June 09, 2020

Insider Tips from an Experienced ODR Professional: What Works and What Doesn't with Doug Witten, Esq. on The Learn to Mediate Online Podcast with Susan Guthrie #111

36 minutes

On this episode of The Learn to Mediate Online Podcast, Host Susan Guthrie speaks with her friend and colleague, Doug Witten, who is an experienced mediator and arbitrator who has handled more than 1,200 cases mainly in workplace, healthcare and contract matters, and who has been conducting online virtual proceedings for years. Susan and Doug explore their personal insights into what works well in the online format and what sometimes goes wrong and why. For so many mediators and dispute resolution professionals who have practices similar to Doug's, who work mainly in separate caucus, will find his experienced insights invaluable in preparing for their own online cases. There is a lot here for advocates too - find out what an experienced online mediator thinks is most important for a successful virtual mediation!

Some Highlights from this Episode:

How the pre-mediation conferences can be one of the most important parts of an online mediation process and why.

How presentations from our ABA colleagues, David Larson and Noam Ebner about 10 years ago and a computer on Jeopardy got Doug interested in ODR.

Why Doug says that COVID has done in a few months what innovators like Colin Rule and others have been trying to do for 20 years.

What is the anectodal feedback about online mediation that Susan has received from the 15,000+ professionals who have taken her course?

Because virtual mediation is so visual, what positive effect does this have on communication between participants?

Why adaptability is so important to success with online mediation.

What is one of the most important things to do BEFORE the mediation starts?

The impact of multilingual participants in an online mediation.

More About This Week's Special Guest:

Douglas J. Witten, Esq., principal of Innovative ADR International LLC, is a mediator and arbitrator who has 24 years of legal experience and has mediated 1200+ cases since becoming a registered neutral in 2003. Doug offers dispute resolution services across a range of areas including healthcare, workplace injuries, and contract matters. He previously practiced healthcare and corporate law, and he also served Georgia’s workers’ compensation agency in management roles including Chief Mediator and Deputy Director of the ADR Division.

Doug is a panel neutral for the American Health Lawyers Association Dispute Resolution Service and for BAY Mediation & Arbitration Services in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a member of ODR Latinoamérica and the International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR), and he currently serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, Mediation Committee’s Just Resolutions subcommittee, and on the Board of the Atlanta Bar Association’s Dispute Resolution Section.

You can reach out to Doug at [email protected]

You can read Doug's fantastic ODR Blog here: https://www.innovativeadr.com/blog/

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About Our Host: Susan Guthrie, nationally recognized as one of the Top Family Law and Mediation Attorneys in the country, has been helping individuals and families navigate separation and divorce for 30 years. Susan provides online divorce mediation and legal coaching services to select clients around the world.As a leading dispute resolution professional, Susan is honored to serve on the Executive Council of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Dispute Resolution Section as the Membership Officer and to be a Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee.

Susan also is one of the leading experts in online mediation in the country and trains other professionals in the practical and ethical considerations of conducting their mediations online through her business Learn to Mediate Online (www.learntomediateonline.com.)

Susan also offers additional training and webinars in:

Social Media Marketing for Professionals NOW AVAILABLE AS A DOWNLOADABLE PROGRAM

DIY Website Basics DOWNLOADABLE PROGRAM COMING SOON!

Building an Online Practice

Starting Your Own Podcast

A Family and Divorce Mediation Primer

and MORE so be sure to check the site for dates and times and to REGISTER! LEARN TO MEDIATE ONLINE www.learntomediateonline.com

Susan has been featured in and on media outlets such as CNBC, Market Watch, Forbes, Eye on Chicago, WGN, the ABA’s Just Resolutions Magazine, Thrive Global, The Nook Online among others. She is licensed to practice law in the States of California and Connecticut as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States.

Susan's other Podcasts: After a year and half of co-creating and co-hosting the award winning podcast, Breaking Free: A Modern Divorce Podcast which reached over 3 million listeners, Susan recently launched her fresh and inspiring new podcast, The Divorce and Beyond Podcast with Susan Guthrie, Esq. which debuted on iTunes “Top Podcasts” List for self-help podcasts. Divorce & Beyond is focused on pulling back the curtain on the mysteries of the divorce process and bringing tips and resources to help people to thrive and shine in their new future beyond divorce.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform so that you don't miss an episode and if you enjoyed this episode, please give us a 5 Star Rating on iTunes and tell us what you liked in a REVIEW!

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