The fight is on! Learn tactics to give your clients their best shot at prevailing in an employment case. Whether your employment case is “tried” before a judge, jury, or arbitrator, or is brought to mediation - there are basic “dos and don’ts” for advocates resolving a dispute.Strategies and pitfalls for planning and presenting your case in court, at arbitration, and in mediation
With the increasing prevalence of forced arbitration clauses, employment cases are often tried by an arbitrator, while other cases proceed to traditional jury trials. As the majority of employment cases settle short of trial, however, most never see a courtroom jury or arbitration hearing - but instead are negotiated or mediated.
How do you prepare a case in the early stages to best mobilize for court or arbitration? How do you determine if a case is primed for settlement? If given the choice, would it be better to have a jury trial or arbitrate before a neutral? What are the similarities and differences in strategies and approaches between trying a case in court versus arbitration?
Hear from seasoned litigators providing both plaintiff’s-side and management-side perspectives, as well as an experienced Superior Court judge turned mediator and arbitrator. The panel shares best practices in how to plan and present your case and provides practical tips on avoiding common pitfalls in each of these venues.
Course Content
9:30 - 9:35 amWelcome and Introduction
David E. Belfort, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
9:35 - 9:55 am
Preparing for Mediation
Timing and logistics; Selecting a good neutral; Tips on the mediation memo and how to present your case to a mediator to obtain the best settlement for your client
David E. Belfort, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
Lynn A. Kappelman, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
Hon. Bonnie H. MacLeod,
Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.); JAMS, Boston
Monica R. Shah, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
9:55 - 10:15 am
Pros and Cons of Arbitration
Cost-benefit of less delay versus potentially lower damages; Selecting a good arbitrator; Tips for presenting your case at a hearing without a jury and through proposed fact findings and conclusions of law
David E. Belfort, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
Lynn A. Kappelman, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
Hon. Bonnie H. MacLeod,
Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.); JAMS, Boston
Monica R. Shah, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
10:15 - 10:45 am
Preparing for Trial
Courtroom logistics and getting to know the judge; Preparing your client’s story for a jury; Use of witnesses and experts; Use of chalks and other visuals; Arguing legal issues through motions in limine, trial memos, and jury instructions
David E. Belfort, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
Lynn A. Kappelman, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
Hon. Bonnie H. MacLeod,
Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.); JAMS, Boston
Monica R. Shah, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
10:45 - 11:25 am
Top Ten Dos and Don’ts for Mediation, Arbitration, and Trial
David E. Belfort, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
Lynn A. Kappelman, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
Hon. Bonnie H. MacLeod,
Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.); JAMS, Boston
Monica R. Shah, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
11:25 - 11:30 am
'Ask the Experts' Q&A Session and Key Takeaways
Panel
Please Note
This webcast is delivered completely online, underscoring their convenience and appeal.
There are no published print materials. All written materials are available electronically only.
They are posted 24 hours prior to the program and can be accessed, downloaded, or printed from your computer.
Speaker(s)
CochairsDavid E. Belfort, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
Monica R. Shah, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
Faculty
Lynn A. Kappelman, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
Hon. Bonnie H. MacLeod,
Superior Court, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (Ret.); JAMS, Boston
