), Employment, Consumer, and Appellate Panels; Judicial Settlement Conference. Serves as Chair and is coded for Special Master cases. Joined the AAA in 2006.
Decides a wide range of complex domestic and international disputes, including, inter alia, multi-million dollar claims, with multi-parties in global markets, regarding commercial matters, securities, executive employment, insurance, corporate, partnership issues, buy-outs, attorney fees disputes, Assignment Claim Investment Agreements, auctions, franchise, banking and online banking platforms, accounting, commodities, real estate, contractual and legal rights and obligations, collective action waivers, hold harmless agreements, indemnification, complex legal instruments and disputes, allegations as to contract language and intent, custom and usage, bad faith and unfair dealing, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, professional negligence, malpractice, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, unjust enrichment, tortious interference, waiverand estoppel, parol evidence, unclean hands, setoff, force majeure, corporate governance, rights and obligations of officers, directors, controlling shareholders, closely held corporations, investment advisors, brokers, account executives, supervisors, accountants, attorneys, physicians, engineers, architects, educators, consultants, business valuations and liquidation, tender offers, D&O coverage, property and casualty, loans, design changes, engineering, maintenance services, goods and services, shipping, distributors, sellers, jewelry, diamond industry, restaurants, fast food, private equities, bonuses, third party liability, royalties, music, entertainer, car dealership, restrictive covenants, racial, ethnic, age, and gender discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, constructive discharge, retirement benefits, PIPs, deferred compensation, ERISA, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), sexual harassment, hostile environment, New York State Labor Law, New York City Human Rights Law, New York Executive Law, breach of Executive Contract, punitive damages, protected classes, FLSA, wage and benefits disputes, liquidated damages, medical benefits, severance, confidentiality agreements, trade secrets, employee solicitation, unfair competition, real estate commissions, dual agency, right of first refusal, anti-piracy, arbitrability, attorney/client disputes, quantum meruit, bondholders, bond indentures, defamation, public utilities v. town dispute, disputes among family members over closely held businesses, licensing, manufacturing, stocks benefits, options, asset purchase agreements, stock purchase agreements, subcontractor disputes, non-payment, non- payment of overtime, restrictive covenants, non-compete clauses, construction, telecommunications, software, unfair trade practices, audits, assignment claim investment.
NEUTRAL: American Health Law Association, Washington, D.C. (2022).
MEDIATOR: American Arbitration Association – Commercial, Employment, and International Panels and for the New York Courts Commercial Division; NADN. Advanced Commercial Mediation Certification.
ARBITRATION/MEDIATION TRAINING: “Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedure, Process, and Dynamics,” which addresses the first meeting of the Panel, the Preliminary Hearing, the Evidentiary Hearing, deliberation and writing of Awards, post-hearing issues, working with the AAA’s case management staff, and non-neutral party-appointed arbitrators, 2011/2012; “AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards (ACE001),” 2009; AAA Arbitrator I Training: “Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process,” 2006; “Zoom & Hybrid Mediations: The Way Forward;” “Mediating with Highly Competitive People;” “Negotiation Masterclass,” 2022.
POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY PRACTITIONER, Certified 2014.
CHAIR VIS-MOOT competitions, including in Vienna (2023).
PRESENTER: NYSBA, December 2021, “Writing to Win: Pointers and Pitfalls in Arbitration Brief Writing;” American Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2011, Toronto, Canada - Dispute Resolution Section: “How Arbitrators Think and What You and They Can Do About it: A Journey into the Minds of Arbitrators;” Association for Conflict Resolution Greater NY (ACRGNY) 2010 Conference.
APPELLATE COURT JUDGE: Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeal, January 1992 through December 2004.
VISITING FACULTY: Harvard University School of Law, Cambridge, Massachusetts, “Trial Advocacy Workshop,” annually since 1999 (ongoing).
