ADR Services

MEDIATION

Since approximately 2010, Chuck Stohler has served as a private Mediator at the request of the parties in more than 300 Mediations. He has been a member of the American Arbitration Association panel since 2013. He joined the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) Panel of Mediators in 2020. He regularly writes and speaks on Mediation topics.

With the wide acceptance of virtual proceedings, Chuck’s practice has become increasingly national in scope.  He regularly handles Mediations and Arbitrations throughout the U.S., particularly in Massachusetts, California and Texas.  Most of the Mediations have been class or collective actions, and he has significant experience with California wage hour and employment law issues, notably including the California Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).  These cases have resulted in settlements involving large classes and multi-million dollar agreements.
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ARBITRATION

Since approximately 2005, Chuck Stohler has served as a private Arbitrator at the request of the parties.  He has been a member of the American Arbitration Association Employment and Commercial panels since 2006. He joined the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) Employment, Financial and E-Discovery panels in 2020.  In 2021, he was named to the Labor panel for The Labor Relations Connection serving most of New England.  He has been on the Labor, Employment, and Commercial panels at the American Dispute Resolution Center since 2010. Including his experience as an advocate, he has participated in more than 400 arbitrations. He regularly provides and attends training on the most up-to-date procedures and theories in arbitration. He has done more than 40 virtual arbitrations, including proceedings with more than 500 exhibits and transcripts of more than 3,000 pages. Please see details in the Arbitration section.

Chuck also has participated in specialized arbitrations such as High-Low arbitrations or “Baseball” arbitrations.
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FACT-FINDING AND INVESTIGATIONS

Chuck has performed investigations or neutral fact-finding services for public and private entities, including universities, health care institutions and financial organizations. Examples include investigation of Board members and C-Suite and other executives for alleged harassment, discrimination, retaliation, bullying, theft, and similar wrongdoings. Sometimes the proceedings are formal and require structured fact-finding hearings or proceedings.

EARLY CASE EVALUATION, MEDIATION or MED-ARB

At the request of parties, Chuck has done early case evaluations, in effect blending the fact-finding analysis role with the evaluative role of an arbitrator. Depending on the circumstances and the parties’ agreement, this role can be incorporated into a mediation setting. Under clearly articulated and defined circumstances, Chuck will serve in the Med-Arb context; that is, acting as a Mediator, but issuing a binding decision.

Often Chuck conducts Mediations before pleadings are filed.

SPECIAL MASTER

In 2019, Chuck was appointed as a Special Master by a Connecticut Federal Court Judge to oversee the damages in a multi-state FLSA and state court class and collective action. This process took more than six months and resulted in two Reports and Recommendations which were adopted by the court. The damages involved more than a thousand participants and exceeded $18 million.

INFORMAL EARLY INTERVENTION – PRE-LITIGATION

Chuck is available to consult with parties when a dispute is brewing. Often such early intervention can be beneficial to all parties in terms of confidentiality and avoiding publicity while resolving critical issues discreetly and quickly.