Inside Straus 2019, Pepperdine Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Check out our VIRTUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS

FALL 2019

Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.

—Abraham Lincoln

Contents

2 A Message from the Dean 3 A Conversation with Our Leadership 4 About the Straus Institute 5 Landmark ADR Conference 7 Straus Around the World 9 Straus at Home 11 Presentations and Publications

13 Students and Alumni 15 Translating Theory into Practice 17 Save the Date and Our Programs and Degrees

18 Team Straus

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A Message from the dean PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEACEMAKERS AND CONFLICT RESOLVERS In 1986 the Pepperdine University School of Law saw the future of the dispute resolution movement and accepted the challenge to provide international leadership to this emerging discipline. More than 30 years later, the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution is the pacesetter in the field. The institute is universally recognized for its innovative programs that have served thousands of students and practitioners around the world, empowering them to resolve society’s most challenging conflicts.

The ability to resolve disputes in a collaborative, respectful, and thoughtful manner is essential in training lawyers and professionals to shape national and international institutions that deliver justice and advance the rule of law.

And while the institute’s faculty and practitioners are proud of its global reach, they remain mindful of how they can contribute closer to home.

Last fall the Woolsey Fire presented a challenging time for Pepperdine, filled with conflicts and uncertainties. The Straus Institute’s resources helped the surrounding community set out on its long road to recovery.

Pepperdine Law is proud to be the home of the prestigious Straus Institute, whose work is a prime manifestation of our University’s commitment to our Christian mission of preparing global citizens who lead lives of purpose, service, and leadership.

Paul L. Caron

Duane and Kelly Roberts Dean and Professor of Law

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A Conversation with Our Leadership Thomas J. Stipanowich William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution, Professor of Law, and Associate Dean, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Sukhsimranjit Singh Managing Director, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and Assistant Professor of Law and Practice

What role has the Straus Institute played in the field of dispute resolution?

Stipanowich: The institute’s vast curriculum and exceptional scholars make it unique in the dispute resolution arena. Our classrooms feature a diverse mix of students, including LLM candidates from many different countries; non-lawyers pursuing a master’s in dispute resolution; and MBA, public policy, and religion students. Moreover, roughly half the students in every law school class at Pepperdine obtain a certificate of specialization or a master’s in dispute resolution; they have the opportunity to embrace a more all-encompassing, holistic concept of the roles lawyers may play in serving clients.

Singh: The Straus Institute is a leader in the field of dispute resolution because of our focus on both theory and practice. We equip our students with key, foundational concepts in the field and supplement that understanding with innovative techniques that demonstrate how to exercise these concepts in the real world. We are privileged to have expert practitioners teaching our students, the landscape of an exciting legal culture in Southern California, a dedicated faculty at Pepperdine Law, and a visionary dean who enables Straus to continually grow and advance as a program.

What do you find most special about the Straus community?

Stipanowich: Our students have wonderful models in our institute’s colleagues, who treat them with consideration and respect, regularly going the extra mile to help students work out schedules and even tackle personal issues. They get what it means when we refer to ourselves—and to them—as members of the Straus Institute’s family. I love that we cultivate this community together, and it grows bigger and bigger with each year.

Singh: I love that our program exemplifies, and indeed advances, Pepperdine University’s mission of purpose, service, and leadership.

Our students come to the institute with the goal of resolving conflicts globally; we invite them to serve others through their courses, clinics, and externships, and we feel confident that we build leaders for the next generation. Our country and the world has some big challenges ahead, and we feel blessed to be creating a global cadre of conflict resolution leaders.

What are you most proud of from this past year with the Straus Institute?

Stipanowich: This year we spearheaded a collaborative effort of nearly all the major dispute resolution programs in the US to host a landmark conference that brought together more than 150 teachers, scholars, and leaders in the dispute resolution field. It will long be remembered as the moment we examined our enduring legacy and engaged in meaningful discussions about the future of conflict resolution.

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Singh: I am proud of our global reach and local impact. We have hosted people from around the world; we as Straus faculty and staff have been to a dozen countries and counting in the past year. At home, we continue to teach the best of dispute resolution programs, and we offered services in our local communities— including the Los Angeles Police Department. We are stronger than ever, and we continue to grow.

