Frequently Asked Questions

As Karl likes to say, mediation is not just what we do on the day we get together.

These are some common questions we receive about how we do Online Mediation. If you don't find the answers you're looking for here, by all means, email or call Carolina for help. We'll be adding to this list as we can and look forward to making your experience with us as simple and easy as possible.

What is your approach to virtual conferences and hearings?

Video Conferencing

All video conferences and hearings are provided through Zoom. If you have not previously worked with Zoom, the application can be downloaded here.

Once the conference or hearing is scheduled, you will be provided with a link and calendar event for the Zoom meeting. When it is time for the meeting, simply click the link and you will join the session. You will first be placed in a virtual waiting room. While you are in the waiting room, ensure that you your video in Zoom is turned on and that your microphone is not muted. Once all the participants have arrived, Karl will start the meeting.

Virtual Signatures

Virtual document signatures are handled through the JAMS digital platform. The documents can be securely sent to the people who need to sign it. This can be the parties or a decision-maker. Stipulations, orders, and agreements can all be quickly and securing signed virtually.

Distributing Documents

Transferring documents and exhibits is a vital part of any hearing or conference. Secure digital document transfer is managed through the JAMS digital platform.

Marking Exhibits

Exhibits should be marked in advance of a virtual hearing. Digital exhibit stickers can be applied to your documents using the JAMS document management platform.

Court Reporters

Many court reporters have begun to use Zoom. We can integrate a court reporter into any virtual hearing or conference as necessary.

Closed Captioning & Translation

We support automatic and simultaneous closed captioning or translation for any meeting on Zoom.

Technical Issues

If you run into any technical difficulties, Carolina is available to help and can be reached by phone or email. If you do not have access to any of the required technology, please reach out and we can help accommodate you.

How do you ensure the security and confidentiality of the Online Mediation?

Maintaining the confidentiality and security of our platform is our priority. We have developed procedures to ensure that our Zoom conference meetings remain private and secure:

• All Zoom conference meetings require a password and passwords are not distributed until shortly before the meeting.

• We utilize Zoom’s waiting room feature which allows Karl to control who enters the meeting.

• Once all parties have joined a meeting Karl will lock the meeting which ensures that no one else can join the meeting.

• Recording is disabled unless the parties request a Online Mediation to be recorded. If a recording is requested, all parties must consent to the recording in Zoom before the recording will begin. Recordings are saved locally rather than in the cloud to further protect the security of the recording.

What types of cases does Karl mediate?

• business disputes
• construction disputes
• intellectual property disputes
• commercial real estate disputes
• complex divorces
• high tech disputes
• environmental and land-use disputes
• and much more...

Actually, it's easier to say what kinds of disputes Karl doesn't do than to list all the kinds of disputes he's worked with.

Being involved with thousands of cases over 30 years, Karl has worked on essentially every kind of lawsuit known to mankind. At this point, he's interested in helping with almost any kind of dispute - as long as everyone's willing to work hard to bring about a wise and efficient resolution.

What information will you need from me to reserve a date?

To reserve a date once the date has been confirmed for you, we need your name and contact information, the case style, including all the attorneys' contact information, the names of the parties involved in the case, and whether you're reserving for a half-day session or a full- or multiple-day session. We also need to know where the attorneys want to work and what time they want to start the mediation.

You can submit this information by emailing it directly to Carolina El'Azar. (She loves email!)

Can you send me a W-9?

We’re happy to email a copy to you if you email Carolina El'Azar to request one and let her know where to send it.