Update as of March 28th, 2013
Dear Colleague:
The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference is next week. Please review the information below for updates on Program Materials, the Conference Schedule and reminders about special events.
Conference Registration Desk
The conference registration desk will be in the International Ballroom on Level 2. Please check-in at the registration desk to pick up your conference badge, program books and other conference materials.
Program Books Available Online
You can access the comprehensive Program Book as well as the “Mini” Conference Essentials. Printed copies of these books will also be available at the registration desk.
Attending the Symposium on ADR in the Courts
If you are attending the Symposium on ADR in the Courts on Wednesday, please note that the Symposium programs will be at the Mid America Club (80th Floor, Aon building), which is a short walk from the Fairmont. You need to first pick up your registration materials in the International ballroom at Fairmont. Please give yourself a few extra minutes to get your registration materials and get through the security at the Aon building.
Wireless Access at the Hotel
Complimentary wifi access is provided to conference attendees who are staying at the Fairmont Hotel. To take advantage of this benefit, you must enroll in the Fairmont’s President Club (complimentary membership). Internet access cannot be guaranteed in the meeting rooms and exhibit area.
Online Registration for Ticketed Events Ends Sunday, March 31st
If you wish to register online for any additional events you must do so by Sunday evening. Otherwise, you will need to add the events on-site at the Registration Desk in the International Ballroom. Tickets for the Symposium on ADR in the Courts Luncheon must be purchased by 10 am on Wednesday, April 3rd. Tickets for the Legal Educators Colloquium Luncheon must be purchased by 10 am on Saturday, April 6th.
Click here to add one or both luncheons to your registration.
Mentor Breakfast
On Friday morning, attendees will have the opportunity to meet a mentor during breakfast. Experienced ADR professionals will be available to meet with attendees at each table. Background information about each mentor will be emailed to all attendees and provided at the tables to assist attendees in deciding with whom they would like to meet.
Refer a Colleague Special
Bring a colleague to the conference and receive a free teleconference. Email Pamela.meredith@americanbar.org with your colleague’s name (must have registered after 3/18/13) and we will email you a voucher for a free teleconference of your choice once we have confirmed their registration (teleconference value up to $150 | voucher must be used by 4/30/14).
International ADR Workshop – Organized by the Section’s International Committee
The Workshop will begin with an overview of international ADR and investor-state disputes. The majority of the workshop will be dedicated to the theme of investment treaty arbitration: why and how mediation could be integrated into such processes. The Workshop is included in your registration fee for the conference. However, we ask that you sign up in advance to enable us to get a count of who will be attending.
Dine-arounds
Section leaders have chosen a variety of restaurants in the area to convene a small group of conference-goers to eat and discuss a wide range of topics. You are welcome to join any of the dine-arounds here.
Chicago Architectural Foundation Tours
The Chicago Architecture Foundation has organized two special tours for Conference attendees and their families. The tours will start at the lobby of the Fairmont. Click on the links below for additional information.
Millennium Park Revealed
Skyscrapers & More Trolley Tour
Thursday Evening Welcome Reception
Join your fellow conference attendees for a welcome reception at the Chicago Cultural Center, a stunning landmark building which features two magnificent stained-glass domes. The reception will be held on April 4, 2013 from 5:30 -7:00 pm.
Friday Evening Reception for Legal Educators
Northwestern University School of Law invites participants in the Legal Educators Colloquium to attend a reception on April 5, 2013 from 5:30 - 7:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday, April 5, 2013
5:30 pm -7:00 pm
Northwestern University School of Law
Bluhm Legal Clinic, 8th Floor
375 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Please RSVP by clicking here.
National Representation in Mediation Competition
Conference attendees are welcome to observe Rounds of the Competition. However, observers must check in before the Round begins and remain in the competition room until the Round ends. Please note: The competition rules state "Observers are required to remain in the competition room until the end of the Judge's critique period. The only other time an observer may exit the room is at the completion of the mediation session (75 minute mark) when the competitors leave the room to prepare for their self-evaluation. If an observer leaves the room, s/he is prohibited from re-entering the room or having any contact with the competitors until the round is completed."