RANKED

#1

Student body representing

dispute resolution program in the country 13 of the last 15 years

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55

visiting faculty and practitioners

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COUNTRIES

3 CLINICS

with students mediating hundreds of cases in Los Angeles

24–28 average class size

full-time faculty

12

9

degrees and/ or programs available

full-time staff

450 More than

participants/ faculty/trainers in conferences and trainings

More than

50 courses offered

About the Straus Institute Repeatedly recognized as the foremost academic center of its kind, the Straus Institute brings together an unparalleled full-time teaching and research faculty with scholars and practitioners from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the US. Its broad and deep curricular offerings serve emerging lawyers as well as experienced mid-career professionals, businesspersons, and religious and community leaders. In the more than 30 years since its founding, the institute has established itself as the standard of excellence in preparing effective negotiators, peacemakers, and problem solvers, as well as a driving force for improving the culture of conflict in America.

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Landmark ADR Conference On June 18–19, the Straus Institute hosted “Appreciating Our Legacy and Engaging the Future,” a landmark conference that brought together dispute resolution teachers, scholars, and practitioners from around the world. The American Bar Association’s Section on Dispute Resolution and Texas A&M University’s Aggie Dispute Resolution Program cosponsored the two-day gathering, which offered interactive plenary and workshop sessions focusing on dispute resolution best practices and teaching principles. Program directors and faculty from the country’s leading educational programs compared perspectives Appreciating Our Legacy brought on four decades of change in managing together the leading lights of and resolving conflict dispute resolution education and along with the present scholarship to take stock of the and future challenges evolution of our field. and opportunities that the field of dispute —Tom Stipanowich resolution faces.

Click here to watch the ADR Conference tribute.

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The idea for the event originated with professor Tom Stipanowich, who, after attending a workshop on ADR teaching at the 2018 ABA Dispute Resolution Conference in Washington, DC, thought that a broader and more comprehensive convening was in order. Straus had previously hosted a conference centered on ADR teaching methods in June 2011, but this

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event was conceived with a broader scope and audience in mind. He had this to add, Appreciating Our Legacy brought together the leading lights of dispute resolution education and scholarship to take stock of the evolution of our field and its impact on public and private justice, and to explore the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I’m grateful that the Straus Institute was able to initiate this unique collaborative venture and to host the event, which involved 65 speakers and more than 130 participants.

Stipanowich enlisted the support of his colleagues, professors Sukhsimranjit Singh and Nancy Welsh, executive committee member of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution and professor and director of the Aggie Dispute Resolution Program at Texas A&M University School of Law. Together, the trio of co-chairs devised an exciting slate of programming—from foundational plenaries to innovative breakout sessions and networking lunches. Stipanowich and Welsh secured an all-star list of dispute resolution scholars—from pioneers to current torchbearers, and the next generation of leaders.

The conference’s plenaries and breakouts thematically focused on examining dispute resolution’s legacy and discussing program innovations and teaching methodologies that resonate with future students, legal institutions,

and universities. Professor John Lande reminded the participants that when it was first founded, dispute resolution was considered a social innovation, a novel strategy to satisfy human needs. Professor Carrie Menkel-Meadow inspired participants to think about what dispute resolution, as a field, has done to teach the next generation about problem solving. “Mediation’s roots came from the civil rights movement, and we have done little to move that dial,” added professor Sharon Press. Stipanowich inspired participants to imagine a dynamic system that responds to the needs of people, is adaptable, and puts people in conflict in the driver’s seat.

Beyond the discussions, the conference also provided participants with the opportunity to connect with one another and share strategies more informally. Two networking lunches served to bring together scholars and practitioners. Additionally, participants enjoyed a beachside evening reception at the exclusive Jonathan Club in Santa Monica, California, where they were able to mingle and network in view of the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.

In his remarks, Singh inspired participants to prepare for, and indeed embrace, new ideas that advance the field of dispute resolution. The conference fostered many connections and discussions between scholars and leaders. The Straus Institute, as well as its collaborating institutions, remains committed to continuing these dialogues into the future.

Participants at the Appreciating Our Legacy conference—top: Daniel Gandert, Zachary Calo, Maureen Weston; center: Tom Stipanowich; bottom: Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Leonard Riskin, Douglas Yarn.

