Dennis Seider

Education: 

The University of London (L.S.E.) - Master of Laws (LL.M.) 1968

The UCLA School of Law - Juris Doctor 1967

University of California at Los Angeles - Bachelor of Arts 1963

Dispute Resolution Training: 

Dispute Resolution Experience: Past arbitrator for the AAA

Past mediator for the ARC

2005- Present
Private mediator specializing in marine insurance coverage and trade and transportation disputes 2005 to present

Court appointed panel mediator 2010 to present

Professional Licenses:

State Bar of California (inactive 2014)

Professional Memberships: 

State Bar of California
Past member, Los Angeles County Bar Association - Committee on International Law

Current member; Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA; since 1975); Committees: Carriage of Goods; Marine Insurance, General Average and Salvage; Recreational Boating

Past member; American Association of General Average Adjusters

Past member; National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS)

Past member; National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, Inc.

Current member; Marine Underwriters of Southern California (MUSC)

Past member; Association for Transportation Law, Logistics and Policy (ATLLP); Aviation Editor of ATLLP Association Highlights magazine

Past member; The Propeller Club of the United States

Past member; American Boat and Yacht Council, Inc.

Past member; United States Naval Institute

Past member; Foreign Trade Association

One of the Principal speakers at The Portuguese Spanish American Maritime Law Institute (IHALDM) meeting, Ibiza, Spain 1992

Admitted to practice before all California State and Federal Courts since 1968; admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court 1991

SUMMARY OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

1959 - 1969 - Part time commercial fisherman and deck hand

1965 - Wiper, SS “EXPORT AIDE”

1968 - 1971 - English Teacher - Private School - Tel Aviv, Israel
Visiting instructor in contracts and trusts; Holborn College of Law.
Languages and Commerce, Red Lion Square, London, England

1968 - 1970 Associate with the law firm of Overton, Lyman & Prince, Los Angeles, California

1970 - 1976 - Sole practitioner

1976 – 1979 - Partner, Gutman & Seider, Los Angeles, California

1979 – 1993 - Senior Partner, Seider, Cohan & Cohen, A Professional Corporation

1993 – 2000 - Senior Partner, Seider & Reynolds, a Law Corporation, Los Angeles, California

2000 – 2005 - Partner, Wolf Seider Abrams & Wolf, LLC

2005 – 2015 - Parker Shumaker Mills LLP

Work History for the Past Five Years: 

2005 – 2015
Of counsel, Parker Shumaker Mills LLP specializing in mediation and expert consultation in the fields of marine insurance coverage and transportation disputes

Mediation is a dynamic, structured, interactive process where a neutral third party assists disputing parties in resolving conflict through the use of specialized communication and negotiation techniques. All participants in mediation are encouraged to actively participate in the process. Mediation is a "party-centered" process in that it is focused primarily upon the needs, rights, and interests of the parties. The mediator uses a wide variety of techniques to guide the process in a constructive direction and to help the parties find their optimal solution. A mediator is facilitative in that s/he manages the interaction between parties and facilitates open communication. Mediation is also evaluative in that the mediator analyzes issues and relevant norms ("reality-testing), while refraining from providing prescriptive advice to the parties (e.g., "You should do... .").

Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties with concrete effects. Typically, a third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate a settlement. Disputants may mediate disputes in a variety of domains, such as commercial, legal, diplomatic, workplace, community and family matters.

The term "mediation" broadly refers to any instance in which a third party helps others reach agreement. More specifically, mediation has a structure, timetable and dynamics that "ordinary" negotiation lacks. The process is private and confidential, possibly enforced by law. Participation is typically voluntary. The mediator acts as a neutral third party and facilitates rather than directs the process. Mediation is becoming a more peaceful and internationally accepted solution in order to end conflict. Mediation can be used to resolve disputes of any magnitude.

Mediators use various techniques to open, or improve, dialogue and empathy between disputants, aiming to help the parties reach an agreement. Much depends on the mediator's skill and training. As the practice gained popularity, training programs, certifications and licensing followed, producing trained, professional mediators committed to the discipline.