Airport Transportation
If you are looking for an alternative to taxis or public transportation to get you to and from the airports, a shared ride shuttle is available. GO Airport Express offers airport shuttle services between Chicago area locations and O'Hare and Midway Airports. Efficient, safe and economical airport shuttles depart from O'Hare and Midway Airports every 15 minutes for downtown Chicago and many suburban locations. Ground transportation is arranged by making a reservation. Please Click Here to make your airport shuttle reservation/s, or call 1-800-284-3826 and use your 10% discount code: “ABA” (all one word).
Questions and Concerns
The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Staff will be traveling to the conference on Tuesday, April 2nd and will be available as of 8 am Wednesday Morning at the Registration Desk in the International Ballroom. To reach staff on-site via phone you can dial 202-212-9314 as of 12 Noon on Tuesday, April 2nd.
We look forward to seeing you in Chicago soon.
Update as of March 19th, 2013
Dear Colleague:
The ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference is just a few weeks away. Please review the information below for updates on Program Materials, the Conference Schedule and reminders about special events.
Conference Program Materials
As a conference attendee you can now access all of the program materials provided by the presenters in advance of the conference via the link previously sent to you in the March 19th email. Please take the time to review this site and print or save any materials that you want to have accessible during the conference. In an effort to be environmentally responsible, the ABA will not be providing hard copies of the conference materials.
Register for Ticketed Events
The Luncheon on Wednesday, April 3rd for the Symposium on ADR in the Courts and the Luncheon on Saturday, April 6th are ticketed events and all attendees who wish to join one or both luncheons must purchase a ticket for the event. We highly recommend attendees purchase luncheon tickets in advance of the conference as only a limited number of tickets will be available on site. Click here to add one or both luncheons to your registration.
If you are currently registered to attend only one day of the conference (Thursday or Friday) but would now like to attend the Wednesday or Saturday programs, you must purchase a ticket to the event. Click here to add an event to your registration.
Refer a Colleague Special
Bring a colleague to the conference and receive a free teleconference. Email Pamela.meredith@americanbar.org with your colleague’s name (must have registered after 3/19/13) and we will email you a voucher for a free teleconference of your choice once we have confirmed their registration (teleconference value up to $150 | voucher must be used by 4/30/14).
International ADR Workshop – Organized by the Section’s International Committee
The Workshop will begin with an overview of international ADR and investor-state disputes. The majority of the workshop will be dedicated to the theme of investment treaty arbitration: why and how mediation could be integrated into such processes. The Workshop is included in your registration fee for the conference. However, we ask that you sign up in advance to enable us to get a count of who will be attending.
Conference Schedule at a Glance
View an updated conference schedule at glance, with events, times and room assignments here.
Dine-arounds
Section leaders have chosen a variety of restaurants in the area to convene a small group of conference-goers to eat and discuss a wide range of topics. You are welcome to join any of the dine-arounds here.
Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours
The Chicago Architecture Foundation has organized two special tours for Conference attendees and their families. The tours will start at the lobby of the Fairmont. Click on the links below for additional information.
Millennium Park Revealed
Skyscrapers & More Trolley Tour
Thursday Evening Welcome Reception
Join your fellow conference attendees for a welcome reception at the Chicago Cultural Center, a stunning landmark building which features two magnificent stained-glass domes. The reception will be held on April 4, 2013 from 5:30 -7:00 pm.
Friday Evening Reception for Legal Educators
Northwestern University School of Law invites participants in the Legal Educators Colloquium to attend a reception on April 5, 2013 from 5:30 - 7:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday, April 5, 2013
5:30 pm -7:00 pm
Northwestern University School of Law
Bluhm Legal Clinic, 8th Floor
375 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Please RSVP by clicking here.