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Straus Around the World SINGAPORE CONVENTION On August 7, professor Tom Stipanowich was a featured speaker at the “Singapore Convention,” a momentous conference associated with the initial signing of the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation. The conference, cosponsored by the Singapore Ministry of Law and the United Nations, was attended by nearly 900 government delegates, lawyers, and leading dispute resolution professionals from 70 nations. The event was highlighted by a signing ceremony in which 46 countries including Brazil, China, and the US indicated their intent to ratify the convention. Stipanowich, who spoke on “The Rise of Mediation: Bridging Differences for Tomorrow,” concludes:

The Singapore Convention is a truly historic milestone in the modern history of international dispute resolution. By establishing a platform for the international enforcement of mediated commercial agreements, it may do for mediation what the New York Convention did for binding commercial arbitration.

Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh also attended the gathering and participated with Stipanowich in a Global Think Tank workshop regarding the impact of the Singapore Convention on mediation. The event, cosponsored by JAMS and the International Bar Association, drew more than 50 in person participants and 250 livestream viewers. Stipanowich noted that at least four Straus graduate students and alumni were present for the workshop, including Blazo Nedic (LLM ’19) (Serbia), Ximena Bustamante (LLM ’10) (Ecuador), Jody Sin (current student) (Hong Kong), and Jiyun Moon (LLM ’15) (Republic of Korea) (pictured at right).

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Conference on Considering the Common Law in BRAZIL Professor Maureen Weston joined Texas Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Boyd (JD ’91) at the Conference on Considering the Common Law in Sao Luis, Brazil. Weston presented on “The Case Law Method, Stare Decisis, and Judicial Precedent,” and “Civil and Common Law in Arbitration: Considering Challenges in the Private Resolution of Disputes Involving Multisystem Parties and Laws.”

LawInSport International Conference in the UNITED KINGDOM Weston participated on a panel at the annual LawInSport international sport conference in London, UK, where she spoke on “Safe Sport: How Can You Create a Gold Standard?”

Coe and Park Represent Straus in SOUTH KOREA Professor Jack Coe spoke at the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board’s (KCAB) Investor-State Dispute Settlement Conference in Seoul, South Korea. Coe presented “A New Paradigm of Investment Agreements and Investment Arbitration: (Re)Balancing Investor Protection and Regulatory Autonomy.” Following the conference, Coe served as an arbitrator in the final round of the Foreign Direct Investment Moot Arbitrations, Asia Pacific Regional Rounds.

Professor Sarah Park spoke at the Second Annual Asia Pacific Mediation Conference in Seoul, hosted by the KCAB and the Korean Society of Mediation Studies. Park discussed mediation within the US and the Straus Institute as a model for growth in the Asia Pacific area.

Stipanowich Brings His Expertise to HONG KONG and CHINA Professor Tom Stipanowich spoke at the Multi-Tier Approaches to the Resolution of International Disputes conference held at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law. Scholars and practitioners from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and the US participated in the event.

Stipanowich then attended the inaugural meeting of the Peking University Law School global faculty, which consists of 20 law professors from universities around the world. Held during the university’s International Week, the meeting focused on the rule of law, the legal profession, and legal education.

Stipanowich also spoke at the conference, Commercial Arbitration and Settlement: The Influence of Culture and Legal Tradition, at Peking University Transnational Law School in Shenzhen, China.

Singh Leads Advanced Mediation Training in INDIA Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh led an advanced mediation training program for judges from across India. He was joined

by Straus adjunct faculty members, judge Alexander Williams and Bruce Edwards.

The Future of Peace and Mediation in PERU Singh presented “The Future of Peace and Mediation” at a regional conference of the Senior Fellows of the Weinstein International Foundation in Lima, Peru.

Resolving Conflict through Mediation in KENYA As a director of the Weinstein International Foundation, Singh spoke at the International Mediation Conference at Strathmore University Law School in Nairobi, Kenya. The theme of the conference was Resolving Conflicts Through Mediation in Kenya and Throughout the African Continent: International Lessons. While in Kenya, Singh also gave a master class on “Identity and Cultural Transformations in International Mediation” to JAMS International Fellows.

Straus Faculty Teach Mediation Techniques in JAPAN Singh and professor Marcelo Rosadilla (LLM ’10) taught mediation to selected attorneys and professors at Doshisha University Law School in Kyoto, Japan.

