About the Webinar: Clients and parties spin when the law and their emotions collide. This is especially challenging given the erosion of civil discourse and the disengagement of individuals from civic institutions. The ability of participants to make good decisions declines and they often blame others for the situation. Learn practical tips, techniques, and tools from a lawyer and social psychologist, who both mediate. Learn how to counsel folks through the uncertainty, fear, and frustration they experience when they believe the likely outcome is unfair or the process is too long and expensive. Explore their risk tolerance so they can better participate in the usual “settlement dance.” Manage their “cognitive biases” to channel their energies on what is really important. Help them make better decisions and accept wise counsel by truly understanding their underlying values, needs and interests. Teaser: are we obligated to help participants find the truth or just their “truth?” No touchy-feely babble … just straight talk for better results.
About the Presenters:
Sam Imperati, JD: Executive Director. Seasoned attorney. Assistant Corporate Counsel, Nike. Private practice representing 
individuals and unions. Judge Pro Tempore. Chair, Oregon Bar’s (OSB) Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section. Taught leadership, negotiation, ethics, & decision-making at Willamette MBA & environmental dispute resolution at Lewis & Clark Law. Highly effective in resolving complex, high-conflict cases, mediating multi-party disputes, and facilitating cross-sector partnerships. Sam displays a tireless work ethic and gets the job done. Trains nationally on ADR topics and is an engaging keynote speaker.
Awards: 2006 – 2019 Best Lawyers in America. Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating, AV Preeminent. OSB/OMA Lezak Awards for excellence. Standup comedy winner!
Service: Pro Bono/Reduced Fee work. Oregon Mediation Association’s (OMA) Standards & Practices Committee member. OSB Diversity & Inclusion Program. ABA’s Minority Lawyers Affirmative Action Project. OSB’s Ethics Committee member.
Education and ADR Publications: BA, Humanities, magna cum laude, University of Santa Clara. JD, University of California at Davis – King Hall. Law Review, Judicial Intern – Ninth Circuit. Articles: www.mediate.com/icm/pg23.cfm.
Devin Howington, PhD: Senior ADR Associate. Mediator and facilitator. Provided custody and parenting plans mediations 
through Lane County Family Mediation and has status as court-connected domestic relations mediator. Studies mediator’s behaviors and advocate’s preferences for those behaviors. Extensive experience in assessing the attitudes and behaviors of individuals, providing key support for our polling, assessment, public involvement strategies, and conflict assessments. Is knowledgeable about culturally sensitive practices in conflict resolution, understanding biases, interpersonal perception, and the psychology of conflict with a focus on cross-group dynamics and communication.
Education: PhD, Social Psychology. MS, Conflict & Dispute Resolution. University of Oregon. BS, Psychology, Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude, Hendrix College. Certificate for Court-Connected Mediation, PSU’s NPCC collaborative public policy facilitation seminar.
Service: Volunteer for Clackamas County Small Claims. Resolution Northwest’s Equity Dialogue Facilitation Volunteer Cohort. Presentations on mediator’s roles in supporting social justice, a mediator’s role in truth decay, and managing emotions and cognitive biases during conflict.