CHUCK MANCUSO - Key Persons
In 1988, Michelle Jernigan was one of the first mediators to be certified by the Florida Supreme Court. Since launching her mediation career in 1987, Ms. Jernigan has mediated thousands of cases throughout Florida. As a pioneer in mediation, she served as a consultant to the state's Supreme Court as it established mediation mentorship rules. In 1997, Chief Justice Gerald Kogan appointed her to a four-year term on the Florida Supreme Court Mediation Training Review Board. Her service on the board continued through March 2013.
In her 32-year career as a mediator, Ms. Jernigan has mediated multi-party, multi-district, complex commercial, employment and tort cases to successful conclusions. She has decades of experience as a FINRA arbitrator, serving as sole arbiter and chair on three-panel arbitrations. Ms. Jernigan has arbitrated and continues to arbitrate consumer, commercial, employment, personal injury, family and real estate disputes. She has developed and implemented mediation training programs for Orlando Regional Healthcare Systems and Eckerd Corporation. Ms. Jernigan has trained hundreds of mediators in Florida, written numerous articles on mediation and is a recognized speaker in the field of ADR.
Education
J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 1981
B.S. (Political Science), Stetson University, 1979
Nova University, Post Graduate Studies / Psychology
Florida Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Florida Certified Family Mediator
Job Titles:
- Resolution Foundation, Trustee
Brad Wash became a certified mediator in 2002. He was formerly of counsel and mediator with Lucas, Petway, Tucker & Wash, P.C. He joined Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group in January 2007 and has now conducted more than 1,000 mediations.
Prior to starting his mediation practice, Brad specialized in litigation involving personal injury, products liability, insurance and work related injuries. He mediates federal and state court cases as well as appellate mediations.
Education
J.D. University of Alabama School of Law, 1979
B.S. University of Alabama, 1976
Certified Circuit Court Mediator
Mediator Roster - Alabama State Bar Center for Dispute Resolution
Dominic Brandy commenced his legal career in 1974 as a civil litigator. He has represented clients in the following areas of practice: personal injury, professional negligence (physicians, hospitals, attorneys, architects, engineers, software engineers), errors and omissions litigation, insurance policy, bad faith, products liability, construction litigation, commercial litigation, Title 3, Title 7, Section 1983 and employment law.
He has tried numerous cases in state and federal court, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Job Titles:
- Dean Emeritus at Florida State University College of Law
- Mediator and Arbitrator
Donald J. "Don" Weidner is dean emeritus at Florida State University College of Law, where until 2016 he served as dean for almost 25 years. From 2011 to 2019, Don served as a Florida gubernatorial appointee (with senate confirmation) to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and as Florida's Legislative Liaison for that group. From 2011-'13, Don was an appellate judge within the Gulf Coast Claims Facility to resolve disputes arising from the British Petroleum Oil Spill at Deepwater Horizon.
A recognized authority on partnerships, limited liability companies, and real estate finance, Don is co-author of The Revised Uniform Partnership Act (Thomson Reuters 2020) with Robert W. Hillman and Allan G. Donn. He also has written numerous articles on the taxation of pass-through entities, on capital accounts in limited liability companies and in partnerships, and on the treatment of complex leasing arrangements. He has for decades taught real estate finance and other business and property classes at Florida State and other law schools, including Stanford, the University of Texas, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina. He also teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Education
J.D. with Honors University of Texas School of Law (Project Editor, Texas Law Review, Order of the Coif)
B.S. Fordham University, New York
Job Titles:
- Mediator, Special Magistrate, Arbitrator
Howard R. Marsee began the practice of law in 1971 as a trial attorney. During his career as a trial attorney, he represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex litigation. Since 1996, he has served thousands of hours as a mediator, arbitrator and special master. He is also a Florida Licensed Community Association Manager, and regularly mediates condominium and homeowners' association cases.
Howard was a board-certified civil trial lawyer for 20 years, from 1983-2003. He is certified by the Florida Supreme Court to receive circuit-civil mediation appointments. He is certified by the U.S. District Court for the Middle of Florida to receive mediation appointments in cases pending before that Court, and he is approved by the Florida 5th District Court of Appeal as an appellate mediator.
