Articles, Presentations, Teaching, and International Consulting

Mr. Widman’s background and skill go far beyond his experience as a arbitrator, mediator, and litigator. He has a national reputation as a teacher, author and presenter for dispute resolution groups, and at bar association and other professional meetings. He avidly accepts opportunities to speak on any of those topics.

Mr. Widman has published 32 articles, guidebooks or chapters in various journals and magazines. He has also been a law lecturer, adjunct faculty member, and consultant for a multitude of domestic and international ADR institutions and programs. He is on the select American Arbitration Association national teaching faculty (since 1998), and has also taught for the American Health Law Association. He has spoken at over 70 bar association, webinar and dispute resolution programs throughout the United States, including for national ADR providers. Mr. Widman has been a leading developer of new theories and approaches in dispute resolution, and his work has been cited by others.

Publications

Teaching

Faculty Member, American Arbitration Association training program on Commercial Arbitration, 2000-Present (Advanced), 1998-2005 (Basic), 2003-2005 (Award Writing), special programs 2014 – present
Faculty, American Health Law Association arbitration training program, May 2014 - present
Faculty, International Law Institute, Mediation training, Lesotho, November 2013
Conference Co-Chair, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting, Chicago, April 2013
Faculty Member, American Arbitration Association training program on Mediation, 2013
Faculty Member, DePaul University College of Law; Commercial Arbitration, Spring, 2003
Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy Program on Negotiation and Mediation, June 1997, Northwestern University School of Law

International Consulting

Nepal International ADR Centre, January 2015
Cuba, Arbitrator/Mediator Exchange Mission, November 2014
Lagos, Nigeria, Multi-Door Courthouse, May 2014
Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives, December 2013
Lesotho, Mediation Training, November 2013

