Institute for Dispute Resolution

The Institute for Dispute Resolution was founded in 1996, under the leadership of Professor Robert B. Moberly. Its purpose was threefold: (1) to serve as an interdisciplinary university-based research program, focused on dispute resolution theory and practice; (2) to incorporate dispute resolution into the broader law school curriculum; and (3) to foster service activities in dispute resolution.

Professor Don Peters succeeded Professor Moberly as Director of the Institute. He continued the Institute’s tradition of hosting and co-developing with the Upchurch, Watson, White & Max Mediation Group’s annual day-long continuing mediation workshops. As new types of ADR developed, the institute incorporated these ideas into ongoing projects, such as a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a mediation service for farmers. Professor Allison Gerencser, a member of the Institute, provided this service. Also, the Institute provided ADR training in Haiti, funded by a U.S. Information Agency grant under the next Director of the Institute, Professor Don Peters.

Director Professor Robin Davis continued to establish the Institute and presented at annual conferences and trainings and brought leaders in the field to the law school. In recent years leaders in the field of Dispute Resolution have presented on various aspects of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. Including Professors John Lande, Alyson Carrel, Carrie Menkel-Meadow, Amy Schmitz, and Noam Ebner, and alumni Harold Oehler, John J. Upchurch, Lawrence M. Watson, and Richard Lord.

Under the leadership of the Institute’s current Director, Professor Joan Stearns Johnsen a number of dispute resolution academics have presented to the UF Community including Professor David Hoffman, Harvard and the Boston Law Collaborative, Professor Homer LaRue, Howard University School of Law, Professor Emeritus Len Riskin, currently at Northwestern University School of Law, Associate Dean Jill Gross, Pace University School of Law, Executive Vice Dean Christine Lazaro, St. John’s University School of Law, Professor Imre Szalai, Loyola of New Orleans School of Law.

The Institute is known for its practical approach to teaching dispute resolution skills. Students at UF learn more than theory. They are taught how they as professionals will be arbitrating and mediating in practice. Among the alumni practicing in the field of dispute resolution who have generously presented programs or participated in classes for UF Law students are Edward Mullins, Reed Smith, Oscar Sanchez, Oscar Sanchez Mediation, and Leslie O’Neal, JAMS, Patricia Cowart, Assistant General Counsel, Wells Fargo, and Professor Melanie Cherdack, Miami University School of Law. Among the national and international leaders in the field who have spoken to our UF dispute resolution students are Mireze Philippe, former Special Counsel of the International Chamber of Commerce, Jerry Roscoe, JAMS, Serena Lee, Chairman and CEO, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR), Richard Hall, Global Co-Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, Cravath, Joseph M. Sellers, Founder and Co-chair Civil Rights and Employment Practice, Cohen Millstein, Richard Berry, Executive Vice President and Director, FINRA Dispute Resolution. Noah Hanft, former General Counsel, MasterCard, Allen Waxman, former General Counsel, Pfizer, Angela Valedon Romero, Vice President, American Arbitration Association, Jeffrey Kichaven, Kichaven ADR.

In 2020, University of Florida along with CPR and the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution hosted a virtual town hall on the topic of Prevention. Professor Johnsen organized a daylong event that brought over 200 registrants, this was an early exploration of techniques for reducing litigation for more business purpose among corporations. This was one of the earliest events in this growing area. Among the speakers at this event were Scott Partridge, former General Counsel of Bayer U.S. and Pilar Ramos, former General Counsel, Mastercard North America. In 2023, Professor Johnsen’s work in the area of Prevention was recognized by CPR with its Leadership in Dispute Prevention Award.

Under the leadership of the Institute’s current Director, Professor Joan Stearns Johnsen and Associate Director, Professor Donna Erez-Navot and with the support of alumni and students, the Institute continues to serve our students, alumni, and the community with original and state of the art content and training.

At UF Law we take students beyond the theoretical to the practical implementation of the most forward-thinking approach to dispute resolution. Ours is a practical approach. This approach to teaching is reinforced through the speakers we bring and also through opportunities that expose students to the dispute resolution they will find when they begin their practice. An approach that is valued by employers. The below list is just a sampling of the many opportunities available to UF Law students.

• The Florida ADR Team
• Mediation Clinic
• Semester in Practice
• Externship Program
• E-Discovery Project
• Trial Team