Deal or No Deal? Mediation, Arbitration & Settlement Conference Strategies

With most lawsuits ending in settlement rather than trial, mastery of alternative dispute resolution has become a crucial component of every litigator’s skill set. After all, clients ultimately look to their counsel for clear, candid recommendations that help them answer one decisive question: deal or no deal?

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for an informative discussion regarding strategies for successfully resolving lawsuits at mediations, settlement conferences, and arbitrations. Drawing on the perspectives of federal judges, seasoned advocates, in-house counsel, and a leading ADR professional, this program will help attendees translate strategy into action as the panelists cover topics such as mediator selection, persuasive written submissions, and efficient arbitration hearing practices.

Esteemed panelists include former Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot, Judge John F. Kness, Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim, Cassie Lively, and Elizabeth Barton. Precious Jacob-Perry will serve as the moderator. The program is sponsored by Jenner & Block LLP, and lunch will be provided*. Attendees will receive 1 hour of Illinois CLE credit (pending approval).

*The event itself is complimentary. Your registration fee covers marketing and administrative costs.

About Lori E. Lightfoot

Lori E. Lightfoot served as the 56th Mayor of Chicago. During her term as mayor, which ended on May 15, 2023, Lightfoot led a coordinated citywide response across government, business, and community organizations to safeguard public health and minimize the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lightfoot also championed generating inclusive economic growth across the city’s neighborhoods, specifically those that had historically suffered from decades of disinvestment, among other initiatives. She is a lawyer by training and a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School. Lightfoot practiced law for many years at Mayer Brown LLP in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group. Lightfoot also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago). Lightfoot is also a proud undergraduate alumna of the University of Michigan, from which she graduated with honors. Before taking office as mayor, Lightfoot held several leadership roles in city government, both as an employee and an appointee, including positions addressing police reform and accountability, emergency management, and procurement. Since leaving office, she has returned to the practice of law through Lightfoot & Associates, a firm specializing in commercial litigation, civil rights law, and providing general assistance to small businesses. Lightfoot is also a mediator with the American Arbitration Association and a frequent speaker on a range of topics, including leadership in times of crisis, crisis communication, conflict resolution, and mediation, among others.

About Hon. John F. Kness

Judge F. Kness serves as a U.S. District Judge on the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Kness’s appointment followed a career in private practice and government service. Before receiving his judicial commission in February 2020, Judge Kness served as General Counsel of the College of DuPage. Judge Kness also worked as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, with appointments to the National Security and Cybercrimes, Narcotics, and General Crimes Sections. Before joining the Department of Justice, Judge Kness worked in private practice as a litigator and served as a law clerk to Judge William H. Pryor Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Judge Kness graduated from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Before entering law school, Judge Kness served as a patrol officer on the Oak Park Police Department in Oak Park, Illinois. Before then, he worked as a professional musician after receiving his Bachelor of Music degree from Northwestern University.

About Cassie Lively

Cassie Lively, Ph.D., is Regional Vice President of Employment at AAA’s Chicago office. In this role, she builds and sustains relationships with stakeholders, communicates the value of AAA’s employment dispute resolution services, and works strategically to expand AAA’s impact. Cassie has over 20 years of experience in conflict resolution, having previously served as Executive Director at Chicago’s Center for Conflict Resolution. There, she led a team that delivered innovative mediation and training programs while building strong partnerships across various sectors. A seasoned mediator with over 350 cases and 250 new mediators trained, Cassie also serves as Co-Chair of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s Community Mediation and Restorative Practices Section, and as a past Board Chair for the National Association for Community Mediation. In 2010, she earned a Ph.D. in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago.

About Hon. Young B. Kim

Judge Young B. Kim is a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Illinois and has served on the bench for the Eastern Division (Chicago) since 2010. He was born in South Korea, and his family emigrated to the United States when he was 11. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Loyola University School of Law in Chicago. Before taking the bench, he served as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender, law clerk to District Judge Charles R. Norgle, Sr. of the Northern District of Illinois, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and an Administrative Judge for the EEOC. As a federal judge, he particularly enjoys presiding over citizenship naturalization ceremonies in the ceremonial courtroom where he himself was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1986.

About Elizabeth Barton

Elizabeth Barton is the Acting General Counsel for the Board of Education of the City of Chicago. In that capacity, she serves as the Chief Legal Officer for the nation’s fourth-largest school district, advises the Board, which consists of 21 partially elected members, and manages the Board’s law department. Elizabeth has been a member of the Board’s law department since 2019, serving in various capacities, including Assistant Deputy General Counsel, managing the Federal Litigation Unit, and as Managing Deputy General Counsel, with responsibility for overseeing three legal practice area groups within the Board’s law department. Through her work at the Board, she has participated in settlements and mediations in several different capacities. Prior to joining the Board, Elizabeth was in private practice, representing a variety of local government entities across Illinois, including police departments, school districts, and park districts, in federal litigation. Elizabeth is a Board Member in the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) and was recently appointed to the Executive Committee, serving as Treasurer this year. Elizabeth serves as a mentor with both the Chicago Bar Association and FBA. Elizabeth is also a volunteer English language tutor of adult migrants and asylum seekers.

About Precious Jacobs-Perry

Precious Jacobs-Perry is a Litigation Partner at Jenner & Block, where she defends her clients against large breach of contract and consumer class actions in the technology, energy, food and beverage, and financial services industries. Clients hire Precious not only to provide counsel for their current legal needs, but also to evaluate their business strategies and advise on their long-term business goals as they may intersect with issues in any pending or threatened litigation. Precious has handled every aspect of the litigation process in a variety of forums and is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States Bar. Precious also maintains a robust pro bono practice and always has an active pro bono matter on her desk. She also serves on the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic’s Board of Directors. Precious received her JD, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2009 and her BA, cum laude, from New York University in 2005. Precious is a mentor to many young lawyers and the mother of four amazing children, Asher (8), Austin (4), Alissa (2), and Axel (2).

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