Presentations

Presenter, "Dissents: What's Justice Got To Do With That?", American Arbitration Associations, November 2020
Presenter, "Managing Large-Volume Claims Cases", American Conference Institute, July 2020
Presenter, "Dispute Resolution in Health Care: What's Working?", ABA Webinar, March 2020
Presenter, “Health Care Arbitration and Mediation: Teaming for Efficiency”, American Health Lawyers Association Annual Meeting, June 2019
Presenter, “Business Dispute Resolution”, Textile Bag & Packaging Assn., Inc., October 2018
Presenter, “Preparing for the Mediation Plenary,” 16th Annual Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Skills Institute, October 2018
Presenter, “Business Mediation Basics 101”, ABA Business Law Section Webinar, January 2018
Moderator, “Mediation Of M&A And Other Business Disputes”, ABA Business Law Section, September 2017
Presenter and Moderator, “Setting The Stage For Successful Arbitration”, “Decision Making In Court And Arbitration”, ABA 10th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, June 2017
Presenter, Union League Club, “Alternative Dispute Resolution In Real Estate Transactions,” August 2016
Faculty, American Health Lawyers Association Meeting, “Health Care Arbitration,” 2016, 2014
Presenter, Forensic Expert Witness Association, “The Expert As Arbitrator,” December 2015
Presenter, American Health Lawyers Association, “False Claims Act Cases – Settlement And ADR,” November 2014
Presenter, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, “Advanced Mediation And Advocacy Skills Institute,” October 2014
Panelist, ABA/AAA Joint Program, “Stories Mediators Tell,” October, 2014
Panelist, ABA Section of Business Law Meeting, “Dispute Resolution In Commercial Finance,” September 2014
Speaker, American Health Lawyers Association Meeting, “Health Care Arbitration,” May 2014
Panelist, American Health Lawyers Association Webinar, “Advocating Effectively in Health Care Arbitration,” December 2013
Speaker, American Arbitration Association Webinar, “Arbitrators Conducting Legal Research,” November 2013
Panelist, ABA National Class Action Institute, Boston, October 2013
Panelist, CBA Labor & Employment Section, “Advocacy in Employment Arbitration,” September 2013, Chicago
Panelist, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Annual Meeting, “Herding Cats: The Case for Joined or Collective Arbitration,” April 2013, Chicago, IL
Speaker, American Arbitration Association Webinar, “Arbitrability and Jurisdiction Issues in Arbitration,” February 2013 and October 2011
Speaker, ABA Section of Business Law Annual Meeting, “Achieving Justice Through 21st Century Arbitration,” August 2012, Chicago, IL
Speaker, Cook County Circuit Court, “Current Issues in Mediation Ethics,” March 2011
Panelist, Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, “ADR In Intellectual Property Disputes,” February 2011
Speaker, ABA Section of Litigation, 13th Annual National Institute on Class Actions, “Crafting, Opposing and Arguing Arbitration Clauses and Class Action Waivers,” October and November 2009
Speaker, American Arbitration Association Webinar, “Judicial Remands of Challenged Awards,” October 2009
Speaker, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Webcast, “Hall Street v. Mattel: The FAA's Grounds Of Review Are Preserved B Or Are They?” July 2008
Panelist, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, “The Creature of Contract: Have Parties' Contracts Created a Frankenstein of the FAA's Grounds of Arbitration Award Review?” April 2008
Panelist, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, “Surprising Practical and Legal Issues That Can Arise in Any Arbitration: Lessons from the First Public Olympic Sports Arbitration, Floyd Landis v. USADA,” April 2008
Panelist, Association for Conflict Resolution, “Ethical Issues in Business and Commercial Disputes,” March 2008
Speaker, Illinois State Bar Association, “Appeal of an Arbitration Award Federal Arbitration Act v. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure,” February 2008
Panelist, CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, “Deciding Arbitrability: Sorting Out The Court's Directives,” October 2007
Panelist, ABA Section of Litigation 11th Annual National Institute on Class Actions, “Class Action Arbitration,” October 2007
Panelist, Law Bulletin Publishing Corp., “ADR In Real Estate Transactions,” October 2007
Speaker, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, “ADR - Ethics For The Business Lawyer,” September 2007
Panelist, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, “Arbitration And Mediation Of Securities Disputes,” September 2007
Panelist, American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, “Class Action Arbitration,” April 2007
Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, “When The Federal Arbitration Act Meets The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: Limits On Jury Trials And Discovery In Pre- and Post-Arbitration Matters In The Federal Courts,” March 2007
Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, “Arbitration: What You Need To Know As A Litigator,” October 2006
Speaker, National Association of Administrative Law Judges, AConfidentiality in Mediation, November 2005
Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, “Strategic Use of Arbitration in Resolving Commercial Disputes,” October 2005
Speaker, Cook County Circuit Court, “Breaking Impasse: Moving From Stalemate to Settlement in Mediation,” September 2005
Panelist, CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, “Ethics in Mediation,” June 2005
Panelist, American Bar Association, Arbitration Training Institute II, Chicago, May 2005
Speaker, American Arbitration Association, “Arbitrability and Arbitrator Jurisdiction,” Chicago Region, May 2005
Panelist, American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, “Following Goldilocks Through Grizzly Choices: Update on Drafting Effective and Enforceable Arbitration Clauses,” April 2004
Panelist, American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, “Goldilocks and Arbitration Clauses: Too Little, Too Much (Too Bad) . . . Or Just Right!” March 2003
Panelist, “ADR 2003: New Trends in Dispute Resolution,” Chicago Bar Association/ACR, January 2003
Panelist, Northern Illinois University Symposium on Dispute Resolution, “Mediation Advocacy in Commercial Disputes,” March 2001
Moderator/Speaker, “Doing Business in the Electronic Age,” September 2000
Chair, American Bar Association Section of Litigation, “E-Commerce: Surfing the Substance,” April 2000
Panelist, American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, “Mediating the Y2K Bug,” May 1999
Panelist, Chicago Bar Association, “Mediation Advocacy,” November 1998
Panelist, Chicago Bar Association training program of arbitrators for attorney/client fee disputes, September 1998
Speaker, Vehicle Leasing Conference, September 1996
Radio Talk Show Guest, WCBR, “Ask A Lawyer,” on Alternative Dispute Resolution, May 1996
Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, “Ethics, Malpractice, and Alternative Dispute Resolution,” April 1994
Speaker, Wharton Alumni Club of Chicago, “Alternative Dispute Resolution,” February 1994
Speaker, Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, “Court ADR Update,” January 1994
Guest Lecturer, Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, December 1993
Speaker, University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Business (Management Institute), Alternative Dispute Resolution in Insurance and Reinsurance, July 1993
Panelist, American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility 19th National Conference, “Alternative Dispute Resolution
A New Frontier of Ethical Problems,” May 1993
Speaker, Equipment Leasing Association of America Legal Forum, “Pros and Cons of Alternative Dispute Resolution,” May 1993
Panelist, SPIDR Midwest Regional Conference on “Emerging Issues in Dispute Resolution,” April 1993
Speaker, Chicago Bar Association Tort Litigation Committee, December 1993; Corporations Committee (Ethics Subcommittee), November 1993; Civil Practice Committee, October 1993; Professional Responsibility Committee, October 1993; Tort Committee, April 1993
Bankruptcy Committee, March 1993; Matrimonial Law Committee (ADR Subcommittee), January 1993
Participant, Roundtable Discussion, “Lawyer's Incivility in Courtroom,” Illinois Legal Times, December 1992
Radio Talk Show Guest, Business Radio Network, “The Legal Advisor,” on Alternative Dispute Resolution, March 1992
Speaker, Attorney General's Task Force on Environmental Legal Resources, March 1992
Speaker, Illinois State Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting, “Ethical Obligations to Use ADR,” December 1991
Focus Group Leader on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Chicago Bar Association Justice for Youth Symposium, October 1991
Moderator, Chicago Bar Association, “Mandatory Arbitration in Cook County,” February and March 1990
Speaker, Executive Suite Network, Inc., “Leases, Licenses and Lessons for Executive Suites,” October 1990
Speaker, Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, “Implementing an ADR System in the Corporate Setting,” November 1988
Speaker, Chicago Bar Association, “A Litigator's Viewpoint of Arbitration: The Benefits, Detriments and Betterments,” February 1988
Faculty speaker, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, “Federal Civil Practice,” May 1987