Commercial Litigation Mediator Harold Oehler Selected as a Super Lawyer for Mediation

Harold Oehler, of Oehler Mediation, has been selected as a Florida Super Lawyer for Mediation.  Harold handles commercial litigation, employment law, construction law, personal injury and business litigation mediations across Tampa Bay, Florida and the United States.  Harold wrote the Florida Mediation Best Practices Handbook, Florida's first mediation best practices guide for trial lawyers and mediators.  He worked with a film maker for over a year to create the "Voice of the Mediation Client" documentary. This film gives clients a voice in improving mediation. Harold is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. He is one of approximately...

Continue reading

Lessons from Ted Lasso on Mediation Strategy

Imagine walking into a mediation and discovering that your mediator is British football coach, Ted Lasso. At first you would be alarmed but is there any doubt Ted Lasso would make an excellent mediator? Business consultants and coaches use this program to teach teamwork and leadership. At its core, Ted Lasso is a show about resolving human conflict and it provides a master class in mediation strategy for trial lawyers and mediators. It’s Not Just About Understanding the Law - it’s About Understanding People Ted doesn’t know his backside from an offside, but like a great mediator, he is adept at uncovering...

Continue reading

Trial Lawyers and Mediators Host First Litigator Mediator Forum

It was my honor to co-emcee the first Litigator Mediator Forum on April 1, 2021. Nearly 60 judges, litigators and mediators came together via Zoom to discuss new and innovative ideas for making mediations more efficient and productive. The partnership created between the Trial and Mediation Sections of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, (HCBA), was even more important this year due to the backlog of over 1.5 million cases caused by the pandemic which is currently challenging Florida courts. The Forum was led by a panel of three trial lawyers and three mediators. The trial lawyers, who were chosen for their...

Continue reading

How to Successfully Mediate Employment Claims

Working in employment law for 30 years as a trial lawyer, in-house counsel, and now as a mediator, had left me feeling that I had seen it all.  Nothing prepared me, however, for the year-long interruption of civil trials caused by Covid-19.  Employer and employee litigants were left without the means to resolve employment claims in court.  The consequent backlog of civil lawsuits has led parties to utilize mediation in greater numbers.  Because employment claims are more complex than other types of litigation, success at mediation requires counsel to carefully choose the right time, the right mediator, and the right...

Continue reading