Students Welcome Straus Professors in SAUDI ARABIA Singh and Coe travelled to Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to instruct law students in a three-day mediation, negotiation, and arbitration skills workshop. While in Saudi Arabia, the professors worked with the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration and met with administrators on potential collaborations with the Straus Institute. Singh and Coe also met with representatives of Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University on ADR teaching techniques.

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Straus at Home PROFESSIONAL SKILLS PROGRAM 2019 In June the 32nd Annual Professional Skills Program Participants came from all over the United showcased 23 of the top dispute resolution professionals in the nation who offered specialized training in the ADR States, as well as six foreign countries, to field. Over the course of three days, the Straus Institute practice and hone their ADR skills. instructed more than 250 dispute resolution practitioners in courses on strategic negotiation, conflict resolution consulting, the psychology of conflict, and eight other topics. Participants came from all over the United States, as well as six foreign countries, to practice and hone their ADR skills. Course sessions included lectures, small group discussions, and practice exercises that fostered an environment of collaboration between participants.

The Professional Skills Program provides qualified, seasoned professionals and a network of ADR practitioners with the opportunity to interact and learn from one another. Ava Abramowitz, a mediator, speaker, and scholar in the field of ADR said of the program, “[The Straus Institute] collected terrific people, speakers and attendees alike. I am glad I came, and I look forward to the next time.”

Consistently one of the most comprehensive dispute resolution trainings offered in its field, the Professional Skills Program continues to be one of the institute’s most influential annual offerings.

Click here to register for the next Professional Skills Program.

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FEMA Mediator Jim Pearman Visits Straus after Woosley Fire In February Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ADR advisor and mediator Jim Pearman joined the Straus Institute to discuss building community resilience after disasters like the recent Woolsey Fire and the role that mediation plays in resolving postevent issues. Pearman was later deployed to the Paradise area in northern California to aid in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires there this fall.

Coe Appointed to State Department Committee Professor Jack Coe has been appointed by the US Department of State to its advisory committee on private international law. A preeminent scholar in the field of international commercial arbitration, Coe also serves as the faculty director for the Straus Institute’s LLM concentration in the same area. Coe consults regularly with foreign governments and multinational corporations in relation to commercial and direct investment disputes under existing treaties, and he is on the arbitration panel for the American Arbitration Association and the International Centre for Dispute Resolution. In the past, professor Tom Stipanowich also held an appointment on the same committee at the US Department of State.

Stipanowich Named Hagler Fellow at Texas A&M University In 2018 professor Tom Stipanowich was named a Hagler Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study at Texas A&M University as a joint nominee of its law and architecture schools. Hagler Fellows are well-known scholars from a variety of disciplines; Tom Ginsburg of the University of Chicago School of Law was his co-honoree. While visiting the school, Stipanowich presented on various topics at both Texas A&M campuses—in Fort Worth and College Station—and gave a keynote address to scholars from around the country at an academic symposium on metrics and transparency in dispute resolution.

Blondell Speaks About Personal Perceptions and Their Connection with Relationships Professor Stephanie Blondell presented “He Said, She Said: A Mediator’s Approach to Memory Errors” for the International Academy of Mediators mentee webinar last summer. This workshop provided a brief overview of the emerging science on memory—misattribution, transience, and suggestibility—and its applicability to our lives as mediators. In September 2018 Blondell spoke about narrative as a form of persuasion to 170 Munger Tolles & Olsen attorneys at their annual firm retreat at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, California.

Weinstein JAMS Fellowship Presentation Professor Sukhsimranjit Singh presented an address on Global Dispute Resolution, Apology and Forgiveness at a JAMS Foundation Conference in San Francisco in September 2018. The presentation was delivered to the 2019 Weinstein International Foundation JAMS Fellows from twelve countries representing Albania, Cyprus, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Spain, and the United States.

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Jack Coe, third from left, with members of the ALI

Presentations and Publications JACK COE CONTRIBUTES TO NEW RESTATEMENT OF THE LAW Professor Jack Coe served as an associate reporter on the Restatement of the Law, The U.S. Law of International Commercial and Investor-State Arbitration, which was approved at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Law Institute (ALI) in Washington, DC. The vote marks the completion of the project that began in 2007.

