Find the alternative dispute specialist that best suits your needs
Meet Our Team
WE HAVE MANY HIGHLY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE ALL OF YOUR ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION NEEDS. PLEASE SCROLL TO THE INDIVIDUAL’S NAME BELOW TO SEE THEIR PRACTICE AREAS AND BIOGRAPHY.
FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING SCHEDULING INFORMATION, RATES, AND/OR AVAILABILITY ON ANY OF OUR NEUTRALS, PLEASE FORWARD YOUR REQUEST TO MS. LEANNA MURRAY AT: INFO@MURRAYMEDIATIONGROUP.COM
PLEASE BE SURE TO SPECIFY WHICH MEMBER THE PARTIES HAVE AGREED
TO USE IN THE E-MAIL.
Christopher Pole, Esq.
Arbitration, Circuit Civil Mediation, County Civil Mediation
Christopher Pole was born and raised in Broward County. He attended Florida State University from 1968 thru 1971 and then transferred to the Medical College of Georgia where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy in 1973. Mr. Pole worked as a Registered Physical Therapist in the Broward County area from 1973 through 1984. Mr. Pole attended law school at Nova University Center for the Study of Law and graduated in 1980. His extensive trial experience began as a Broward County Assistant State Attorney. He held several positions including DUI supervisor for, supervisor of felony divisions and as a prosecutor in the Narcotics and Drug Trafficking Division. In 1985 Mr. Pole expanded his trial experience into the civil area when he took a position as an associate with in-house counsel for AIG Insurance Company and then with Conroy, Simberg & Lewis, P.A.
In 1988 Mr. Pole opened a private office specializing in personal injury law, PIP law, civil commitment defense as well as criminal law. In 2012 he was appointed to the position of Broward County Court Judge. During his tenure, Mr. Pole presided over both civil and criminal divisions as a county court judge. Mr. Pole was a Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar from 1993 through 2019 and has previously taught as an adjunct professor of law at Nova University Center for the Study of Law. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1981, the United States District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida since 1983 and a member of the Colorado Bar since 1988. He is also a member of the Broward County Bar Association and Mr. Pole was a Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer by the Florida Bar from 1993 through 2019 and has previously taught as an adjunct professor of law at Nova University Center for the Study of Law. He has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1981, the United States District Court, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida since 1983 and a member of the Colorado Bar since 1988. He is also a member of the Broward County Bar Association and was the recipient of the Harry Gulkin award in 2013.
Mr. Pole is certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a County and Circuit Court Mediator. He is Florida Supreme Court Qualified as an Arbitrator and has been accepted as a FINRA Arbitrator.
Eric S. Dawson, Esq.
Arbitration, Circuit Civil Mediation, County Civil Mediation
Eric S. Dawson, Esq. is a Florida State Supreme Court Certified Mediator in the following areas: County Court, Circuit Civil, Family Court, and Appellate Court. Moreover, Mr. Dawson is also a Florida State Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator.
A member of the Florida Bar since 2001, Mr. Dawson has substantial professional experience in the legal field as a former prosecutor, civil trial attorney, and in-house counsel for various South Florida companies. This professional background has provided Mr. Dawson with exceptional integrity and ethics as well as an understanding of liability and risk management issues facing individuals, companies, and organizations.
Mr. Dawson possesses superior communication and interpersonal skills, enabling Mr. Dawson to be well-versed at orchestrating a productive dialogue among many diverse types of alternative dispute resolution party participants, at both mediation and arbitration.
In Mr. Dawson’s mediation and arbitration practice, he has been adept at employing various techniques associated with alternative dispute resolution, (i.e., informality, confidentiality, collaboration, and self-determination of the party participants), to realize a successful resolution of the parties’ current legal matters. As a result, Mr. Dawson enables participants who resolve their outstanding legal disputes at mediation or arbitration to avoid further legal fees and costs, end a loss of time and productivity due to on-going litigation, and minimize the parties’ risk of potentially adverse publicity due to on-going litigation.
Robert S. Zack, Esq.
Arbitration, Circuit Civil Mediation, County Civil Mediation
Robert S. Zack retired from the Broward County Court Bench after 22 years of service. Prior to taking the Bench he was a trial attorney for 20 years and specialized in civil litigation including automobile negligence, premises liability, product liability, medical malpractice, contract disputes and family law. He received his bachelor’s degree from Boston University and his J.D. from Wayne State University in Michigan.
