September 4th from 6pm-8pm at ADR Services
This is a free event but donations are appreciated.
MEET OUR SPEAKERS:
S. Lucia Kanter St. Amour is an international mediator, attorney, law professor, negotiation expert, and the author of For the Forces of Good: The Superpower of Everyday Negotiation. Lucia has been in thousands of mediations and negotiations for 25+ years. As a VP Emerita of UN Women, she has also been a part of large (and small) organizations with complicated moving parts and human dynamics. Lucia understands how real people behave in real conflict situations— and the nuances of getting them to a deal.
Jill Kopeikin joins the Northern District of California as the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Director. In this high-profile position, she is responsible for the policy development, design, implementation, administration, oversight and evaluation of the court’s ADR program, including mediation, early neutral evaluation and the ADR Multi-Option Program.
Kopeikin works closely with the court’s judges, their staff, and the clerk’s office to ensure integration of ADR in the judges’ case management. Other duties include serving as a visible and accessible information source for judges, neutrals, litigants, attorneys, client groups, bar associations, judges and staff from state and other federal courts, academics, law school classes, researchers and foreign judges and court administrators.
An experienced neutral who has been providing ADR services for more than 25 years, Kopeikin has served as a neutral for the California State and Federal Courts, presiding over mandatory settlement conferences and day of court mediations in the California Superior Courts and serving on the mediation and early neutral evaluation panels for the Northern District of California. She has also served as the co-chair and a mediator for her community’s mediation program, and taught mediation theory and practice as an adjunct professor.
Kopeikin brings to her ADR practice a breadth of experience acquired as a lawyer in private practice, having handled a wide range of litigation and counseling matters. She has specific expertise in intellectual property matters, complex commercial business disputes and related employment matters, and has handled a broad range of professional liability, regulatory and investigation matters. Kopeikin has practiced in California State and Federal Courts, numerous other states, as well as multi-district litigation, arbitration and international tribunals. She has tried cases to verdict and handled matters on appeal.
Geri Green, Esq. is a full-time mediator and discovery referee. She has successfully mediated and presided over nearly 1,000 disputes in the areas of Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Business, Employment, Real Estate, Landlord-Tenant, Insurance Coverage, Civil Rights & Disability Rights, Police Misconduct, Probate, and Elder Abuse.
Ms. Green is described as a “true neutral” who zeroes in on the strengths and weaknesses of a case with surgical precision. Her straight-forward approach and open-minded pragmatism generates the trust necessary for litigants to entertain the possibility of resolution and arrive at solutions. She is known for settling impossible cases by connecting with litigants and “bringing them on board for the ride.”
Ms. Green’s approach to dispute resolution is shaped by her diverse background – as a litigator representing both plaintiffs and defendants, as general counsel, and her owner/management experience in the hospitality industry. Her commitment to the settlement process is demonstrated by her early immersion in a case and connection with counsel. She works closely with the parties to realistically assess risks and impediments to resolution. Her thorough preparation, exceptional listening skills, and judicious, evenhanded approach leads to creative solutions for intractable problems.
As a Settlement Officer for the Superior Courts of San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, and Contra Costa, Ms. Green has conducted settlement conferences in most areas of the law and gained a reputation as one of the most successful settlement officers serving the Bay Area.
Kaelyn J. Romey, J.D., LL.M. (MODERATOR) was formerly Senior Counsel with Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel (Small Business/ Self Employed Division). Experienced litigator skilled in tax controversy. Adept at developing effective tax audit strategies, and advising and counseling senior international audit teams. Prior to IRS, obtained broad experience in civil litigation, real estate transactions, and dispute settlement.
Joined academia as law faculty and Litigation Director to expand litigation course offerings and manage litigation center operations. Redeveloped and instructed in the nationally recognized “1st STEP” Honors Summer Trial Advocacy Training Program, while recruiting, training, and supervising a team of adjunct professors and coaches. Curated a technology litigation summit, and innovative curriculum for advanced litigation skills training, while regularly instructing for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) and Trial Advocacy and Consulting (TACT). Provided multiple nationwide trainings effectively conducting on-line proceedings, evidence basics, effective cross-examination, deposition skills, trial advocacy, and tax litigation.
Throughout tax career, was an active leader on committees and volunteer efforts for state and local bar associations. Former California State Bar Taxation Section Executive Committee member, held roles of Annual Meeting Speaker Chair, DC Delegation Chair, and Associate Articles Editor for the tax section’s quarterly law journal.
Currently serving as Co-chair of ABA litigation - Criminal Tax Sub-Committee, California State Bar Taxation Section Advisory Board, Queen’s Bench Education Committee, AALS Evidence Committee Treasurer, and AALS Women in Legal Education Committee Member.
