Christopher J. Webb, Esq.
Mediator, Arbitrator, Facilitator & Trainer - Alternative Dispute Resolution
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Law & Alternative Dispute Resolution Offices of Christopher J. Webb, J.D., PLC
Mediator, Arbitrator, Facilitator & Trainer - Alternative Dispute Resolution
Co-Founder & Co-Director, The Engineering Society of Detroit Institute, 2008 – Present; Attorney, Self-employed, 2002 – Present; Vice President & General Counsel, Jervis B. Webb Company, 1977 – 2002; Counselor at Law, Private Practice, 1975 – 1976.
Public Policy Dispute Resolution as Lead Facilitator, The UAW-GM Center for Human Resources (2014 – 2018); Co-Founder, The Engineering Society of Detroit Institute (2008 – 2014). Previously over 25 years as former officer and general counsel of a global organization resolving complex disputes arising under contract (commercial, construction, collections, liens, UCC, Miller Act, bankruptcy, governmental compliance, specifications, scheduling, changes, warranties, consequential/liquidated/punitive damages, bid protests, bonds, insurance, international transactions), tort (business torts, corporate raiding, fraud, derivative, fiduciary, officer/director liability, products liability, architect/engineer/accountant liability), intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, technology, research/development, teaming, confidentiality, non-compete, employment agreements) and applicable laws (plant closures, mass layoffs, WARN, grand juries, RICO, export control, customs, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and environmental contamination/compliance) relating to employees, vendors, suppliers, distributors, partnerships, joint ventures, consortiums, licensees, subcontractors, general contractors, unions, customers, insurers, sureties, shareholders, owners and governments serving the airline, airport, aluminum, automation, automotive, baggage, bonding, cargo, chemical weapons, coal, computer, construction, controls, conveyors, defense, distribution, durable goods, electrical, energy, finishing, food, foundry, hospital, insurance, irradiation, machinery, mail, manufacturing, material handling, medical, mining, national security, natural gas, paint, power generation, robotic, waste treatment, software and warehousing industries.
Served as a mediator in fifty seven complex civil matters, seven business torts, five banking, twenty nine collections, thirty four real estate, three governmental/community, five insurance, seven domestic, four contract, two employment, fifteen construction and three personal injury matters. The meditations have related to owners, general contractors, subcontractors, customers and suppliers, lenders and borrowers, buyers and sellers, management and union, competitors, partners, shareholders, employers and employees, insurers and insureds, sureties, governments and others in conflict.
Issued handled as a mediator have included: resolving complex domestic and international disputes arising under contract (commercial, construction, collections, liens, UCC, Miller Act, bankruptcy, governmental compliance, specifications, scheduling, changes, warranties, consequential/liquidated/punitive damages, bid protests, bonds, insurance, international transactions), tort (business torts, corporate raiding, fraud, derivative, fiduciary, officer/director liability, products liability, architect/engineer/accountant liabiilty), intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, technology, research/development, teaming, confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicitation and employment agreements) and applicable laws (plant closurers, mass layoffs, WARN, grand juries, RICO, export control, customs, Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, security requirements and environmental contamination/compliance) and public sector disputes (regional, local governmental, community and policy).
Subject to the agreement of the parties, I generally utilize a facilitative as opposed to an evaluative approach to mediation and follow the guidelines promulgated by the Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, Office of Dispute Resolution. I adhere to the applicable ethical codes of the American Arbitration Association and other professional organizations. <br/><br/>Successful mediation turns on the mediator's role as an active neutral in service to the parties in conflict. My preference is to utilize joint sessions and when needed caucuses with individual parties within the context of a confidential and creative process of problem solving for successful dispute resolution.
University of Colorado at Boulder (JD, with honors-1975); Yale University (BA, History, magna cum laude, phi beta kappa-1972).
Admitted to the Bar: Michigan (1977), Colorado (1975); U.S. District Court: District of Michigan, District of Colorado.
Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office Circuit Court; Oakland County Bar Association; Michigan State Sixth Circuit Court (Civil Early Intervention Conference Pilot Program); Michigan State Bar (ADR Section, Effective Practices and Procedures Task Force; Governing Council Member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section; Michigan Business Mediation Program, Past Chair); Defense Research Institute (ADR Database); Engineering Society of Detroit (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee); Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association (ADR Section, Founding and Executive Committee Member); American Inns of Court (Master); The Oakland Mediation Center (Trustee); Oakland County Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Chair); Michigan State University College of Law (ADR Advisory Board). Director, Detroit Bar Association.