Coe was a member of a team of associate reporters from law schools across the nation that began work on this important project more than a decade ago. When parties choose to have their dispute addressed through arbitration they are typically agreeing that the court will not be involved. However, in commercial arbitration the courts can still play a role if parties invite them to do so.

The Restatement was the most challenging and rewarding project of my career. It is very gratifying to see courts from the US Supreme Court on down relying on it.

—Jack Coe

The Restatement of the Law brings clarity to the role of the courts within the three parts of an arbitration proceeding: the enforcement of the arbitration agreement, the judicial role in arbitral proceedings, and post-award relief. Laws informing arbitration decisions are often made subjectively by judges on a case by case basis, and there is not always consensus on what they mean. The Restatement brings an increased definition to those laws, and will help foster a greater sense of understanding that benefits the entire field.

With the approval of the proposed final draft, the reporters will now prepare the ALI’s official text for publication.

Click here to keep up-to-date with the latest Straus Institute news.

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STEPHANIE BLONDELL Professor Stephanie Blondell spoke at the International Academy of Mediators Conference on Mediator Self-Awareness and Unconscious Cultural Bias held in Banff, Canada. Blondell’s session focused on developing strategies for maintaining a sense of balance and fairness.

She also presented “When Good Mediators Make Bad Decisions: A Look at Ethical Fading in Mediation” to more than 40 attendees of the Southern California Mediation Association.

JACK COE Professor Jack Coe participated in the discussion “Hong Kong as Deal Maker and Dispute Resolver,” at the Think Asia, Think Hong Kong Symposium in Los Angeles. The event was organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council to help US-based businesses navigate the complexities of international expansion in Asia.

In addition, Coe published the two-volume Private International Law and Arbitration, a collection of scholarly work, in partnership with professor Donald Earl (Trey) Childress.

MICHAEL HELFAND Professor Michael Helfand’s article, “This Orthodox Family and Their Yeshiva Are In a Legal Battle Over Vaccines,” was published in The Forward magazine. The article examines whether parents can exempt themselves from the legal obligation of vaccinating their children.

He also coauthored “The Future of Religious Arbitration in the United States: Looking Through a Pluralist Lens,” to be published in The Oxford Legal Handbook on Global Legal Pluralism by Oxford University Press.

SUKHSIMRANJIT SINGH After recently earning his PhD, professor Sukhsimranjit Singh published the article, “Best Practices for Mediating Religious Conflicts,” in the American Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Magazine. The article advises using thoughtful language in resolving disputes that involve religious beliefs.

Singh additionally served as a lecture speaker at the 16th Annual Kaplan Lecture hosted by the Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania. In “Key Lessons in Cross-Cultural Understanding in Conflict and Dispute Resolution,” Singh spoke on the impact of personal upbringing on behavior and how to navigate related cross-cultural conflict.

THOMAS STIPANOWICH The Canadian College of Construction Lawyers in Ontario, Canada, asked professor Tom Stipanowich to speak on best practices for successful mediations before more than 130 lawyers and judges. The focus of Stipanowich’s talk was on achieving successful mediation outcomes in the modern construction law landscape.

He also served as an invited speaker at the Brazil Legal Symposium at Harvard Law School on the topics of mediation and alternative dispute resolution. Stipanowich’s speech led off the main panel discussion on mediation programs in Brazil and other developing countries around the world.

MAUREEN WESTON Professor Maureen Weston was named chair of the 2020 Sports Lawyer Association Annual Conference. She has contributed greatly to the field of sports law and ADR, and has served on the association’s board of directors.

Weston also spoke at the National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University’s annual sports conference. She addressed important issues in the field, including the US Supreme Court’s decision on the legality of sports betting, league decisions concerning player discipline, and the impact of the #MeToo movement on the sports industry.

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Students and Alumni AT work ALUMNA ESTABLISHES DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRESENCE IN REFUGEE COMMUNITY In a dialogue session hosted by the agency R3SOLUTE, Mohamad*, a refugee from the Middle East living in Germany, spoke about how people frequently move away from him in public, particularly on public transportation. “They think I am a terrorist,” he said.

He shared that while he did not react in these situations, they made him feel increasingly sad, and that he was unwanted in his new country.