INSTRUCTOR: National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 2003; McNeese State University, Louisiana, 1985-1990. ( Courses included Mass Communications, Business, Torts, Successions, and Family Law); Loyola University School of Law, New Orleans, 1980 “Appellate Advocacy, Research, & Writing.”
ATTORNEY/LITIGATOR: General Civil Law Solo Practice, Louisiana, 1981 to 1992.
Education
The University of Virginia, School of Law, (L.L.M.) Masters in Judicial Process, Charlottesville, Virginia, 1998.
Loyola University, New Orleans School of Law (J.D.), New Orleans, Louisiana, 1981 – Civil Law.
The College of William and Mary, (B.A.), Williamsburg, Virginia, 1967 – Psychology.
Papers and Publication
“THE POWER OF PRESENCE:” Course presented to attorneys and arbitrators worldwide (sponsored by CIArb) and to Harvard Law Students, 2021.
“ARBITRATION – A CASE FOR JUDGES TO BE HEARD,” published in New York State Bar Association’s – “Inside,” 2016.
Louisiana Civil Trial Procedure, Practice Series, a lead Author, Thomson Reuters West Publishing, 1995 (ongoing).
You & The Law, Author, book on Civil Law for the lay person, published 1993.
Lagniappe, Author of Newspaper Column on Civil Law, 1994 – 1995.
The Appearance of Impropriety – A Critical Review, Author, article on Ethics in Louisiana, 1998.
Media
ABC’s 20/20 TV, featured as a Mediator, 2014.
Fox TV, “You & the Law,” Creator and Host, weekly, legal segment on all aspects of law, Louisiana, 2003 – 2004.
NBC TV Affiliate, “You & the Law,” Creator and Host, weekly, legal segment on all aspects of law, Louisiana, 1981 – 1995.
NBC TV Affiliate, “Youth & the Law,” Creator and Host of Prime-Time Special on Law, audience participation, Louisiana, 1994.
Lifetime Television Network, Guest appearance as Legal Expert on Domestic Violence Law, 1994.
“Youth and the Law,” Creator, “hands on” program, giving youth “field” experience with all levels of the court system and the jury process, Louisiana, 1994 – 2004.
TV Co-Host, “Building Bridges,” weekly program, Louisiana, 1996.
Appointments, Honors, and Public Service
Fellow and former Chair of Board of Examinations and Member of the Board of Managers for The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators – a global organization headquartered in the United Kingdom – since 2015 – present. Member since 2011.
Board of Directors: College of William & Mary New York Alumni Chapter, 2012.
Board of Directors, McNeese State University Banners Series, 2002 – 2004. Board of Directors, Samaritan Counseling Center, Community Relations Chair, 2001 to 2004.
Professionalism and Quality of Life Committee, Louisiana Bar Association, lecturer and trainer, 1998 – 2004.
Recognized as a “Woman in History” during “National Women in History Month,” featured on NBC TV Affiliate as First Woman Elected Judge, from her region, in Louisiana’s history, 2003.
Judicial Liaison Committee, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 2003.
Board of Governors, Louisiana Judicial College, 1995 – 2002.
The Education Committee, Louisiana Bar Foundation, 2002.
Louisiana’s Third Circuit Court of Appeal Outreach Director, 2000.
Stennis Center for Women in Public Service – honored as a “Pacesetter – 1999 and 2000 – by this “bipartisan legislative branch agency created by Congress in 1988 to promote and strengthen the highest ideals of public service in America.” A Pacesetter is a “proven leader who...serves as examples to others who aspire to public service careers.”
Gender Fairness, International Outreach, Judicial-Academic Network, and Resolutions Committees: National Association of Women Judges, 2000.
Media Advisory Committee, Campaign for the Children, 1998.
Judicial Relations Committee, National American Inns of Court, 1998.
Judge Albert Tate, Jr., American Inn of Court (an organization designed to promote ethics, professionalism, and civility in the legal community), Founder and President, 1994 – 1998.