PUBLICATIONS: Using ADR to Transform the World of Healthcare by Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD, The State Bar of Michigan ADR Quarterly, April 2012; Constructing the Future of Michigan with ADR by Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD. The ADR Quarterly, April 2012; Where is Michigan's Growth Strategy by Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD. Technology Century, Winter 2011-12; Constructing Michigan's Reinvention by Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD and Kristin Van Raaphorst, MPA/CED. Technology Century, Winter 2011-12; Michigan: Job Eliminator or Creator by David A. Skiven, PE, FESD and Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD.Technology Century, Fall 2011; Moving Detroit: ESDI Explores Challenges of a Global Freight Hub by David A. Skiven, PE, FESD and Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD. Technology Century, Summer 2011; The ESD Institute Focuses on Waste in Healthcare by David A. Skiven, PE, FESD and Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD. Technology Century, Spring 2011; 2013 Michigan State of the State Address by Christopher J. Webb. DBuisiness, November-December 2010; The Engineering Society of Detroit Institute in Action: It's All About the Bottom Line and Jobs by David A. Skiven, PE, FESD and Christopher J. Webb, JD, FESD. Technology Century, Fall 2010."Future Jobs & Investment: Michigan ADR Enterprise Courts," DETROIT LAWYER, Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, September 2008; co-author, "Confidentiality in Mediation: A Reality Test for the Process," ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION QUARTERLY, Michigan State Bar, http://www.michbar.org/adr/pdfs/April08.pdf, April 2008, OAKLAND COUNTY BAR JOURNAL, Laches, May 2008, and DETROIT LAWYER, June 2008; "Reality Testing in Business Mediations: Beyond a Legal Risk Analysis Model," ADR SECTION PUBLICATION, Michigan State Bar, http://www.michbar.org/adr/pdfs/April07.pdf), 2007; "Business Disputes: Litigation, Arbitration or Mediation?," OAKLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION JOURNAL, Laches, May 2007; "Greetings from Legal Land: A Satirical Writ," OAKLAND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION JOURNAL, Laches, May 2006; "Volunteerism in Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Draft White Paper Syllabus," ADR Section of the Michigan State Bar, 2006. <br/><br/>SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Faculty and contributor, Institute of Continuing Legal Education, University of Michigan School of Law et al., 2006 to present; keynote speaker, "Leadership Michigan: Advanced Negotiations Workshop," Engineering Society of Detroit, 2008; author and co-presenter, "Advanced Negotiations Workshop: Secrets to Successful Deal Making," Dispute Resolution Centers of Michigan, Inc., 2008; faculty, "The Perfect Storm: Triangle Negotiations of Owner, Prime and Subcontractor: A Hands-on Role Play Exercise," 7th Annual Advanced Negotiation & Dispute Resolution Institute, 2008; "Real-Time Construction Dispute Resolution through Standing Neutrals," Engineering Society of Detroit, 2008; "Arbitrate, Mediate or Litigate: Managing your Legal Risks & Expenses," Michigan State Supreme Court Administrative Office Approved Training Program, 2008; "Attorneys as Allies in Mediation," Michigan Council for Family & Divorce Mediation, Michigan State Court Administrative Office Approved, 2007; "Effects of Private and Voluntary Mediation," MCFDM Annual Meeting, Mediation Forum, 2007; Trainer, "Case Studies: Under $25,000 Case Evaluated Mediation Exercises" and "Advocates as Allies in Mediation" Exercises, Wayne Mediation Center, The Resolution Center (Macomb) & Oakland Mediation Center, Michigan State Court Administrative Office Approved, 2006; Instructor, "Introduction to Facilitative Mediation with Related Case Studies," City Year Detroit, 2006; Instructor, "Mediating Disputes within International Joint Ventures," Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 2006; Instructor, "Effective Advocacy Practices in Mediation," Michigan State University College of Law, 2005; Instructor, "Negotiation and the ADR Process," Wayne State University School of Law, 2004.
$325 Per Hour
English, French, Spanish
United States of America
Farmington Hills, MI
The AAA’s Rules provide the AAA with the authority to administer a mediation including, mediator appointment, general oversight and billing. Accordingly, mediations that proceed without AAA administration are not considered AAA mediations, even when the parties select an mediator who is on the AAA’s Roster.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
The information contained in this resume has been supplied solely by the individual mediator and may, or may not, be a complete recitation of their experience. The AAA assumes no responsibility for the content, completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the information contained in a mediator’s resume. If you have any questions about a mediator’s experience or background, you are encouraged to contact your case manager.
Mediators on the AAA Roster are not employees or agents of the AAA.
