October 2025
Retirement Annoucement
Dear colleagues and friends,
To everything there is a season, and it is time for me to retire. After 45 years in private practice and as a neutral at Stohler ADR PLLC, I am retiring and will no longer accept any cases that will not conclude by January 31, 2026. I have notified the tribunals and panels with whom I work. Of course, I will complete all current matters and will be available to follow up on issues that arise from recent Mediations. I will maintain records as agreed in the engagement letters and as required by the policies of the relevant Arbitration and Mediation tribunals and panels. I am willing to provide recommendations and suggestions on other neutrals and counsel as I always have done.
In reflecting on this decision, I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to have had such a fulfilling and satisfying career – both my long tenure at Carmody, and more recently, my terrific five year run as a neutral at Stohler ADR. Thank you to all who have supported me, assisted me when I needed it, and challenged me legally and personally to be the best I could be. I am especially appreciative of the counsel I received from so many of you to focus on what really matters.
So now what really matters is to focus on enjoying new adventures with my wife and family and to giving to the community. We will continue to live in Park City, Utah but will be in Connecticut, Massachusetts and the East often. Please keep in touch.
With gratitude,
D. Charles Stohler
About Stohler ADR
After more than 40 years of practice as a Labor and Employment lawyer and Senior Human Resources professional, Chuck Stohler has established STOHLER ADR PLLC. Over the past 20 years, Chuck’s practice has transformed to a full time neutral. This resulted from him being asked by the courts and employee and employer lawyers to serve as a Mediator, Arbitrator, Fact Finder, Investigator and Special Master. These assignments have deepened Chuck’s experience in Labor and Employment law as well as highlighted his personality, which makes him well suited to work as a neutral – professionally, calmly, efficiently and fairly. These successful assignments have allowed Chuck to establish STOHLER ADR PLLC to provide quality ADR services in New England, New York and across the country. In the four years since starting Stohler ADR PLLC, the practice has expanded nationally, particularly in California, Texas and Colorado. Chuck now operates from a second location in Utah. The prevalence of virtual proceedings has allowed this geographic expansion because proceedings can be held efficiently and cost effectively regardless of the locations of the participants.
STOHLER ADR continues Chuck’s services in private and court-ordered Mediations, Arbitrations, Investigations, Early Case Evaluations and other forms of dispute resolution in all types of Labor and Employment and commercial disputes including wage hour individual and collective actions, independent contractor claims, discrimination, Title IX and education issues, contract issues, common law actions, executive compensation, ERISA/employee benefits, non-competes, severance disputes and traditional Labor Relations contract and grievance matters.
Chuck has had significant experience in resolving nationwide class actions as a Mediator and a Special Master. He regularly serves as an Arbitrator in cases with multiple claimants, particularly in state wage-hour and FLSA collective and class actions disputes. Chuck’s experience in traditional Labor Relations matters allows him to serve as a Labor Arbitrator in grievance arbitrations as well as in the Mediation of collective bargaining contract disputes and related issues.
With the transformation to virtual proceedings, Chuck’s practice has become increasingly national in scope. He regularly handles Mediations and Arbitrations throughout the U.S., particularly in Massachusetts and California. Most of the Mediations have been class or collective actions, several with significant California state 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. See Mediation section.
STOHLER ADR PLLC has the systems in place to provide seamless services, structure and cost-effective administrative support for all types of ADR proceedings. Chuck is prepared to do in person proceedings, but has held more than 300 Mediation and Arbitration proceedings in the online virtual environment using the Zoom platform. Often cost and travel considerations dictate the best platform for the proceeding, and Chuck prefers the virtual platform. He is typically more available for virtual proceedings.
About Chuck Stohler
For more than 30 years, Chuck Stohler was the lead partner in Carmody Torrance Sandak and Hennessey’s Labor and Employment practice. Chambers USA calls him “an excellent lawyer,” “creative, strategic and conscientious,” “a veteran of employment law who knows the subject matter inside out” and as having “a wealth of HR experience, giving him valuable insight into the problems and opportunities of employment and labor law.” His practical, common sense approach with clients distinguished Chuck as a private lawyer and continues to do so as a neutral.
Chuck’s overall employment law experience spans more than 40 years, including several stints as a Senior HR professional. Chuck represented clients in virtually every aspect of employment law as well as traditional labor relations matters. He has appeared before the U.S. Departments of Labor, numerous state DOLs, the EEOC, the NLRB, the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the New York Division of Human Rights and other state FEP agencies, other administrative employment and education bodies and state and federal courts.
At the request of employee and employer lawyers, private and public institutions, and the courts, Chuck’s practice has focused on alternative dispute resolution. He serves as a neutral in mediations, arbitrations, fact findings, and investigations. In particular, he has mediated numerous national and regional-large class and collective action wage-hour matters.