Creating a safe space in which to share stories like Mohamad’s is foundational to the type of dialogue work that alumna Helen Winter (LLM ’17) conducts. Winter is an intercultural mediator and conflict resolution trainer who founded At Straus, I was not only R3SOLUTE two years ago after graduating with an LLM in dispute resolution from the Straus Institute. provided with the best

skills possible to become an intercultural mediator and peacemaker, but was also encouraged to believe that anything is possible.

—Helen Winter (LLM ’17)

R3SOLUTE is a Berlin-based nongovernmental organization that seeks to empower refugees by means of mediation and conflict competency workshops.

Winter explains, “At Straus, I was not only provided with the best skills possible to become an intercultural mediator and peacemaker, but was also encouraged to believe that anything is possible— even overcoming intractable divisions. I learned from amazing professors and mentors who are truly making a difference in the world and I always wanted to follow their example.”

After Mohamad opened up about his fears, the group discussed the dangers of generalizations and brainstormed about how to react in similar situations. The group’s suggestions, along with hearing about similar experiences from others, helped Mohamad to understand that he was not alone in feeling like an outcast.

Learning that both other refugees and native German citizens felt compassion for him and his experience was encouraging.

Going forward, Winter would like to make R3SOLUTE’s mission a systemic concept for social change in and around refugee communities. Her goal is to complete her doctorate in connection with this project in the next two years and further her expertise in this field. *Name changed to protect confidentiality

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MDR Alumna Makes a Difference at United Nations Ombudsman Office Tamar Gur (MDR ’18) came to the Straus Institute as an experienced mediator who wanted to expand her skill set. The last class Gur took at Straus was the ombuds course, in which she honed her abilities to personally relate to parties and to represent their interests to those in positions of authority. Inspired by the course, Gur applied for an internship with the Office of the Ombudsman Funds and Programmes at the United Nations.

Having worked at the ombudsman office for more than a year, Gur credits the institute’s training for her ability to handle formal and informal resolution processes, as well as her experience in writing effective communication intended to de-escalate conflict or share hard truths.

“For me, the practice of being with people in conflict is a calling,” says Gur. “My sense is that if you are human, you have dealt with conflict, and you can bring that experience to bear as a practitioner.”

The ombudsman office is composed of staff with backgrounds in various sectors, including education, human resources, entrepreneurship, and the arts. Gur credits her bachelor’s degree in literature with enabling her to understand stories of conflict and resolution.

She advises students to zealously pursue their interests and passions.

“I have learned that credentials are not everything [in a role]. Dedication, commitment, and work ethic are

attributes that matter, especially on a team.” Gur hopes to continue developing conflict resolution processes as pathways that propel people forward in their organizations.

LLM Student Making Waves in China In June Peter Neumann was accepted as an international consultant and observer by the China Academy of Arbitration Law. The role builds on the efforts of Sammy Liu, the institute’s Head of China Programs, and upon an enduring relationship with China University of Political Science and Law’s Arbitration Institute. Liu has worked to engage the burgeoning Chinese international arbitration and ADR communities in the area. Prior to commencing his studies at the Straus Institute, Neumann practiced cross-border corporate and mergers and acquisitions law for nearly 30 years, including 20 years in Greater China.

LLM Alumnus Publishes Article on Kluwer Arbitration Blog Mykhailo Soldatenko (LLM ‘18), an associate in the international arbitration practice at Asters (Kyiv, Ukraine) has recently contributed his article “Ongoing Territorial Challenges in Crimea Cases: Putting Everest v. Russia in Context” to the Kluwer Arbitration Blog. The piece relates to the protection of Ukrainian companies’ investments in Crimea taken after the peninsula’s annexation

by Russia in 2014. Ukrainian companies have commenced at least eight investment arbitrations against the Russian Federation under the RussiaUkraine Bilateral Investment Treaty (“BIT”) to get compensation for the lost

property. Soldatenko touches on some difficult jurisdictional hurdles of the post-annexation investment protection, namely whether Crimea is Russian territory within the meaning of the BIT and whether the BIT covers investments made in Ukraine before the annexation.

Prior to joining Asters, Soldatenko served as the Edmund S. Muskie intern at the Jenner & Block Washington DC office in the public international law practice. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue his LLM degree in international commercial arbitration at Straus in 2017.

