Mediate.com’s ‘Rising Tides: Raising the Standards of Mediation’ Conference

By
Clare Fowler

October 6, 2025

– Full Info and Register Here –

The Rising Tides Conference is your opportunity to elevate your practice, connect with leaders in the field, and gain cutting-edge tools to navigate today’s mediation practice challenges. This two-day event offers fresh perspectives, emerging trends, including AI, and strategies to help you stay at the forefront of the profession. We will be closely considering appropriate and constructive regulation of the use of AI in mediation, along with newly elevated screening standards.

DATES: October 8th and 9th, 7a-4p pacific/10a – 7p eastern

CONFERENCE AGENDA

CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

October 8 (Day 1) – Raising the Standards of the Mediation Field

The first day offers a unified experience for all attendees, centered on professional excellence, ethics, and innovation across the mediation field. Sessions will explore the evolving role of mediators, best practices in complex case management, the integration of new technologies (including AI), and the importance of inclusive, trauma-informed approaches. Through expert-led panels, interactive workshops, and a keynote address, participants will engage in critical conversations about where the field is headed and how we can shape it together.

Bob Bordone – Conflict Resilience – focusing on maturity instead of resolution
Bridget McCormack – Putting the Client First
Colin Rule – AI Roundup – implementable tools

October 9 (Day 2) – Specialized Tracks: Workplace & Family Mediation

On the second day, attendees will choose between two focused tracks—Workplace Mediation and Family Mediation—to deepen their expertise in their area of practice. Each track will feature sessions tailored to the challenges and opportunities in those fields, including topics such as managing power imbalances, navigating high-conflict dynamics, and supporting durable agreements in emotionally charged settings.

Chuck Doran – Opportunities for the “Ombuds Curious”
Clare Fowler – Burnout to Buy-In
Lisa Parkinson – Child-Inclusive Mediation
Jeff Thompson and Michael Lang – Resiliency Keynote

All participants will also come together for a powerful General Keynote Session and a Reflective Practice Workshop, fostering community connection and professional growth through shared insight and dialogue.

– Full Info and Register Here –

Clare Fowler

Clare Fowler is Executive Vice-President and Managing Editor at Mediate.com, as well as a mediator and trainer. Clare received her Master's of Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law and her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, focused on reducing workplace conflicts, from Pepperdine… MORE >

Colin Rule

Since 2020, Colin Rule is CEO of ODR.com, Inc. and Resourceful Internet Solutions, Inc., home of Mediate.com, MediateUniversity.com, Arbitrate.com and CaseloadManager.com. From 2017 to 2020, Colin was Vice President for Online Dispute Resolution at Tyler Technologies. Tyler acquired Modria.com, an ODR provider that Colin co-founded, in 2017. Previously, from 2003… MORE >

Bridget McCormack

Bridget Mary McCormack is President and CEO of the American Arbitration Association-International Centre for Dispute Resolution. She is also a Strategic Advisor to the Future of the Profession Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Until the end of 2022, McCormack was Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme… MORE >

Susan Guthrie

Immediate Past Chair of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, Susan E. Guthrie is a nationally recognized leader at the intersection of legal innovation, dispute resolution, and entrepreneurial practice-building. With over three decades of experience as an attorney and mediator, Susan now dedicates her work to helping professionals build future-proof,… MORE >

Tracey Frisch

As Division Vice President of Mediation Tracey leads the Association’s mediation business. Tracey also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Pace University Law School teaching Commercial Arbitration Law and previously served as an adjunct Professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law supervising law student mediators. Tracey is a member… MORE >

Stephen Kotev

Helping people resolve problems and improve their performance under stressful circumstances is Stephen Kotev’s passion and profession. With a Masters degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution, Stephen has substantial experience in mediation, negotiation, facilitation, conflict coaching, conflict management and somatic education.… MORE >

Chuck Doran

Chuck Doran is an experienced mediator and ombuds specializing in the resolution of employment, franchise and other commercial disputes. A mediator since 1992, he is a member of the CPR Dispute Resolution Panel of Distinguished Neutrals and has provided mediation and other ADR services to a variety of clients including AT&T, Bose,… MORE >

Bob Bordone

Bob Bordone, a Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School and the Founder and former Director of Harvard Law Schools Negotiation Mediation Clinical Program. I'm also the Founder and Principal of the Cambridge Negotiation Institute and have written and taught on negotiation, mediation, and conflict resolution for more than 20 years. MORE >