ADR Experience
Experience
- Mediated employment disputes, including FLSA and wage-hour individual and collective actions, independent contractor claims, discrimination, Title IX education and discrimination, common law tort and contract actions, executive compensation, ERISA, PAGA, employment contract, non-compete and severance disputes.
- Arbitrated traditional labor and employment, compensation and benefits disputes, C-suite contract issues, discrimination, non-competes, ERISA claims, independent contractor, and wage-hour disputes.
- Conducted high-level Fact-Findings and investigations for Fortune 50 and regional companies and financial institutions nationwide. Investigations have involved C-Suite executives relating to discrimination, harassment, Equal Pay Act issues, contract claims, whistleblower and employee violence.
- Conducted investigations for private and public Boards of Education and private schools and universities.
- Conducted high-profile investigations of race, discrimination and harassment charges made against municipal police and other departments, health care institutions and universities.
- Mediated collective bargaining contract disputes.
- Arbitrated grievance arbitrations and employee benefits disputes, including with Taft-Hartley plans.
- Experienced in E-Discovery disputes, health law, franchise issues, and financial industry executive compensation and contract matters.
- Experienced in Commercial disputes, such as franchise revocations and consumer issues. Has handled community issues.
ADR Highlights
ADR Highlights
Since 2005, Chuck has served as a Neutral Mediator, Arbitrator, Special Master, Investigator, and Factfinder:
- Mediator in more than 400 Mediations, many multi-party and class actions.
- Significant Class and Collective Action experience under the FLSA and state wage hour laws as well as Title VII. Handled more than 100 class actions with class sizes up to 30,000 members and settlements as high as approximately $30 Million.
- Served as Arbitrator in more than 200 Arbitrations, approximately 30 Mass Claims. Served as Settlement Arbitrator in case involving more than 140 individual arbitration claimants.
- Appointed by federal court as Special Master in multi-state wage-hour damages class action.
- Handled all types of wage-hour matters under the FLSA and state laws including minimum wage, overtime, commissions, bonuses, misclassification, independent contractor, off-the-clock, preliminary and postliminary work, wage theft, tip credit, Motor Carrier Exemption, Long Haul trucker regulations, and exotic dancers.
- Other employment matters include: Executive Compensation and benefits, ERISA, Family & Medical Leave Act; discrimination (age, sex, race, national origin, disability, religion, sexual orientation); statutory and common law claims (contract and torts such as wrong discharge, defamation, emotional distress, free speech, privacy; retaliation actions (including workers’ compensation and whistleblower); California Private Attorney General Actions (“PAGA”).
- Mediated Title IX discrimination and assault cases. Conducted large neutral investigation of Title IX and discrimination issues for national university.
- Arbitrated (and participated as advocate) in more than 200 Labor Arbitrations on just cause discharge and work rule disputes in private and public sector settings.
- Participant as advocate in 150 Mediation sessions, 200 Arbitrations, including more than 150 Labor Grievance Arbitrations.
- American Arbitration Association 40-hour Essential Mediation Skills course; AAA Arbitrator courses approximately twice per year.
- American Arbitration Association Labor Arbitrator I and II course
- Panelist and speaker at numerous seminars on Mediation of Wage-Hour Class Actions and on Arbitration issues.
- Attendance at annual ABA ADR Conferences. ABA and CPR training on Virtual Mediations.
- Have handled approximately 200 Virtual Mediations and 30 Virtual Arbitrations.
Industries and Institutions Served
Industries and Institutions Served
- Health Care, Physician Disputes and Home Health Care
- Financial Services
- Nationwide Long-Haul Trucking
- National Retailers and Grocers
- Restaurants
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Insurance
- Higher Education
- Education – Public and Private Schools
- Municipalities
- Corrections
- Distribution and Logistics
- Financial Services
- Telecommunications
- Auto Dealers
- Furniture Stores
- Exotic Dancer Clubs
- Information technology
- Cleaning
- Construction
- Limousine and Transportation
- Gig Economy
- Moving
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training and Presentations
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training and Presentations
- ABA Mediating Employee Benefit Cases 2024
- ABA Arbitration Committee Presentation 2024
- CPR How to Interrupt Your Unconscious Biases 2024
- AAA Disclosures are Your Best Friend 2023
- ABA Advanced Mediation and Advocacy Institute 2023
- AAA Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act 2023
- AAA Multiple Case Filings (Mass Arbitrations) 2023
- AAA Pro Se Parties in Employment Cases 2023
- AAA Arbitration of Withdrawal Liability Disputes 2023
- AAA Employment Arbitration Update 2023
- AAA Panelist Safety and Security 2023
- CBA The Arbitration Pre-hearing Conference 2023
- CBA The Essentials of Federal Practice 2023
- AAA Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators
- AAA Pro se: Managing Cases with Self-Represented Parties
- CPR Cyber Training for Neutrals
- CPR Employment-Related Mass Claims Protocol
- ABA ADR Section – Considerations for Drafting an Enforceable Reasoned Award
- National Academy of Arbitrators “What would you do” monthly sessions,
- AAA Labor Arbitrator I and II Workshop
- CPR Imperfect Impartiality: How Neutrals Can Combat Implicit Bias
- AAA Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are?
