Title: Mediator, Arbitrator, and Court-Appointed-Neutral
Company: JAMS Inc.
Location: Washington DC, United States
Michael K. Lewis, Esq, mediator, arbitrator, and court-appointed neutral at JAMS Inc., has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in legal services.
With over five decades of experience to his credit, Mr. Lewis has dedicated his time to the field of legal services, specializing in commercial mediation and arbitration, and employment and environmental cases. He currently serves as a Mediator, Arbitrator, Special Master, and Court-Appointed Neutral, at JAMS Inc., a role he has held since 2004. Prior to this, he was the owner of the Dispute Resolution Firm from 1994 to 2004, worked with the National Institute for Dispute Resolution from 1990 to 1994, and was an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center from 1983 to 2007. Additionally, he served with the United States Foreign Service for five years.
Laying a solid foundation for his future success, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from Dartmouth College, followed by a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in 1975. He went on to serve his community as a board member of the Atlas Performing Arts Center, the Autism Science Foundation, and the Consensus Building Institute, as well as serving on the steering committee of the Divided Community Project. He is also a member of the section on dispute resolution with the American Bar Association.
Reflecting on his career path, Mr. Lewis recalls that after serving in the United States Foreign Service for five years, he wanted a change, which led him to pursue a career in law. While in law school, he worked for a non-profit that was experimenting with the use of mediation and arbitration, one of the earliest to do so in the US. He joined a small law firm after completing law school, where he found his passion for mediation. His most notable achievement was being the mediator for a nationwide class action mediation filed by Black farmers against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which took over a year and involved a substantial amount of people.
Additionally, Mr. Lewis has been recognized for his contributions to dispute resolution and alternative dispute resolution. He was featured on a television show by the American Law Institute and the ABA, and appeared in several instructional videotapes. In 2012, he received the prestigious D’Alemberte/Raven Award from the ABA’s Dispute Resolution Section. Additionally, in 2001, he was honored with the Outstanding Achievement for ADR Education/Training award from the American College of Civil Trial Mediators.
Mr. Lewis attributes his success as a mediator to having the commitment to help both parties figure out a way of resolving a matter without making it about himself. In the coming years, he aims to continue to hone his craft as a mediator and support his clients. Additionally, outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys photography, playing guitar, and riding a tandem bike with his wife. In offering advice to aspiring professionals, he says to focus on continuing education and take training courses, emphasizing that there are many pro bono opportunities where you can get experience and get your feet firmly on the ground. He also emphasizes trying to build a practice by reaching out to people and creating a positive and respectful reputation that will lead you to success in the field.
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