Connie Rakowsky

Connie has deep subject matter and process experience.  The pairing is helpful in disputes involving business, bankruptcy, debt, real estate, nonprofit, probate disputes, as well as other matters.  Integrating litigation and settlement negotiations is the backbone of the bankruptcy reorganization process where Connie “cut her teeth” as a young lawyer. Gravitating toward mediation was a natural evolution for her. As an early adapter to mediation, she attended a week-long training by JAMS in 1995, followed by many trainings thereafter.  Connie joined the State of NH Probate Panel when it was first formed in early 2000. It was designed to be a model for the other court mediation panels with rigorous trainings of the small panel of mediators. The Superior Court and other state and federal court panels later followed suit. Thanks to the court panel cases mediated, Connie has experience mediating a wide variety of cases and personalities.

For many years, Connie’s facilitative mediation approach helped resolve hundreds of disputes.  She brings a style that puts people at ease and addresses the human side of the dispute equation. Extensive experience in counseling businesses and individuals allows Connie to bring a valuable perspective to people in disputes. Connie spurs realistic evaluations of positions in confidential caucuses to move parties toward mutually acceptable agreements. The facilitative/evaluative hybrid approach has been the key to successfully resolving complex legal and relationship disputes.

Thanks to Connie’s legal background practicing commercial law, she is well acquainted with the types of cases that benefit from swift resolution like arbitration or mediation. Knowledge of how cases and businesses are put together and fall apart and the role that the law plays in case resolution are invaluable lessons for a mediator and arbitrator. Fortunately a broad private practice experience is good preparation. A commitment to fairness is key.

• Extensive trainings in mediation and arbitration including Bankruptcy and Commercial Mediation Training sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute and St. John’s Law School, NYC, December 2016
• J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 1981
• B.A., Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1974

• American Arbitration Association, Mediation Panel and Commercial Panel
• State of NH Business, Probate, Superior Courts Mediation Roster, Appointed
• Maine CADRES and York County Probate Panels Member
• United States District Court Mediator Panel Member
• NH & Maine USDA Agricultural Mediation Panels Member

   

$1000. half day (4 hours at live mediation) and $2000 for a full day (8 hours).  Rates include travel (2 hours or less each way), and preparation time.  Preparation includes review of summaries and speaking to each side confidentially pre-mediation.