Charles A. "Chuck" Mancuso, mediation counsel with Upchurch Watson White & Max since 2013, is among five new Florida members named by the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals for 2016. The NADN, a professional association whose membership consists of attorneys "distinguished by their hands-on experience in the field of civil and commercial conflict resolution and by their commitment to the practice of alternative dispute resolution," has more than 900 members throughout the United States, organized into local chapters such as the Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator Society.

Today (Monday, Jan. 11, 2016) is the RSVP deadline for mediator A. Michelle Jernigan's presentation of a complimentary CLE seminar on behalf of the Central Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Michelle is ready to speak on "The Truth About the Gender Divide." This seminar will reveal the current research on gender differences in negotiation, their origin and specific strategies for women to bridge the divide.

Robert A. "Bob" Cole gave a presentation titled "Post-Settlement Agreement Issues: What Mediators Need to Know" at a National Business Institute seminar in Jacksonville earlier this month. The seminar, "Mediation in Florida: Keys to Effective Settlement Negotiations," was designed to teach techniques for attorneys, paralegals, mediators, arbitrators and other neutrals in order to build their settlement skills. It featured a faculty of veteran mediators and attorneys and offered 7 credits of Continuing Legal Education and 7.20 credits of Continuing Mediation Education through The Florida Bar. Listening to a recording, which is now available at nbi-sems.com/Details.aspx/R-70729CM, also makes attorneys and mediators eligible for the same credit.

Mediator Robert A. "Bob" Cole spent Dec. 8, 2015, teaching high school students about the 7th Amendment right to trial by jury in civil cases and is geared up to do it again next week. His teaching stint is part of a new program presented by chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates; he is co-chair of the Jacksonville chapter's 7th Amendment Symposium effort. "With this and the Teachers Law School, we are building a strong relationship with our school district," Bob says. "We are doing another program Dec. 15, 2015, and plan to do two more in 2016."

The Cumberland Law Review will present “The Alabama Trial Attorney: Litigation Lessons from Birmingham’s Finest,” featuring mediator Rodney A. Max as one of five speakers, at Cumberland School of Law on the Samford University campus. Organizers say the Nov. 20 event promotes the law school’s commitment to continuing legal scholarship by providing a forum for outstanding trial lawyers -- and, in Mr. Max's case, a former trial attorney and 21-year mediator who is now well-known nationally -- to share their expertise with other legal professionals. Mr. Max, a principal with Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group, will deliver his talk, titled "Mediation: Its Place in the Litigation Zoo" at 9:10 a.m., just after opening remarks from Henry Strickland, dean of the Cumberland School of Law and Cody Walker, managing editor of the Cumberland Law Review.

Shareholder/mediator Robert A. "Bob" Cole has accepted a nomination to become a 2016 ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates) Foundation Trustee. One of the current trustees will complete a three-year term at the end of the year, leaving a vacancy on the board. "I am truly honored to be nominated for this trustee position along with John (Kim) and Peter (W. Riley)," Bob wrote as part of his candidate statement. "I have been an active member of ABOTA for 25 years, serving as an MIT (Masters in Trial) chair for the Jacksonville chapter, FLABOTA president, FLABOTA board representative and national board representative for the Jacksonville chapter."