Airport Transportation
If you are looking for an alternative to taxis or public transportation to get you to and from the airports, a shared ride shuttle is available. GO Airport Express offers airport shuttle services between Chicago area locations and O'Hare and Midway Airports. Efficient, safe and economical airport shuttles depart from O'Hare and Midway Airports every 15 minutes for downtown Chicago and many suburban locations. Ground transportation is arranged by making a reservation. Please Click Here to make your airport shuttle reservation/s, or call 1-800-284-3826 and use your 10% discount code: “ABA” (all one word).
We look forward to seeing you in Chicago soon.
Conference Chairs
Alyson Carrel
Northwestern University Law School
Chicago, IL
Stuart Widman
Miller Shakman & Beem LLP
Chicago, IL
Jillisa Brittan
US Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
Chicago, IL
Program Chairs [try to put program chairs in second column to the right of conference chairs]
Kelly Browe Olson
U.A.L.R. Bowen School of Law
Little Rock, AR
Juan Ramirez Jr
JAMS
Miami, FL
Myra C. Selby
Ice Miller LLP
Indianapolis, IN
Update as of February 27th, 2013
Dear Spring Conference Attendee:
We are looking forward to the 15th Annual Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference during April 3 – 6 in Chicago.
Below are a few reminders to help you take advantage of the amazing conference events:
Hotel Reservations
If you still need to make room reservations at the Fairmont please do so before Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 5:00 PM Eastern Time, when the special ABA rate expires. View the Hotel and Travel page for additional information.
Schedule and Programs
Get a good sense of the overall conference schedule by viewing the Schedule at a glance. Detailed information about the conference programs can be found on the Session Descriptions page.
Pre and Post Conference events
The Spring Conference begins with the Symposium on ADR in the Courts on Wednesday, April 3rd and ends with the Legal Educators Colloquium and the International ADR Workshop on Saturday, April 6th. Attendance at these programs is included in the registration cost for the full conference. The Symposium on ADR in the Courts, Legal Educators Colloquium and International ADR Workshop may also be purchased as stand-alone events. The Symposium on ADR in the Courts will be held at the Mid-America Club, which is connected to the Fairmont.
Wednesday and Saturday Luncheons
The Symposium on ADR in the Courts will hold a Luncheon on Wednesday and there will be a Luncheon on Saturday during the Legal Educators Colloquium and the International ADR Workshop. The Luncheons are not included in the cost of attendance at these programs or the conference registration fee and must be purchased as additional ticketed items.
Session Materials
All presentation materials will be posted to our online attendee web site in mid-March. We will send out an e-mail to all conference registrants when the materials are available.
Thursday Evening Welcome Reception
Join your fellow conference attendees for a welcome reception at the Chicago Cultural Center, a stunning landmark building which features two magnificent stained-glass domes. The reception will be held on April 4, 2013 from 5:30 -7:00 pm.
New This Year! Meet a Mentor Breakfast
On Friday morning, attendees will have the opportunity to meet a mentor during breakfast. Experienced ADR professionals will be available to meet with attendees at each table. Background information about each mentor will be provided at a later date to assist attendees in deciding with whom they would like to meet
Friday Evening Reception for Legal Educators
Northwestern University School of Law invites participants in the Legal Educators Colloquium to attend a reception on April 5, 2013 from 5:30-7:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday, April 5, 2013
5:30 pm -7:00 pm
Northwestern University School of Law
Bluhm Legal Clinic, 8th Floor
375 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Please RSVP by clicking here.
Chicago Architecture Foundation Tours
The Chicago Architecture Foundation has organized two special tours for Conference attendees and their families. The tours will start at the lobby of the Fairmont. Click on the links below for additional information.
Millennium Park Revealed
Skyscrapers & More Trolley Tour
Call for Volunteers—2013 Representation in Mediation Competition
Conference attendees are invited to serve as volunteers for the National Rounds of the 2013 Representation in Mediation Competition held in conjunction Spring Conference at the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, on April 3-4, 2013. For details click here.
If you have any questions about the conference that are not addressed on the conference web site please feel free to call the Section of Dispute Resolution office at 202-662-1680.
