Beware the Bully Negotiator

I have just finished reading Professor Dwight Golann’s excellent book, “Sharing a Mediator’s Powers”. It was timely in that last week I mediated a contentious wrongful termination case in which one of the advocates was a notorious “bully”. The case ended with a mediator’s proposal which was accepted by both sides. But I have to say that I was very concerned that the bully advocate had hijacked the mediation and would be gaining an unfair advantage as the result. I was so relieved and gratified when both sides accepted the proposal and the weight of the balance was taken off my shoulders.

As Professor Golann details, the mediator gains all of her power from controlling the process of the negotiations, but the advocates can in fact achieve a better outcome for their clients if they are successful in getting the mediator to help them, for example, to make sure that all necessary parties are at the negotiating table, that a joint session is either intentionally held or omitted, that the mediator avoid “reactive devaluation” by delivering key messages instead of delivering them yourself directly to your adversary, and so on.

The integrity of the process is sacrosanct. As Golann concludes, “mediation is an active process, capable of almost infinite variation. Good lawyers know a mediator can help them negotiate effectively, and are not bashful about asking for help.” Just be careful to maintain your balance!

                       

Jan Frankel Schau

Attorney Jan Frankel Schau is a highly skilled neutral, engaged in full-time dispute resolution. Following a successful career spanning two decades in litigation, she has mediated over 700 cases for satisfied clients. Ms. Schau understands the nuances of trial and settlement practice as well as client relations and balancing the… MORE >