Education
B.A. University of South Florida
J.D. University of Florida Levin College of Law (cum laude)
Jeffrey M. Fleming was appointed Orange County Judge in 2002 and Ninth Circuit Judge in 2006. Following his appointment, Mr. Fleming was later elected to each post without opposition. He also had the privilege of serving as Associate Judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal.
Before he was a judge, Jeff was a trial lawyer. He tried cases in both state and federal court and also appeared as appellate counsel. As a judge, he presided over a wide variety of matters including all types of civil, criminal, domestic, juvenile, probate, guardianship and mental health cases.
In 2013, after 11 years on the bench, Jeff decided to resume his practice as a Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer and to develop an active mediation practice. He now devotes his time as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit, Appellate and Family Law Mediator as well as a Certified U.S. District Court Mediator - Middle District of Florida. Jeff has also served as an arbitrator and has been appointed as a Special Magistrate in multiple jurisdictions.
Jeff was born and raised in Orlando. He and his wife, Joanne, have four grown children.
In 1976, Mr. Upchurch became the youngest elected Circuit Judge in Florida history, going on to serve as Chief Judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit beginning in 1979. He received the "Most Outstanding Jurist" award from The Florida Bar in 1981. He was appointed by the Supreme Court of Florida as a charter member of the Supreme Court Committee on Mediation and Arbitration in 1989 and to the Panel of Distinguished Neutrals of the Center for Public Resources in 1993. In 2005, he was selected for membership in the Academy of Court Appointed Masters, the only national organization for special masters. He was inducted by The International Who's Who of Commercial Mediation in 2012.
Following his service on the bench, Mr. Upchurch served as president and managing partner of Cobb Cole & Bell in Daytona Beach before founding the mediation firm Upchurch Watson White & Max in 1996.
Education
J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law
The National Judicial College, Basic and Advanced Programs
Harvard University Law School, Negotiations Program
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle District of Florida
A proud native Floridian, K. Judith ("Judi") Lane received her undergraduate degree from Stetson University and her law degree from the University of Florida. She then served as a law clerk with the Fifth District Court of Appeal, before spending 20 years as an accomplished civil litigator. "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubble and Board Certified in Business Litigation by The Florida Bar, Judi has vast litigation experience. Before she joined UWWM as a mediator, her practice comprised complex cases in the areas of business, employment, real estate, probate, and negligence litigation (just to name a few). Importantly, Judi was known for the exceptional negotiation skills she brought to bear at mediation.
Ms. Sands has been litigating or mediating cases since 1983. She is a former managing partner with her father, Larry Sands, in the civil litigation firm of Sands, White & Sands, PA. Since 2001, she has mediated a broad range of civil disputes, including but not limited to Employment Disputes, FLSA, Discrimination, Whistleblower, FCA, SLAPP, First and Third Party Insurance Disputes, Bad Faith, FDUTPA, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Breach of Contract, Commercial Disputes, Medical and Professional Negligence, Products Liability, Trusts and Estates, Construction, Real Property, and HOA Homeowner and/or Developer Disputes. Her experience includes complex, multi-party litigation, including Multi-District Litigation, and Class Action Disputes. She has worked with clients with local, national and international interests.
She is currently a Principal in the ADR Firm of Upchurch Watson White & Max. She has a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania, cum laude, (1980) and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law (1983). She's certified by Florida's Supreme Court as a Civil Circuit Court Mediator and Appellate Mediator; approved Appellate Mediator by the Fifth District Court of Appeal, State of Florida; and certified as a mediator in the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida. Among other associations, she is a Member of the Windstorm Insurance Network, the Florida Justice Association, and The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. She is a frequent lecturer and consultant on issues relevant to Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Arbitration, Civil Litigation, and Effective Negotiation. Her clients have described her as exceptionally informed, prepared, persistent, insightful, and creative in identifying the issues and opportunities for a successful resolution of even the most difficult or complex claims and clients.
