034: Career Pivot: From Litigator to Mediator with Jeff Kichaven

Lead Counsel

We're thrilled to have Jeff Kichaven, an acclaimed principal mediator with a wealth of knowledge and experience, guiding us through this journey into mediation. We discuss Jeff's impressive career trajectory, tracing his footsteps from a commercial litigator all the way to becoming a full-fledged mediator. Jeff's advice on transitioning from free to paid services is insightful for budding mediators.

We get into the integral role of mediation in conflict resolution. We toss around the benefits and drawbacks of voluntary and mandatory mediation with Jeff, who discusses the criticality of finding the right mediator. A major takeaway is that one should not solely rely on others' opinions about a mediator's style – as each case is unique. Jeff amplifies the importance of a mediator's authenticity, personality, and ability to set the stage for clients and lawyers to do their jobs effectively.

Finally, we navigate the uncharted territories of sincerity, artificial intelligence in mediation, and negotiation. Jeff highlights the significance of ascertaining genuine commitment from all parties involved in the mediation process. Jeff also unfolds his unconventional approach to negotiation, challenging the age-old zero-sum game mentality. With Jeff's unique perspective on negotiation and pearls of wisdom on expanding professional connections, this episode truly enriches the understanding of mediation and negotiation.

In this episode, you will hear about:

• In-depth exploration of the integral role of mediation in conflict resolution.

• The importance of authenticity, personality, and sincerity in a mediator and their role in creating a conducive environment for clients and lawyers.

• Exploration of the potential and limitations of artificial intelligence in mediation.

• A fresh perspective on negotiation, challenging the traditional zero-sum game mentality and discussing the potential for negotiation to raise professional standards.

• Practical advice for lawyers on selecting a mediator, emphasizing the need for direct communication and personal rapport over relying on others' opinions.

• The responsibilities of a client, lawyer, and mediator during the mediation process.

Resources from this Episode:

• TonaLaw: https://tonalaw.com/

• https://jeffkichaven.com/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkichaven/

• [e-mail]

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Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.