Why the "Kitchen Table"?

The kitchen table, for many of us, represents a nurturing place where we can all sit down together and feel comfortable having our say, venting our emotions, and trading ideas.

What do you want to bring to the table?

Perhaps you want to buy or sell a house, or have a job interview coming up. Maybe there are sensitive issues among friends or family. Negotiation coaching can build confidence by showing you how to prepare for those difficult conversations in an open and principled way, keeping your best interests and alternatives in mind and staying within your comfort zone.

Perhaps you have a dispute with a family member, a neighbor, an employee, or a customer. A mediator serves as a neutral party and, like a moderator, guides the participants through a constructive conversation; you can explore options together and in private sessions without committing to any agreement until you are sure that it is right for you.

What do I bring to the table?

Although I've practiced law for over 30 years, I am not a Perry Mason type. I am a transactional lawyer - focused on "getting the deal done" at the conference table and staying out of court!

What I bring to the kitchen table are the same professional techniques I use at the conference table and apply them in an informal, safe setting. I practice the method pioneered by the Harvard Negotiation Project and the book Getting to Yes (Fisher, Ury and Patton).

When people are encouraged to broaden their outlook beyond their initial hard line positions and re-examine their real underlying interests, they are empowered to come to the table ready to explore creative solutions.