Since retiring from the Bench, he has mediated cases in areas of personal injury, contract and labor disputes, collections, foreclosures, and PIP suits. He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, Florida Supreme Court Certified County Court Mediator, Qualified Arbitrator, FINRA Dispute Resolution Arbitrator and licensed Florida Realtor.
Arlene S. Backman, Esq.
Arbitration, Circuit Civil Mediation, County Civil Mediation
Arlene Simon Backman’s skills as a mediator, arbitrator and trial resolution judge are predicated on a solid medical and legal background. She graduated Cum Laude from Downstate Medical Center of Nursing (SUNY) in Brooklyn, New York with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1980.She entered the practice of nursing as a pediatric nurse at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida and was an Associate Professor of Nursing at Barry University. Thereafter, she acquired a Master of Science in Nursing Administration and Education from Barry University in Miami, Florida, again graduating Cum Laude.
She decided to combine her love of nursing with her passion for the law by entering the Shepard Broad School of Law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she graduated in 1993. Her legal career was both in the private and public sector She served as Assistant General Counsel for the Department of Juvenile Justice for 9 years. In the private sector she practiced in both the State and Federal Courts, handling insurance claims, personal injury, medical malpractice and PIP cases, in addition to reviewing medical charts and physician performance assessments and evaluations for compliance with State and Federal Medicare, HCFA and Statutory Compliance.
In 2007 she became a Broward County Court Judge and served for over 10 years in both the Civil and Criminal Divisions.
She is a Florida Supreme Court Certified County Court Mediator and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, as well as a Qualified Arbitrator and Trial Resolution Judge.
Richard Phillips, Esq.
Circuit Civil Mediation, County Civil Mediation
With more than 40 years of practice and over a thousand cases litigated, Richard H. Phillips, Esq. has the experience and the diplomacy you need to get any dispute rapidly and fairly resolved. Mr. Phillips has represented clients across the corporate spectrum from Fortune 500 companies to sole proprietors, as well as students, families, and nonprofit organizations. For over 25 years he specialized in insurance subrogation.
Advocating for this diverse clientele gives him a unique perspective into the conflict mechanisms at work in most legal disputes. As a result, Richard’s services as a mediator are in high demand. His areas of expertise include: Personal injury, family disputes, commercial litigation, insurance disputes and, of course, insurance subrogation. He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, Florida Supreme Court Certified County Court Mediator, and a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator.
Sandra F. Cornwall, Esq.
Circuit Civil Mediation
Sandra F. Cornwall earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore in 1991 and her Bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1988. Since 2009, she has worked in Florida as a sole practitioner, adeptly representing clients while demonstrating unwavering confidence and skill in navigating complex legal terrain. Central to her practice is a client-centric ethos, where she places utmost priority on understanding each client's needs and aspirations, tailoring legal strategies accordingly.
Ms. Cornwall is fluent in Spanish and with over a decade of comprehensive experience spanning Family and Personal Injury Law, she has appeared in numerous hearings, trials, and mediations. Ms. Cornwall possesses a distinct combination of legal acumen and nuanced conflict resolution skills. As a proficient mediator, she maintains neutrality and impartiality throughout the mediation process, adeptly facilitating dialogue and fostering common ground without bias.
Ms. Cornwall is recognized as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator, committed to diligently pursuing mutually beneficial resolutions for all parties involved.
Richa Choudhary, Esq.
County Civil Mediation
Richa Choudhary was born and raised in India, where she developed a deep appreciation for spirituality and the life stories of remarkable individuals. One of her favorite books is “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by M.K Gandhi. Richa finds joy in spending time with her three children, balancing her professional and personal life with grace.
Richa's academic journey began in Pune, India, where she earned her B.A.LLB, along with diplomas in intellectual property rights and human rights. She then pursued her Juris Doctorate at Barry University School of Law. During her time in law school, she gained invaluable experience interning at the Juvenile Defense Clinic and with the Department of Children and Families.
Upon graduation, Richa joined Children Legal Services with the Department of Children and Families, where she passionately advocated for abused, abandoned, and neglected children. She has also practiced debt collection and subrogation for one year.
Admitted to the Florida bar in 2017 and a member in good standing, Richa is also a Supreme Court County Certified Mediator. She currently focuses her practice on estate planning and mediation. Her professional expertise and personal interests seamlessly blend, showcasing her as a well-rounded and dedicated individual.