With more than four decades of experience as a full-time arbitrator and mediator, Marty Scheinman is a widely respected leader in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Since 1979, he has served as the permanent arbitrator for hundreds of collective bargaining agreements across diverse sectors, including healthcare, baseball, and hockey. Mediation accounts for more than half of his practice, covering labor-management, employment, business, and consumer matters. In addition to his professional contributions, Marty serves on the Board of Trustees at Cornell University and the Board of Directors of the American Arbitration Association® (AAA®). Together with his wife, Laurie Scheinman, he established the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell’s ILR School, helping to shape the next generation of dispute resolution professionals.
In a recent conversation, Marty shared reflections on his career journey, the shifting landscape of ADR, and his perspective on the future of the field. Here's what he shared with us.
Q: Can you tell us about your professional background—what led you to mediation, and what areas of law or types of disputes you’ve worked with most frequently?
Marty: Since my time in college and law school, I have been deeply interested in ADR. I began mediating labor-management disputes in both the private and public sectors in 1974.
Currently, I serve as the permanent Impartial Chairman in several industries—including hospitals, nursing homes, newspapers, and education—where my role encompasses both mediation and arbitration. On a daily basis, I mediate employment and labor-management disputes across the United States. In addition, I mediate business-to-business, business-to-consumer, and high-profile cases in the entertainment, sports, and finance sectors. Many of my cases involve sensitive issues such as sexual harassment, racial discrimination and wage and hour disputes.
Q: What inspired you to become a mediator, and how did you come to join the AAA’s mediation panel?
Marty: I was drawn to mediation because I have always believed that the best outcomes are those crafted by the parties themselves, rather than imposed by an arbitrator or judge. From an early age, I was the person others turned to for help in finding common ground. I sought membership on the AAA mediation panel for the opportunity to work on the most complex matters alongside the most skilled advocates. These cases often involve multiple parties, span diverse geographic regions, and address some of society’s most pressing issues. The elite panel assembled by the AAA attracts sophisticated parties who rely on its neutrals to resolve their most challenging and intricate disputes.
Q: What do you find most meaningful or rewarding about your work as a mediator with the AAA?
Marty: I believe that conflict is not a failure of a relationship, but rather an inherent part of any relationship. Serving as a peacemaker—especially when parties are at a deep impasse and convinced there is no hope for a workable solution—is one of the most fulfilling experiences a professional can have. Witnessing individuals entangled in some of the most challenging problems they may ever face find relief and resolution is deeply rewarding. Even after fifty years, the exhilaration of helping to resolve the most complex disputes brought to the AAA continues to keep me engaged and optimistic.
Q: How do your previous experiences in legal practice, public service, or another area inform your approach to facilitating resolution between parties?
Marty: My service on nonprofit boards and frequent interactions with political leaders have given me valuable perspective on how to guide parties toward resolution. Engaging with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences offers opportunities for insight and creativity—both essential qualities of an effective mediator.
Q: What advice would you offer to parties or their counsel to help them prepare effectively for mediation?
Marty: While it is, of course, essential to be well-prepared and provide the mediator with sufficient information to understand the dispute and help craft a path to resolution, the most critical aspect of preparation is arriving ready to share with the mediator information that has not been disclosed or signaled to the other side. Understanding that conversations with the mediator are confidential—and clearly explaining this to the client—is a key responsibility of counsel. The mediation process relies on a high level of trust, and the most successful participants recognize that openly sharing their true needs, motivations and even the weaknesses in their case significantly increases the likelihood of reaching a satisfying outcome.
Resume
For more information on Marty Scheinman’s professional background, view his resume.