Ms. Sands has provided ADR services throughout Florida and the Southeast United States. She is available for mediation in most Florida locations. Additional travel expenses may apply to locations in the Florida Panhandle and the greater Naples and Fort Myers area or outside Florida.
Education
B.A. University of Pennsylvania, cum laude (1980), with a study focus in sociology and psychology
J.D. Rutgers University School of Law (1983)
Certified Florida Supreme Court Civil Circuit Court Mediator (since 2001)
Certified Florida Supreme Court Mediator, Appellate Mediator
Certified U.S. District Court Mediator - Middle District of Florida
Job Titles:
- Counsel
- Mediator and Arbitrator
Lawrence Kolin brings parties and their counsel together online or in person to settle difficult cases by mediating lawsuits in state, federal and appellate courts. He has successfully mediated thousands of matters, including multi-party and complex civil cases of all types since 2001. Lawrence formerly served as a General Magistrate in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, presiding over hearings and bench trials. He is also experienced in conducting arbitrations as a qualified arbitrator since 2005. Lawrence is an AV Rated Preeminent™ Super Lawyer® who practiced law for two decades as an advocate in diverse areas of civil trial work and was a partner in a statewide law firm. He's acted as a full-time neutral over the past dozen years, devoting his energy entirely to advancing dispute resolution.
Active in local and state bar associations, Lawrence chaired a major effort to modernize Florida Civil Procedure Rules to include E-Discovery. He is a noted speaker in legal seminars and webinars, teaching as faculty at the Advanced Judicial College, Bench Bar Conference, The Masters Conference for Legal Professionals, and lecturing at many colleges and law schools. He currently teaches a graduate MHA course on Health Law at UCF Downtown. He was featured as an Ask A Lawyer columnist for The Orlando Sentinel newspaper and frequently writes for legal publications such as the Practical Law Arbitration series, Orange County Bar Association Briefs magazine, The Professional and ABA Just Resolutions E-News and is often quoted as an authority in The Florida Bar News. Lawrence also authors Orlando Mediator, which he started writing in 2010; it was recognized as an official ABA Journal ‘Blawg.' Lawrence was even voted a top blogger nationally for the legal news category by The Expert Institute and his blog a Top Ten Dispute Resolution Blog by Feedspot and the ADR Times. Additionally, he was interviewed about his insights into mediation by a chief judge, who is now a UWWM colleague, on the groundbreaking Open Ninth official court podcast.
For his efforts on behalf of abused and neglected children, Lawrence was honored with The Florida Bar Legal Aid Public Service Award presented in conjunction with the prestigious Tobias Simon Pro Bono Award at The Supreme Court of Florida. He's been counted among Florida Trend's Legal Elite in Arbitration & Mediation, listed as one of Orlando Business Journal's Most Influential Businessmen, selected as Mediator of the Month™ in Attorney at Law magazine and identified as a Top ADR Lawyer in Orlando Life magazine. Lawrence was proudly named a Litigation Trailblazer and Pioneer™ by the National Law Journal for his innovative work in alternative dispute resolution practice. He founded the ADR Committee of the OCBA and was twice elected to the Executive Council of The Florida Bar ADR Section where is now an Emeritus Member.
Lawrence was raised in Central Florida, where he resides with his wife and two daughters. His family gives their time and talents to many local causes.
Education
J.D., University of Miami, 1994
New York University, Certificate in Film, 1991
B.A., Trinity College, 1991
Supreme Court of Florida Certified Circuit-Civil Mediator
Supreme Court of Florida Certified Appellate Mediator
Lawrence M. Watson, Jr. has practiced exclusively in litigation and alternative dispute resolution with an emphasis in complex multiparty, commercial problems and construction claims since becoming a member of The Florida Bar in 1969. In 1988, while serving as chairman of The Florida Bar Trial Lawyer's Section and litigation counsel for the Carlton Fields law firm, Mr. Watson became one of the first civil trial mediators certified by the Florida Supreme Court. Since then, Mr. Watson has maintained a practice as a mediator and third-party neutral, designing, administering and executing a wide range of dispute resolution procedures.
