Podcasts

February 22, 2021

EPISODE 13: Winter is Coming

Steve discusses all aspects of mediation with fellow mediator, Winter Wheeler. The two discuss their transitions from experienced litigators to full-time mediators, including their mediation philosophies and building their practices. The two discuss mediation via Zoom, anti-bias standards for mediators and the importance of language and its impact on the legal system, focusing on the...
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January 28, 2021

EPISODE 12: What Happens in Mediation Stays in Mediation . . . Right?

A bedrock principle for mediation is its confidentiality. Arguments made at mediation are typically not admissible in court. Nationally renowned mediator, Jeff Kichaven, has been virtually touring the country presenting a provocative theme: your mediation might not be confidential. Jeff explains that whether a mediation is confidential is determined by the court hearing an attack...
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January 12, 2021

EPISODE 11: Acting like we have done this before: Advocacy via Zoom

Old school football fans often complain about celebrations after touchdowns grumbling “act like you have been there before.” The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how the legal system administers justice. Seasoned trial attorneys who are poised and confident in front of judges and jurors are learning how to present evidence via Zoom. Lawyers are forced to...
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December 2, 2020

EPISODE 10: Judicial Prerogative: Wearing a Robe in the Time of COVID

Steve talks with the Honorable Bryan Chapman, 18th Judicial Circuit Dupage County, Illinois. Judge Chapman is one of the few judges nationally who has rendered a decision in an insurance coverage case for COVID-19 business losses and he discusses the urgency, significance and his approach for overseeing such a nationally prominent case. Judge Chapman discusses...
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October 29, 2020

EPISODE 9: Why Humans are Poor Decision Makers: Meet the Cognitive Bias

In order to survive the deluge of data and myriad of decisions we make every day, humans adopt short-cuts, or heuristics. Unfortunately, we often rely on flawed biases and stereotypes resulting in poor decisions. In an effort to make sense of it all Steve sits down with Shari Belitz, founder of Shari Belitz Communications. The...
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October 8, 2020

EPISODE 8: What’s Going on Out There?

Mediator Steve Schulwolf continues to delve into COVID-19’s impact on the legal profession. Episode 7 featured professor Julia Simon-Kerr and discussed how COVID-19 presents opportunities for the legal system to improve its assumptions about credibility and demeanor. In Episode 8: What’s Going on out There? Mr. Schulwolf talks with Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila’s Matt...
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August 25, 2020

EPISODE 7: The Legend of Zorro: Can we Trust the Masked Man?

Mediator Steve Schulwolf and University of Connecticut School of Law professor Julia Simon-Kerr discuss the challenges and opportunities that COVID-19 presents the American legal system. As courts are preparing to reopen and conduct trials with COVID-19 protocols there is the need to balance safety and truth ascertaining considerations. Along these lines, Mr. Schulwolf asks the...
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July 14, 2020

EPISODE 6: Play Ball — Lessons from MLB Negotiations in the Time of COVID-19

Even when trying to lighten the mood and talking about baseball COVID-19 tries to ruin the fun. Steve discusses the recent negotiations between MLB and the player’s union with sportswriter, Jim Margolis. Jim outlines the points of contention between the two sides while Steve discusses how mediators attempt to create a win-win scenario and foster...
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June 9, 2020

EPISODE 5: Unfinished Business – Additional Viewpoints on COVID-19 Coverage Claims

Steve Schulwolf continues his discussions about insurance coverage for COVID-19 claims with Seth Lamden and Dan Litchfield. Mr. Lamden is a partner at the Chicago office of Neal Gerber Eisenberg and represents policyholders. Mr. Litchfield is a founding partner of the Litchfield Cavo in Chicago and has a national practice representing insurers. Messrs. Litchfield and...
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April 28, 2020

EPISODE 4: A Mediator’s Round (Kitchen) Table: Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 Claims

With the economy grinding down to a crawl due to the COVID-19 pandemic many people have questions concerning the scope of insurance coverage for their business losses. While COVID-19 will lead to a myriad of questions concerning all lines of insurance, the first cases to be filed have involved business loss claims from entities that...
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