Upstate Dispute Resolution Practitioners Committee

UPSTATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PRACTITIONERS COMMITTEE

Jeff Anderson, the first Chair of the Dispute Resolution Section from Upstate New York, launched the Upstate Connection Initiative in 2023–2024. This informal effort aimed to foster greater engagement, participation, and support for Section members living and working in Upstate New York.

Building on this momentum, his successor as Chair, Jill Pilgrim, formalized the initiative by establishing an official Section committee. The committee’s vision includes:

• Fostering connection, networking, and support among dispute resolution practitioners in Upstate New York.
• Expanding the practice of dispute resolution throughout Upstate New York, and
• Building on the success of presumptive mediation practices already implemented in southern New York, particularly New York City.

The Section encourages the active involvement of members located “north of that imaginary line” above New York City—and welcomes your ideas, energy, and input as we continue to grow and connect across the state.

We had a well-attended Zoom event on April 29, 2025 for Upstate litigators and mediators.  It provided an opportunity to learn more about court-annexed and private mediation.  Those who attended participated in a wide-ranging discussion of topics related to this subject.

We plan to follow up during 2025-26 with further communication with our Upstate members and programming.  It may take place on a statewide and/or a local/regional level.  We invite you to join us!

For assistance in being added to the committee roster, please contact Section Liaison Mercedes Peno (mpeno@nysba.org).