Mediation

Vast Experience

Parties have entrusted to Mr. Widman claims with a total value of $1.0 billion. Mr. Widman has resolved disputes in areas such as healthcare, construction, e-commerce, intellectual property, real estate, sales, environment, financial, licensing, and employment. See Mediation Case List. He has addressed complex issues such as interpretation and application of contract terms; the business objectives and economic environment of the disputed transaction; technical aspects of projects; competing claims of breach or performance; experts’ analyses; multi-party dynamics; equitable aspects of the dispute; statutory rights and defenses; and causation and damages.

Settlement Strategy

Mr. Widman’s mediation principles are preparation, party-driven, patience, and persistence:

• Preparation – becoming fully conversant with the parties’ dispute based upon study and analysis of their confidential pre-mediation submissions;
• Party-Driven – parties are asked to select the mediation approach they prefer between facilitative, evaluative, or a blend of the two. An evaluative or blended approach allows the parties to hear Mr. Widman’s views on the likelihood of success or failure of the parties’ claims, defenses and positions;
• Patience – Mr. Widman’s demeanor creates a receptive, trusting, and respectful environment for open and frank discussion. Mindful of the parties’ often limited time, he sets aside adequate time for the exchanges of offers and demands. He remains available post-mediation via telephone or email to maintain momentum if the matter did not fully settle within the allocated time; and
• Persistence – even before the mediation convenes, Mr. Widman urges parties to exchange information that is necessary to informed settlements. He searches for creative solutions that the parties had not considered, and he remains committed until all avenues of settlement are exhausted.

Affiliations And Academic Scholarship

Mr. Widman has handled mediations for:

• the American Arbitration Association (AAA, including its Healthcare Panel)
• the International Centre for Dispute Resolution
• CPR: International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (including select Healthcare Panel)
• American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA)
• Illinois Circuit Courts

He also frequently accepts and self-administers ad hoc matters from parties and counsel. He has taught or consulated on mediation for the AAA and internationally, has published ten articles on mediation and ethics, and has spoken at 20 bar association meetings and other seminars. See Articles/Speaking List.

Testimonials

“I never would have imagined that in less than two hours you settled a matter that the attorneys, acting in good faith, could not settle in over two years. Thank you.”
--- from counsel to a party in a mediation.

“Stu's preparation, persitence, and patience were instrumental in resolving our highly complex and contentious dispute. He succeeded in getting the parties to settlement after others could not.”
--- from counsel to a party in a 2020 mediation.