Education
J.D., University of Florida, Levin College of Law
Advanced Negotiations Program, Harvard University Law School
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator (All Circuits)
Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle and Southern Districts of Florida
Florida Supreme Court Certified Appellate Mediator
Michael Walls became a certified mediator / arbitrator in 1995 and joined the Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group in January 2004. Mike has successfully mediated in excess of 3,500 cases in the state and federal courts.
Renée is a mediator from Ocala, Florida. She is an active leader in The Florida Bar and has received the Bar President's Award of Merit twice while serving on the Board of Governors. She established a reputation at a young age as a high achiever, as President of The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division and inaugural Chair of The Florida Bar Leadership Academy. She is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law in the area of Practice Management and Technology, and has received the General Practice/ Solo and Small Firm Section's Walter S. Crumbley Award for her contributions in the area of Practice Management. She has been married for 20 years to the Hon. Thomas "Tommy" P. Thompson III, Marion County Judge.
Education
J.D. University of Florida Levin College of Law, with honors, 1999
B.S. University of South Florida, magna cum laude, 1996
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Florida Supreme Court Certified County Mediator
Ricardo Cata practiced law as a civil litigator and trial lawyer in South Florida for 38 years. His mediation practice focuses on commercial, franchise and contractual disputes; trademark infringement; cross-border disputes (in litigation or arbitration); aviation and maritime and cruise passenger claims; construction and design defects; resort, product, premises, and general liability; medical and dental malpractice; legal malpractice; wrongful death; coverage disputes; bad faith claims; and ADA/FHA service animals disputes.
Ricardo is able to mediate in the Spanish language. He is certified to mediate civil cases by the U.S. District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, and is a past member of the American Arbitration Association's Mediator Panel, a Florida Supreme Court Approved Arbitrator, and a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN). He is a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Accredited Mediator.
As a former member of the American Arbitration Association's Roster of Neutrals (2016-2019), Ricardo served as arbitrator in AAA commercial disputes. He also was a member of the ICDR Cruise Line and Seafarer Arbitrator Panel (2015-2019) and the CPR Panels of Distinguished Neutrals (2016-2019).
During his legal practice, Ricardo represented resorts and tour operators from Latin America in Florida's circuit and federal courts. He also represented domestic and international manufacturers of products on claims of design and/or manufacturing defects, and U.S. and Latin American clients in commercial and contractual disputes. He represented clients in claims of design and construction defects, wrongful death suits, franchise litigation, maritime and aviation disputes, and medical and chiropractic malpractice suits. Ricardo represented insurance clients in coverage disputes and defended ADA claims in federal court.
A native of Cuba, Ricardo is bilingual in Spanish and English and has mediated 100 percent in Spanish.
Education
B.A. Long Island University, 1972, summa cum laude
J.D. St. John's University School of Law, 1975
M.A. University of Miami Graduate School of International Studies
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Job Titles:
- Shareholder
- Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators
Richard Lord, a Fellow of the American College of Civil Trial Mediators and the American Bar Foundation, has been with Upchurch Watson White & Max since 1999. He mediates cases nationwide.
Richard mediates a broad range of commercial and personal injury cases with an emphasis on professional negligence including medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, products, premises, negligent security, auto, breach of contract, ERISA, Eminent Domain, and employment claims. He is a frequent lecturer on ADR topics, and is an active member of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution.
Education
B.A. Economics, University of Florida
J.D. University of Florida College of Law
Harvard University Law School, Advanced Negotiation Program
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
After graduating from law school in 1979, Richard Reinhart remained in Atlanta where he practiced with the Morris, Manning and Martin firm for 10 years. During his five years as an Associate followed by five years as a partner, he gained broad experience in complex business litigation, including contracts, real estate, construction, intellectual property, employment and housing discrimination disputes. While in Atlanta, Richard also served as an Arbitrator with the Commercial Panel of the American Arbitration Association.
In 1989, he moved to the Orlando area and immediately became a shareholder in the firm of McMillen & Reinhart, P.A., which later became McMillen, Reinhart & Voght, P.A. Over the next 17 years, he practiced primarily in the professional negligence area, but also represented clients in serious personal injury cases and complex business matters.
