The Power of Collaboration: Rethinking Joint Sessions in Mediation

Stephen H. Sulmeyer, J.D., Ph.D., joined JAMS in 2019 as a full-time neutral after 20 years as a mediator in private practice. With a dual background as a commercial and intellectual property litigator as well as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Sulmeyer specializes in the settlement of disputes involving professional and intimate relationships (such as family law, probate and estate planning, elder law, closely-held and family businesses, workplace/employment, sexual harassment and partnership disputes), disputes involving high levels of conflict and emotion (such as professional liability, personal injury, partnership dissolutions, and family law), as well as commercial and business disputes.  As a mediator he brings a high level of sensitivity and empathic skills that are particularly useful in cases involving party vulnerability (such as sexual harassment, discrimination and personal injury matters).  His skill at working with the human issues that drive disputes has earned him a reputation for resolving the most challenging high-conflict and high-emotion cases. 

Dr. Sulmeyer’s approach to dispute resolution focuses on understanding as thoroughly as possible the parties’ material and non-material interests, as well as their financial and legal positions—hence his commitment to thorough and diligent pre-mediation preparation. His ability to listen empathically, think analytically and communicate clearly allows parties and counsel to feel genuinely heard and understood, and ripens negotiations for creative and pragmatic problem-solving. His combination of tenacity, legal acumen and amiable practicality contributes to his high rate of settlement.

In addition to his mediation and arbitration practices, Dr. Sulmeyer is highly sought after as a speaker and trainer of dispute resolution, nationally and internationally. He is also the founder and former president of Integrative Mediation Bay Area, an organization that brings together psychotherapist, financial industry and attorney co-mediators in family law and other cases. Mr. Sulmeyer is the co-founder (with Judge Verna Adams) of the Marin County Superior Court’s Interdisciplinary Settlement Conference program, in which mental health professionals and lawyers trained in dispute resolution team up to assist judges to resolve the most intractable child custody, probate and other civil cases. 

Stacy L. La Scala, Esq. is a highly regarded mediator who has resolved a wide array of disputes, including construction, insurance, business/commercial, and professional liability matters. Mr. La Scala’s construction and insurance practice includes a wide variety of essentially every type of commercial, industrial, public works and residential matter.

Prior to becoming a mediator, Mr. La Scala handled complex, multi-party litigation involving construction, construction defect, insurance coverage, commercial, and contract disputes. As part of his background, Mr. La Scala was also a regional director and national litigation director for a large national property casualty insurer.

Mr. La Scala is known for his dedicated and creative approach to every matter. He is skilled in managing difficult personalities, and transforms highly emotional and complex disputes into opportunities for settlement.

Mr. La Scala is also an accomplished author and lecturer. In addition to many articles, he is co-author of Thomson Reuters’ treatise California Civil Practice: Torts, 2013-2022 editions. Further, Stacy has mediated matters in numerous jurisdictions, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, Texas, and Florida.

In addition to Mr. La Scala’s busy mediation practice, he is also an Appellate Neutral for the Pacific Gas & Electric Fire Victims Trust (2015 Butte, 2017 North Bay and 2018 Camp Wildfires) and Arbitrator for the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU), which oversees the nationwide anti-doping regulations for Thoroughbred horse racing.