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GENERAL OVERVIEW
Lawyer, Mediator, Arbitrator and Facilitator – and a lot more. With over 40 years diversified experience in these fields, combine with a fascinating background handling transactional and litigation services. Beginning with commercial building loft conversions in the mid-1970s through residential buildings (standard and alternative construction modalities); residential and commercial construction (contract, defect and other disputes); real estate brokerage (broker/agent owner disputes) and related matters. Jerome brings grace and proven results to Conflict Resolution. His work as a creative problem-solver, seasoned financial investigator, author, and workshop leader make him a leader in the construction dispute community.
MEDIATION, ARBITRATION, AND FACILITATION SPECIALIST
Assisting businesses and individuals to resolve their conflicts and “get-on-with-their-business” is Jerome’s passion and motto.
Many courts can be years behind in holding trials. Mediation is the number modality for dispute resolution countrywide. Arbitration is required in more contracts than ever before. Recognizing that arbitration and mediation of disputes are now the way to “save the judicial system” and help we attorneys return to a position of community respect, Jerome transitioned to full-time service as an Arbitrator and Mediator.
Adept at maintaining his neutrality, Jerome is a full-time Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) specialist.
Perhaps more profound than Jerome’s own “Biography” is his “Industry Peer Recognition” – there are a small number of distinguished professional organizations/Administrators which actually first “investigate and certify” an Arbitrator or Mediator before honoring and inducting that person to Membership; where the policy is not “just to collect an annual fee and accept any applicant.) Such Organizations recognizing and inducting Jerome on the basis of his proven experience, skills and peer-reputation have included:
Believing that “those who can, and successfully “have”, owe a duty to share their experience and wisdom with others”, be they attorneys, Arbitrators, Mediators, business and government leaders or the public, Jerome’s industry leadership has included:
Jerome was twice been invited to present interactive workshop programs at the United Nations, highlighting dispute resolution concepts and tools. A United Nations publication essentially described his programs as “bringing techniques of peacemaking to those endeavoring to bring peace to the world.”
Jerome has presented numerous local, national and international programs (live, audio and webinar) for audiences that included ADR Professionals and Professors; “90+” Judges Pro Tem, attorneys and business industry leaders and associations.
By sharing his experiences, he strives to bring greater awareness about the great benefits of arbitration and mediation to save a disputant’s time, money and “grief’ – all of which can be avoided using ADR to resolve disputes. He has also found that the lawyer truly serving his client has the same goal, which is very much appreciated by the client.
Jerome continues his “industry sharing” as the author of journal articles and training programs for dispute resolution and other professionals.
CONSTRUCTION LAW AND APPLICATIONS
As an attorney Jerome previously represented, defended, counseled and litigated on “both sides” of matters involving contractors, subcontractors, developers, and inspectors involved in a diverse variety of construction specializations and disciplines. These have included “green” building, as well as traditional projects using standard methods of construction, and covered issues such as residential and commercial construction and inspection defects, and a broad variety of transactional and contractual matters, disputes and real estate issues.
He is also available to conduct group “partnering and pre-dispute” facilitations involving all parties, from owner/developer through sub-contractors, for specific construction and development projects.
Jerome’s professional studies have included various aspects of the construction trades. He has personally overseen the planning and construction of residential projects, from contract and budget creation and oversight to project design to construction management; and commercial projects including conversions and new construction.
REAL ESTATE LAW AND BROKERAGE SERVICES
As an attorney, Jerome’s real estate clients have been involved in commercial and residential transactions, land, hotels and resorts, a federal land exchange, construction and development, conversions of multi-story commercial buildings and large apartment complexes, Registrar of Contractor and administrative matters. He has represented real estate brokers and agents, architects, contractors, sub-contractors, and, on the “other side”, represented clients prosecuting claims against such professionals.
He has been certified as an Arbitrator and Mediator on the Arizona Association of Realtors Panels.
Jerome was first licensed as a real estate broker in New York State and since his relocation to Arizona, has held an Arizona Department of Real Estate license for 25 years, working both in commercial and residential fields. He holds the National Association of Realtors “GRI” certification (Graduate Realtor Institute) and has successfully completed two of the NAR’s “CCIM” training programs as well as teaching programs on Arbitration and Mediation to CCIM designees and at the Arizona School of Business and Real Estate. His real estate related training exceeds 900 hours specifically related to real estate, finance, contractor administration and materials, and related fields.
ATTORNEY AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSMAN
Following law school, Jerome served as a Special Agent of the U.S. Treasury Department (Financial Investigator) with assignments to the Department of Justice and Secret Service. This included his co-directing a year-long national project regarded as the largest of its kind in the country
Thereafter, as an attorney and legal counsel, Jerome advised a diverse clientele of individuals, small businesses, corporations (for profit and non-profits) in the United States, Canada, Europe, India and the middle and Far East; as well as a small number of government entities. He was legal counsel and Adviser to the Kingdom of Bhutan, two of its United Nations Ambassadors and members of its Royal Family.
Jerome’s “hands-on” experience building four international businesses of his own, as well as serving as legal counsel and Adviser to numerous others, gives him particular insight into commercial, transactional, contract and related matters which most attorneys have not experienced; especially as “Lead-Counsel.” Litigating matters as plaintiff and defense counsel in numerous U.S. District Courts (where some trials exceeded two months in length) and the highest State Courts in Arizona and New York have shown him that litigation is incredibly costly, time consuming and unrewarding – often also for the “apparent” winner.
BALANCED STRENGTH, EFFECTIVE PEACE
(ON THE PERSONAL SIDE)
In addition to his professional endeavors outlined above, Jerome brings an unusual “balance” to all his life’s endeavors. He is a teacher and student of the martial art Aikido, earning the rank of Third Degree (“Sandan”) Black Belt; internationally certified Teacher of Yoga; he also teaches Mindfulness and Meditation for attorneys, physicians, legal, medical and other professionals and leaders. Jerome is a horseman, hiker and kayaker. He has written and presented workshops on Conflict Resolution, Aikido Principles, “Defensive Living” ®, and stress reduction techniques. In 1986 he became “bi-coastal” maintaining his office in New York City and establishing himself personally and professionally in Arizona to marry his wife, Linda, an educator and teacher of “Critical Thinking” Skills.
EDUCATION AND LICENSES