In 2005, he became a Circuit Civil Certified Mediator by the Florida Supreme Court, and soon thereafter began doing mediation work. By the end of that same year, he withdrew from his firm, leaving the fulltime private practice of law. Since 2008, he has worked part-time as a Special Magistrate for the Complex Business Case division of the 9th Judicial Circuit.
Education
B.A. Rollins College with Honors, 1976 (Top 8%)
Order of the Coif
J.D. Emory University School of Law, with Distinction, 1979 (Top 5%)Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Richard (Dick) S. Graham was born and raised in DeLand, Florida. He received his Bachelor's degree from Florida State University and is a 1967 graduate of Stetson University College of Law. Following graduation, Dick served six months active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve and six years as a reserve officer in the JAG (Judge Advocate General) unit in Orlando, Florida, honorably discharged with the rank of captain.
In 1968, he became a partner in the Daytona Beach law firm Landis Graham & French, where he continued in private practice until 2002. During his time with this well-known and long-established firm, Dick handled a wide variety of civil cases, developing a vast set of respected legal skills. He is past president of the Volusia County Bar Association and past chairman of The Florida Bar's Seventh Judicial Circuit Grievance Committee. As a practicing attorney he was awarded Martindale-Hubbell's highest rating - AV.
In 1988 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. He chaired the Volusia County Legislative Delegation and received numerous honors and recognitions during his four-year term in public service, including statewide recognition from the Florida Engineering Society and from the Florida League of Cities.
In 2002, Dick was appointed Circuit Judge of the 7 th Judicial Circuit by Governor Jeb Bush and ran unopposed twice after his initial appointment. He presided over the civil division during his last seven years on the bench, handling some of Volusia County's highest profile cases. Retiring from the bench in October 2012, he joined Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group as mediation counsel.
Rodney A. Max has led more than 5,000 mediations arising from more than 12,000 cases for matters including wrongful death, personal injury, breach of contract, insurance disputes, antitrust, mass and class action issues involving products and services in all consumer areas, patent and trademark infringement, employment cases, family and decedent estate issues, fraud and negligence, health and general commercial liability insurance coverage cases and more. He has practiced since 1975, including representation of plaintiffs and defendants in breach of contract, fraud, commercial products liability, lender liability, mass and class actions and other statutory remedies.
Mr. Max has been selected and/or court appointed as a third party neutral or mediator in a number of significant state and federal mass and class actions involving personal injury, wrongful death and property damage claims. These claims have involved products, services, and/or consumer rights (e.g., privacy). The mass and class actions have encompassed areas of insurance, pharmaceuticals, transportation, environmental, computer, cell phones, and other technological issues.
He is a noted speaker on mediation and alternative dispute resolution topics, delivering his message to organizations throughout the country, including national and state bar associations and sections on both sides of the trial aisle, as well as neutral groups. Among his published works:
"Multiparty Mediation", The American Journal of Trial Advocacy (volume 23, Issue 2, Fall 1999) and "Mediation: The Humanization of the Justice System Resulting in the Truest Equities Among the Parties" (The Alabama Defense Lawyer Journal, 1999). Mr. Max also has presented seminars on a number of his written articles, including
A founding partner of Upchurch Watson White and Max, Terry White has conducted well over 4,000 mediated conferences throughout the state. He participated by invitation in The Harvard University Initial Advanced Negotiation Techniques Program with thirty negotiators from around the world, and was requested to lecture at the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court Judges Conference, as well as the Georgia Superior Court Judges Conference. He is often invited to lecture at both plaintiff and defense legal conferences.
Mr. White completed the Florida Supreme Court "Train the Trainer" Program and studied Litigation Risk Analysis with Marc Victor of Stanford University. He has a broad range of experience in specialized areas dealing with complex and multi-party issues, and approaches each case with an unrivaled energy, insight and a highly respected good nature mixed with an appropriate measure of humor.
Education
J.D., Stetson University College of Law
Harvard University Law School, Basic and Advanced Negotiations Program
Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator
Certified U.S. District Court Mediator, Middle & Southern District of Florida
Florida Supreme Court Certified Appellate Mediator