Lori Adelson

Lori Adelson is one of South Florida’s premier mediators handling cases such as, labor and employment, workplace conflicts, business, contracts, civil rights, ADA, commercial, construction, HOA, property, and consumer disputes. She has an extensive background serving as litigation counsel with substantial transactional employment, business, commercial, and contract experience, and is experienced in class action and multi-party disputes.

Ms. Adelson practiced law at a large New York firm before relocating to Florida. Ms. Adelson is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received her JD from Hofstra University Law School. With more than 20 years of successfully litigating employment, civil rights, labor, and business issues, Ms. Adelson, owner of APPROVED DISPUTE RESOLUTION, brings her vast experience and skills to her mediation practice. Ms. Adelson is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Circuit, County, Appellate, and Federal Court Certified mediator, Florida Supreme Court Qualified, AAA panel arbitrator and mediator, and neutral fact-finder in the areas of labor, employment, workplace, disability, human resources, consumer, HOA, civil rights, public sector, business, and contract disputes.

Well-versed in the concerns of both plaintiffs and defendants, Ms. Adelson is especially effective with hostile and litigious parties because of her more than 20 years of litigation and trial experience as a lawyer handling employment law, discrimination, civil rights, labor law, and business dispute cases. She is known for her creative thinking, attention to detail, thoughtful approach to emotion-laden disputes, and demeanor conducive to settlement, and has a proven track record of negotiating and resolving these types of cases.

It is Ms. Adelson’s mission to help people engage constructively in all phases of the conflict process and navigate conflict successfully, through mediation, arbitration, and other alternative dispute resolution processes. Ms. Adelson’s mediations take place in a variety of contexts, from pre-litigation to pending litigations at the inception of suit, just prior to or after a dispositive motion, on the eve of trial or pending post-trial motions or while on appeal, as well as pursuant to pre-dispute contractual mediation/arbitration agreements.

Ms. Adelson is available virtually and in-person for all of your dispute resolution needs.

• J.D., Hofstra University Maurice A. Dean School of Law School
• B.A., University of Michigan, 
• Certified, Florida Supreme Court Civil Circuit Certified Mediator
• Certified, Florida Supreme County Certified Mediator
• Certified, Florida Supreme Court Appellate Certified Mediator
• Qualified, Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator
• Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Southern District of Florida
• Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle District of Florida
• AAA Panel Arbitrator and Mediator
• Elder Care Mediation Certification

                                                  

• The Florida Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section - Executive Council, Federal Practice Committee, and Labor & Employment Section Member
• Federal Bar Association, Broward County, Board of Directors, and National Federal Bar Association, Division Treasurer, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• American Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
• Broward County Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor & Employment, and Small Solo Section Member
• Broward County Women's Lawyers 
• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• The Florida Circuit-Civil Mediator Society, A Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
• Association for Conflict Resolution, Florida Chapter
• The Academy of Court-Appointed Neutrals
• Association of South Florida Mediators and Arbitrators (ASFMA)
• National Association of Mediators (NAM)
• International Council for Online Dispute Resolution (ICODR)
• Florida Academy of Professional Mediators (FAPM)
• American Lung Association of South Florida, Board of Directors
• University of Michigan Alumni Association
• Hofstra Law Alumni Association

Mediation Rates: 2024
– 2 Party Case: $580 per hour
– 3 Party or More Case: $620 per hour

The hourly fee is split equally by each party (e.g., $580/2=$290/party) unless otherwise agreed or as may be subject to Court order.  Hourly rate includes preparation time, mediation time, and travel time and expenses if applicable. $175/party conference room booking fee for in-person mediations scheduled at the Mediator's office.  

Minimum Fees:
– Half Day – 2 hours
– Full Day –  4 hours

The mediation fee is calculated based on your Mediator’s hourly billing rate as detailed above including any pre-mediation preparation time and post-mediation follow-up time spent on the matter. Note: we do not charge any administrative, scheduling, or rescheduling fees. In exchange, we ask that you please respect our time and the cancellation policy below. Travel fees and costs apply to in-person proceedings scheduled outside of Broward County. 

Please be advised we will not hold dates for more than (2) business days. The date will be released if a confirmation is not provided within the allotted time frame. 

 MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If the mediation is canceled or rescheduled less than 2 business days (Monday – Friday) prior to the scheduled session, each party will be billed for their portion of the minimum fee. Note: it is your responsibility to notify us of a schedule change or cancellation; you should not rely on another party to do so. Please keep in mind our cancellation policy is meant to fairly compensate your Mediator for reserving the time scheduled for this mediation, which typically cannot be filled in less than 2 business days.