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Translating Theory into Practice STUDENTS PURSUE EXTERNSHIPS FOR GLOBAL IMPACT This past year Straus students Fernando Hoffmann (LLM ’19) and Yingying Hong (MPP ’19) secured externships with the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services in New York City. Straus alumnae Tamar Gur (MDR ’18), Melisa Kasap (LLM ’17), and Bhavya Mahajan (LLM ’17) previously served as postgraduate externs within the same office, and Natalia Borta (LLM ’17) is currently externing in the office. The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services confidentially addresses workplace issues and grievances for UN staff, identifies systemic challenges within the organization, and reports directly to the secretarygeneral and executive leadership of the UN’s various agencies.

“During my externship with the Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services, I had the opportunity to learn how a sophisticated organization uses ADR to prevent and resolve workplace disputes,” says Hoffman, who serves as a federal judge in Brazil. “I worked on several projects related to conflict resolution, civility, confidentiality, and conflict management.

At Straus you can see that I also provided observer feedback to mediations, facilitated conversations, ombuds sessions, and diversity and civility what we have learned can workshops. I really appreciated the experience, and back be applied to such a huge in Brazil I am already using the knowledge I got from organization like the UN. the externship.” Hong adds, “At Straus you can see that what we have learned can be applied to such a huge organization like the UN. It makes you feel like an insider.”

—YINGYING Hong (MPP ’19) Externships are an integral part of the Straus curriculum, as students gain firsthand experiences in dispute resolution careers and build professional contacts. With the help of our assistant director Joanna Reese (MBA ‘17), our students have pursued externships across Southern California, the United States, and indeed, all over the world.

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LLM Students Pursue Top Jobs The Straus Institute provides its students with faculty mentors and career development staff to ensure that every student has an opportunity to discuss their goals, receive meaningful guidance, and move forward on their journey to professional success and fulfillment.

On February 22, 2019, Straus LLM students participated in the annual UCLA LLM Interview Program—the largest program of its kind on the West Coast—which featured 17 onsite employers, with 112 students attending from law schools throughout the United States. Our students interviewed with employers, had the chance to engage in an informative lunch session on immigration-related strategies, and met with the American Bar Association’s Section of International Law, which shared opportunities for student involvement.

The institute’s Aparna Gupta, associate director of professional development and external relations, and assistant director Joanna Reese attended the event to support Straus students and network with employers and colleagues from area law schools.

Additionally, in spring 2019, Gupta spearheaded “Mediation Today,” a bimonthly workshop series focused on preparing students for their postgraduate job search. Students had a chance to meet and learn from accomplished mediators about their career paths.

Mediation Clinic Students Recognized

by Los Angeles Superior Court The clinical courses taught by professor Stephanie Blondell and retired Los Angeles Superior Court judge Alexander Williams offer students the opportunity to mediate small claims, limited jurisdiction, and temporary restraining order cases throughout Los Angeles County. These clinics provide students with an opportunity to apply the knowledge of the classroom to real-life cases.

On March 19, 2019, Pepperdine students received certificates at a mediator recognition event for the Los Angeles Superior Court. The court’s presiding judge recognized the mediators and settlement officers serving its civil litigants as a part of Mediator Recognition week. Straus LLM student, Rajat Kamboj, and MDR student, Sarah Mirembe, attended and received their certificates, as well as accomplished alumni including Mark Lemke (LLM ’17), Wendy Fassberg, and Chris Welch (’02, MDR ’05).

Staff members from the Center for Conflict Resolution, a community partner that hosts Pepperdine’s Mediation Clinic, are pictured above with Straus students. Attendees received a warm welcome from the supervising judge of the Civil Division, judge Samantha Jessner, and were able to network and trade notes.

Students Reaching Their Goals “Straus Institute’s career development professionals constantly shared opportunities with me and advised me throughout the job search process. It’s great to have the Straus staff in your corner.”

“Preparation is the sole driver in accomplishing a goal. Ms. Gupta dedicated her time preparing me for my dream job of becoming Stockton Unified School District’s inaugural district ombudsman.

“The Mediation Clinic gave me practical mediation experience and the opportunity to improve my skills and interventions. The clinic also gave me the platform to experiment and develop my mediator persona.”

—Dhruv Pendurkar (LLM ’18) Legal Professional, Roy Legal Group

—Fhanysha Gaddis (JD ’16, MPP ’16)

—Fabio Franco (LLM ’19)

Click here to hear more student testimonials.

