Arbitration & Mediation

Jane is a proponent of alternative dispute resolution often referred to as “ADR.” She believes it is more cost effective and efficient to resolve disagreements without going to court, if possible. She has successfully represented clients in a variety of business, construction and franchise arbitrations and mediations.

Jane serves as an arbitrator and mediator in consumer, commercial, construction, employment and securities disputes. She has served as a panel chair, panel member and sole arbitrator in cases nationwide. Examples of the types of issues Jane has decided as an arbitrator or mediated include arbitrability, business owner disagreements, business dissolution, business valuation, fiduciary duty/duty of loyalty, choice of law/forum, construction, contract, equity, financing, franchise/dealer, fraud, defamation, duty of good faith and fair dealing, employment, intellectual property, Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, restrictive covenants, real estate, tortious interference, securities, TCPA, UCC, unfair competition and breach of warranty. In 2023, Jane was inducted into the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.

Panels

  • American Arbitration Association (AAA), arbitrator (Commercial, Construction, Consumer, Employment and Large Complex panels)
  • Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
  • Lexitas (f/k/a Alaris) Alternative Dispute Resolution, arbitrator and mediator
  • DeMars & Associates, Ltd, arbitrator and mediator
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, neutral
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, neutral
  • 11th Judicial Circuit Court (St. Charles, MO), civil mediator
  • 21st Judicial Circuit Court (St. Louis County, MO), civil mediator
  • 22nd Judicial Circuit Court (City of St. Louis, MO), civil mediator
  • 3rd Judicial Circuit Court (Madison County, IL), civil mediator
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), pro bono mediator
  • Madison County, Illinois Residential Foreclosure Mediation Program, mediator

Presentations and Publications

  • Co-Presenter, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in ADR: Moving the Ball Forward,” National Employment Lawyers Association, St. Louis Chapter (2022)
  • Co-Presenter, “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: How Can We Achieve It?,” Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (2021)
  • Co-Author, Arbitration Chapter, ABA Franchise Litigation Handbook (Second Edition) (2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “ADR Diversity in St. Louis and Beyond,” AAMSTL (2021)
  • Co-Author, guest column on ADR Diversity on The President’s Page, The St. Louis Bar Journal, Spring 2021
  • Presenter, “An Arbitration Clause Must be Well-Tailored to Suit Your Client’s Needs,” Alaris Alternative Dispute Resolution (2019)
  • Panelist, “Ethics in ADR,” BAMSL Bench & Bar (2018)
  • Panelist, “How to Become a Mediator,” The Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis (2018)
  • Co-Presenter, Mediation Advocacy: “Tips from the Mediators,” AAMSTL and Lawyers Association of St. Louis (2017)
  • Co-Presenter, “Get the Biggest Bang for Your Mediation Buck: Strategies for Selecting Mediators & Effective use of Mediation,” 20th Annual MOBAR Solo & Small Firm Conference (2015)
  • Co-Presenter, “Mediation: A Candid Discussion of things to Consider When Selecting a Mediator,” BAMSL (2015)
  • Co-Presenter, “Mediator Bootcamp: Getting from Selection to Resolution,” BAMSL/AAMSTL (2014)
  • Presenter, “What People Look for in Mediators, Mediator Neutrality, and Mediator Styles,” AAMSTL (2014)
  • Co-Author, “Proposed Arbitration Fairness of 2009: Friend or Foe in Franchising,” The Franchise Lawyer, Vol. 3 No. 2, Spring 2010

Affiliations

  • ABA Section of Dispute Resolution, member; Women in Dispute Resolution (WIDR) Committee (Missouri Regional Chair, 2017- present); Arbitration and Mediation Committees
  • Association of Attorney Mediators (AAM), affiliate member St. Louis Chapter (St. Louis Chapter Secretary, January 2013- present)
  • Association of Missouri Mediators (AMM), member
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) and The Missouri Bar (MOBAR)

Arbitrator Qualifications

Initial Training:

  • FINRA Basic Arbitrator Training, (2016)
  • AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association (2007)

Recent Training:

  • 14th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, ABA, Chicago, IL (2022)
  • Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association (2022)
  • Pro Se: Managing Cases with Self-Represented Parties, American Arbitration Association (2021)
  • ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference, Virtual (2021)
  • Arbitrator Impartiality, American Arbitration Association (2021)
  • Best Practices for Arbitrators in Expedited/Fast Track Arbitrations, American Arbitration Association (2020)
  • 13th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, ABA, Phoenix, AZ (2020)
  • ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference, Minneapolis, MN (2019)
  • TROs and Injunctions, Alaris Dispute Resolution (2019)
  • Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility, American Arbitration Association (2019)
  • Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, American Arbitration Association (2019)
  • Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor: Meeting Participant Expectations, American Arbitration Association (2018)
  • 10th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, ABA, Chicago, IL (2017)
  • Securities Arbitration, BAMSL (2016)
  • Exceeded Powers – Recent Trends in Cases Challenging Arbitrator Authority, American Arbitration Association (2016)
  • Developments in Arbitration Law ~ Non-Signatories, Discovery and Vacatur, American Arbitration Association (2015)
  • Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics, American Arbitration Association (2014)
  • Best Practices in Franchise Arbitration, American Arbitration Association (2013)
  • The Strategy of Arbitration, ABA Forum on Franchising (2012)
  • Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, American Arbitration Association (2009)
  • The Standard for Efficient and Cost-Effective Arbitration, American Arbitration Association (2008)

Mediator Qualifications

Initial Training:

  • Mediation Training for Civil Cases, University of Missouri (Columbia) (2007)

Recent Training:

  • 2022 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (3.0 Hours as of July 1, 2022)
  • 2021 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (6.0 Hours)
  • The Choice: In Person or Remote Mediations and Arbitrations, MOBAR (2020)
  • 2020 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (1.0 Hour)
  • ADR Court-Certified Neutrals Seminar (2020)
  • 2019 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics
  • ADR Court-Certified Neutrals Seminar (2018)
  • 2018 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (8.0 Hours)
  • 2017 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (9.0 Hours)
  • Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training, AAM, Santa Fe, NM (2017)
  • Mediation Advocacy: Tips from the Mediators, AAMSTL and Lawyers Association of St. Louis (2017)
  • 2016 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (9.0 Hours)
  • Top Five Questions Answered in Mediation, ABA (2016)
  • Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training, AAM, Nashville, TN (2016)
  • Evaluations, Opinions, Observations and Comments: When and How Mediators Use Analytical Techniques, ABA (2016)
  • ADR Court Certified Neutrals Seminar (2016)
  • 2015 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (9.0 Hours)
  • 2014 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (9.0 Hours)
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution: Recent Decisions on Arbitration and Mediation, MOBAR, (2014)
  • Honing your Mediation Skills: The Basics and Beyond, BAMSL and AAMSTL (2014)
  • ADR Certified Neutrals Seminar, United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri/St. Louis University School of Law (2014)
  • 2013 AAMSTL CLEs on various mediation topics (9.0 Hours)
  • Mastering the Art of Mediation Advocacy, St. Louis University School of Law (2013)
  • Electronic Evidence, Ethics, and Online Dispute Resolution, USAM/Washington University School of Law (2013)
  • Use of Motivational Interviewing in Mediation: Preparing People for Change, AMM (2013)
  • Advanced Mediation Training for Court Certified ADR Neutrals, United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri/ Washington University School of Law (2011)