- CPR Cybersecurity Series
- CPR Employment Arbitrator Pathways Program
- AAA Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility
- AAA Adoption of Initial Employment and FLSA Discovery Protocols
- AAA Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know
- AAA Advanced Mediator Training Series: Managing the Dynamics of a Multi-Party Case
- ABA Annual Dispute Resolution Spring Conferences
- CBA The Anatomy of Class Action
- Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor- Meeting Participant Expectations
- AAA Exercising Arbitrator Discretion: A Look at Some Best Practices
- CBA The Arbitration Pre-Hearing Conference
- ABA Webinar, What I Wish My Mediators Knew
- Panelist, American Conference Institute, National Forum on Wage-Hour Claims and Class Actions
- AAA Protecting Your Award from Appellate Challenge
- ABA Webinar, Mediation FAQ: Top Five Questions Answered
- ABA Advanced Mediation Institute, Atlanta, GA
- AAA Avoiding Ten Common Missteps Arbitrators Make
- AAA Essential Mediation Skills for the New Mediator
- CBA Presentation on Effective Mediations
- AAA Webinar, How to Become a More Innovative Neutral or Advocate: Applying Cutting Edge Innovation Management Techniques to Your ADR Practice
- ABA Seminar, Overview and Current Trends in Mediation and Arbitration
- AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards
- CBA Mediation Training
- National Business Institute, Mediation: A Valuable Tool for Litigators
- AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure
- AAA Employment Arbitrator II: Advanced Case Management Issues
- AAA Arbitrator I Training-Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process
- Harvard/MIT, The Program on Negotiations
Recognition
Recognition
- Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Employment Law and ADR, 2020-2024.
- Appointed as a Special Master by Connecticut federal court Judge Janet B. Arterton in a nationwide wage and hour class and collective action case pending in Connecticut.
- Highlighted in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for placing in the Top Tier of Lawyers in Connecticut.
- Highlighted as a Band 1 labor and employment attorney in Chambers USA, 2010-2023; Noted as “creative, strategic and conscientious,” “a veteran of employment law, who knows the subject matter inside out” and as having “a wealth of HR experience, giving him a valuable insight into the problems and opportunities of employment and labor law.”
- Selected for inclusion in Benchmark as Benchmark Litigation Star 2023.
- Selected for inclusion in New England Super Lawyers® in the area of Employment & Labor Law, 2007 – 2024.
- Selected for inclusion in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Employment & Labor Law and ADR, 2006 – 2024.
- Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell © Peer Review Ratings.
- James W. Cooper Life Fellow, Connecticut Bar Foundation.
- Phi Beta Kappa.
Affiliations
Affiliations
- American Arbitration Association Panel of Employment Arbitrators, Member since 2006
- American Arbitration Association Panel of Commercial Arbitrators, Member since 2006
- American Arbitration Association Panel of Employment Mediators, Member since 2013
- American Arbitration Association Panel of Labor Arbitrators since 2021
- American Arbitration Association Panel of Consumer Arbitrators since 2021
- International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) Panelist: Employment, E-Discovery, and Financial since 2020
- The Labor Relations Connection Panel of Arbitrators since 2021
- American Dispute Resolution Center Labor of Employment and Commercial panelist since 2010
- National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) Panelist since 2024
- Member American, Connecticut and New York Bar Associations, Labor and Employment and ADR Sections
- Admitted to the Bar: Pennsylvania; Connecticut; New York
- U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania; District of Connecticut
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Prior Employment and Education
Prior Employment and Education
- Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP, 1988-2020
- Director of Personnel Administration/Executive Assistant to President, Otis Elevator Co., 1984-1988
- Attorney, Robinson & Cole, 1982-1984
- Attorney, Tryon, Friedman & Espenshade, 1981-1982
- Muhlenberg College A.B., summa cum laude
- Duke University School of Law
Community
Community
- Board Member, Community Mediation, Inc. (former)
- Moderator, Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Hartford, Connecticut (former)
- Board Member, National Conference on Community and Justice, Connecticut/Western Massachusetts (former)