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Save the Date Click here for more information on upcoming events.

` Fifth Annual Professional Skills Program in Nashville, Tennessee | November 14–16, 2019 Lipscomb University’s Institute for Conflict Management works in partnership with the Straus Institute to provide a world-class view of dispute resolution. Our Professional Skills Program boasts seven courses, world-renowned faculty, two and a half days of interactive skills-based learning, and the opportunity to receive CLE/CME credit.

` Women’s Negotiation Academy | December 5–6, 2019 The Women’s Negotiation Academy is an interactive workshop that presents women with specific tools and techniques to increase their effectiveness as negotiators. The two days of instruction will be offered through the lens of gender, with an eye toward the most recent research on gender issues in negotiation.

` Straus Institute Conversation Series featuring Danny Weinstein | January 23, 2020 A Conversation with Danny Weinstein will be the third installment of the Straus Institute’s Conversation Series.

Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.) is recognized as a premier mediator both at home and abroad, and an active philanthropist having founded the Weinstein International Foundation and the Weinstein JAMS International Fellowship Program in partnership with the JAMS Foundation, among other charitable organizations. Participants will be inspired by an insightful and energizing interview with one of the ADR field’s greatest contributors.

` Mediating the Litigated Case | February 6–8 and February 20–22, 2020 A sophisticated six-day program, Mediating the Litigated Case is for experienced litigators, in-house counsel, and other practitioners. Professionals study the mediation of litigated cases to either become a mediator or to be a better advocate.

` 33rd Annual Summer Professional Skills Program in Dispute Resolution | June 25–27, 2020 Featuring a panel of recognized experts in dispute resolution, our Professional Skills Program provides two and a half days of unique educational opportunities for practicing professionals.

Participants will network with nationally prominent faculty, as well as attendees from other specialties at plenary sessions, lunches, and receptions. Early enrollment is recommended.

Our Programs and degrees LLM in Dispute Resolution with Concentrations Available in Mediation, Arbitration, or Litigation LLM in Entertainment, Media, and Sports LLM in International Commercial Arbitration LLM in International Commercial Law and Arbitration LLM in International Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution LLM in US Law LLM in US Law and DIspute Resolution Online LLM in Dispute Resolution Master of Dispute Resolution Online Master of Dispute Resolution Certificate of Dispute Resolution MBA with Concentration in Dispute Resolution

Joint Degrees Master of Dispute Resolution/Master of Public Policy Master of Dispute Resolution/Juris Doctor 17

straus.pepperdine.edu

Team STRAUS

My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.

Click here to meet the Straus team.

—Desmond Tutu

FACULTY Stephanie B. Blondell

Associate Director, Assistant Professor of Law and Practice, and Director of the Master of Dispute Resolution Program

Robert Cochran, Jr. Professor of Law

Jack Coe

Professor of Law

Anthony Miller

Associate Professor of Law

Peter R. Robinson Professor of Law

Sukhsimranjit Singh

Managing Director, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and Assistant Professor of Law and Practice

Thomas J. Stipanowich

William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution, Professor of Law, and Associate Dean, Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Maureen Weston

Professor of Law and Director of the Entertainment, Media, and Sports Dispute Resolution Project

Michael Helfand

Associate Director, Glazer Institute for Jewish Studies and Associate Professor of Law

STAFF Aparna Gupta

Associate Director of Professional Development and External Relations

Seth G. Hackett

Sarah Y. Park Associate Director

Randi Saxer Redman

Lori M. Rushford

Assistant Director, Professional Education and Conferences

Recruitment Manager

Assistant Director of Admissions and Student Services

Christopher Shea

Deborah E. Jasmin

Joanna E. Reese

Shellee S. Warnes

Sammy Liu

Marcelo B. Rosadilla

Sarah Marroquin

Jeannie A. Ruse

Faculty and Class Support Manager Head of China Programs Admissions and Student Support Coordinator and Administrative Assistant to Thomas J. Stipanowich

Assistant Director

Interim Career Services Manager Director of Operations

Associate Director and Adjunct Professor Program Administrator, Professional Programs and Recruitment

Pepperdine University

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PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY School of Law Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263-4655

straus.pepperdine.edu dracademics@pepperdine.edu

LS1905856

Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution

Tel: 310.506.4655 Fax: 310.506.4437