Mediators

In addition to practicing law, our firm also offers employment law mediation services in a wide variety of employment law disputes.

Mediation is a way to attempt to resolve a legal dispute without the risk and uncertainty of a trial. Rather than the all or nothing approach of litigation in which a judge or jury decides the fate of your case, a neutral mediator works to help the parties agree to an amicable resolution of their dispute. In other words, mediation is intended to help reach a mutually agreed-upon resolution of your case, rather than having someone else make a ruling or decision for you.

Mediation often provides an opportunity to find creative solutions to a dispute that might not be available from a judge or jury. It also places the parties in control of the outcome of their case, rather than taking the risk that a judge, jury or arbitrator might not agree with your position or rule in your favor. In other words, it puts the power into your hands by helping you work out a fair resolution of your case.

For a variety of reasons, employment law cases tend to be particularly good candidates for mediation. Since workplace disputes can be very complicated, both sides are likely to spend a lot of time, money and energy trying to prove their legal claims and defenses. These cases also can be very risky for everyone involved since juries are notoriously unpredictable. You never know when a jury will award a large sum of money to the employee who filed the lawsuit, or find in favor of the employer who is being sued. In addition, discrimination, harassment and retaliation cases can be very emotional for both the employees whose employers violated their legal rights, and for employers that are defending their right to make lawful business decisions.

Employment law is a complex area that is constantly evolving. As a result, if you are looking to hire a mediator for a workplace dispute it is highly recommended that you find someone who is an expert in the field. Someone who specializes in employment law and stays on top of the latest developments can best understand the strengths and weaknesses of your positions. 

Additionally, an employment law specialist is best suited to clearly explain your position to each of the parties, and to help them understand the risks they are facing if the case cannot be resolved.

Our employment lawyers bring their extensive skill and thorough understanding of the field to their mediation practice. We handle and mediate a wide range of cases, including ones involving:

• Employment discrimination;
• Retaliation and whistleblower claims;
• Sexual harassment;
• Hostile work environment cases;
• Employment contracts;
• Family and medical leaves;
• Wage and hour disputes;
• Commission claims;
  
• Reasonable accommodations;
  
• Non-compete agreements; and
  
• Other employment law disputes

While we primarily represent employees in our private practice, we are constantly evaluating cases from the perspective of both the employer and the employee, and have excellent reputations with lawyers on both sides as being fair and reasonable. We are very conscious of the risks to both sides in litigation stemming from workplace disputes, and the reasons why a reasonable settlement is usually best for everyone involved.

Two of our attorneys are New Jersey Rule 1:40 qualified mediators on the Superior Court of New Jersey's mediation roster:

• David H. Ben-Asher
• Jonathan I. Nirenberg