(click on my name to hear it pronounced)
rethink, respond, resolve
about me
I have over 20 years of experience as an attorney, mediator, facilitator, trainer, ombuds and consultant. In 2015 I launched my company, fixerrr - the 3 r’s stand for rethink, respond and resolve - to help individuals, groups and organizations recognize their strengths, assess their options and gain the tools they need to succeed.
Since 2003, I’ve taught negotiation (including culture and gender in salary negotiation), conflict communication, dispute resolution, mediation and ombuds skills in both the public and private sectors for such clients as Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Tufts Women in Medicine and Science, MassMutual (Society of GrownUps), MIT, Arabella Advisors, the Mass. Society of CPA’s, the American Bar Association, the Mass. Bar Association, the Administrative Office of the Trial Court, the Mass. Legal Recruitment Association and Mass. Continuing Legal Education. As a faculty member in the Communication Studies Department at Emerson College, since 2012 I’ve taught courses in Conflict and Negotiation, Persuasion, Mediation, Advocacy and Pre-Law. In 2017 I became Wesleyan
University's inaugural Ombuds, and in 2020, Clark University's inaugural Ombuds, serving on both campuses as an independent, confidential, neutral resource for faculty and staff. In 2022, I became the Ombuds for the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
In 2011-2012 and 2015-2016, I was recognized as a New England Super Lawyer, a list published annually by Boston Magazine and Thompson-Reuters of lawyers viewed by their peers as being in the top 5% of the profession, and named one of the Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts, in 2013 and 2016. I have authored and been interviewed as an authority for several articles on conflict management, employment, negotiation and mediation issues in publications ranging from the ABA Journal, the Family Mediation Quarterly, and the BBC Capital (twice). I’m also a contributing author to the books, Mediation: A Practice Guide for Mediators, Lawyers, and Other Professionals (MCLE, Nov. 2013) and “Pretrial Litigation Primer: Alternative Dispute Resolution” part of the Build Your Practice Series (MCLE, 2009, 2011).
I have designed, managed and served as a neutral for conflict resolution and workplace communication programs for the Massachusetts Superior Courts, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, federal agencies, institutes of higher education and private corporations. I’m proud to have created the first federally funded Agricultural Mediation Program in New England to help local cranberry growers. I'm also proud to be a vocal advocate for pit bulls and against breed specific legislation, and I've been a Community Leader and Champion Volunteer for Cradles to Crayons. I'm a cum laude graduate of both Brandeis University and Suffolk University Law School.
It's long, exhaustive (and likely exhausting to read), but if you're looking for my complete, up-to-date CV, you'll find it here.
special certifications
Restorative Justice Circle Practice for Educators (Tier 1), Suffolk University Center for Restorative Justice, 2022
Cross-Cultural Mediation, Meta-Culture, 2016
Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellowship, Emerson College Office of Diversity and Inclusion, 2016
Workplace Conflict and Dispute Systems Design, Negotiation Bridge, 2006, 2011
Marital Mediation, Divorce Mediation Training Associates, 2006
Collaborative Law, Mass. Collaborative Law Council, 2005
Facilitation, Interaction Associates, 2000
Mediation, MWI, 1998
memberships and associations
International Ombuds Association (since 2017)
IOA Contract Conference Ombuds Task Force (2019-2020)
East Coast Ombuds Group (since 2017)
Ombuds of Small Liberal Arts Colleges
(since 2017)
New England Association for Conflict Resolution (since 1998)
Rhode Island Bar (since 1994)
Rhode Island Bar Association (since 1994)
Massachusetts Bar (since 1993)
awards
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm - Tier 1 Ranking
Best Lawyers in America, 2014
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm - Tier 1 Ranking
Best Lawyers in America, 2013
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm - Tier 1 Ranking
Best Lawyers in America, 2012
The Top Women Attorneys in Massachusetts
Super Lawyers, 2012
Super Lawyer
Super Lawyers, 2011
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm - Tier 1 Ranking
Best Lawyers in America, 2011
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm Tier 1 Ranking
Best Lawyers in America, 2010
I'm honored to be the recipient of the 2018 Alan L. Stanzler Award for Excellence in Teaching at Emerson College. Nominated by students, the award is given to an affiliated faculty member who consistently receives high Teacher/Course evaluation ratings and who displays high academic standards as established by faculty.
