Hon. Francis G. Conrad (Ret.)

Mediator and Arbitrator

Boston, Massachusetts 02108

516-835-2287

Bankruptcy, Construction, Creditor's Rights, Debt, Financial, Insurance, International, Legal Malpractice, Medical Malpractice

PRACTICE AREAS

OF

THE HON. FRANCIS G. CONRAD, MBA, JD, CFE, CIRA, CPA

 


With a wealth of experience and knowledge in accounting, business relationships, bankruptcy and alternative dispute resolution, Judge Conrad is an exemplary choice to facilitate the resolution of complex commercial and insurance disputes. Judge Conrad has been named as one of the top 5 mediators in New York State in the “Best Financial Markets Mediator” and “Best International Mediator“ categories of the 2012 New York Law Journal Reader Rankings Survey.


Serving as a Bankruptcy Judge in numerous Federal Districts, and the Second Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel,  he president over large and small cases in numerous  areas including manufacturing, news and entertainment media, healthcare, investment banking, brokerage, insurance, banking, retail, shipping, leasing, accountant’s and legal malpractice.

 
Since leaving the bench he has handled over a 900 mediations and 34 arbitrations (domestic and international) ranging from $100,000 to $22,000.000.00 in case value. Several of his assignments included early neutral litigation analysis in the Savings and Loan area, automotive, OEM, oil and gas, and shipping industries.

 
In recent years, because of his experience as an Emergency Medical Technician and involvement in hospital bankruptcies he has mediated numerous medical malpractice and accident injury matters.

 
Judge Conrad has been a business and law professor for the past 47 years in the United States and Europe, teaching, accounting, business strategies, taxation, domestic, international and European Union law.


Judge Conrad is a member of the prestigious panel of arbitrators for National Arbitration and Mediation Services (NAMS) and a fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators.


Lastly, Judge Conrad provides pro bono legal services in domestic dispute and divorce cases.


Judge Conrad’s philosophy about mediation and arbitration is: “the difficult matter we resolve right away; the impossible matter takes a little longer.”

 EXPERIENCE

                                               

2011 – Present     National Arbitration and Mediation Services (NAMS)


1999 - Present      Professor, St. John’s University law school LLM program in bankruptcy.


2002 – Present     Business Strategy Advisors of Vermont (BSA) and Cross-Continental Arbitration and Mediation Services. (C-CAMS)


Principal in this multi-disciplinary practice firm that provides strategic services to lawyers, accountants, courts, foreign governments, startup and troubled companies, including CRO and Director Services. Bankruptcy, debtor/ creditor representation, asbestos and commercial arbitration, mediation and trust representation, and multinational case representation, restructuring and turnarounds, and forensic investigations.


2002 – Present     Jager Smith PC, Boston, MA, of counsel.   International representation in Insolvency and arbitration.


2005 – 2013         Weiser LLP, and Bederson and Company, LLP, Certified Public Accountants.


Partner in the bankruptcy restructuring groups providing debtor and creditor financial advisor representation and expert testimony.


1999 - 2002          Director - PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Business Regeneration Group


Performed bankruptcy consulting services, risk management, and educational programs to staff and


Served as the U.S. liaison for cross-border bankruptcies.  


1985 - 1999          United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Vermont                


Bankruptcy Appellate Panel Judge (1996-1999).Served in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1988-1999.


Extensive work overseas facilitating the privatisation and modernization of economies and drafting and revising debtor-creditor/insolvency laws including Albania, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Lithuania, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Thailand, and Ukraine. Continued this work with PwC and BSA.


1967 - Present      Law School and College Professor


Full-time (1973-1982) and adjunct faculty at several colleges and universities in New York and


New England. Specifically teaching finance, accounting, business law, management and ethics.    


1978 - 1985          Attorney at Law


Partner, Law Offices of Dick, Hackel & Hull, Rutland, Vermont. (1979-1985).


Practice areas included taxation; commercial acquisitions; sales; malpractice defense and bankruptcy.


Deputy County Attorney and Public Defender for Putnam County, New York (1978-1979).


1970 - 1985          Certified Public Accountant


Senior Accountant, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. (KMPG) (1970-1974).


Self Employed (1974-1985).  Practice areas included federal taxation of Americans overseas; not for profits; restructurings; and small business organisations.


Tax Editor for Research Institute of America.


Chairperson of Vermont State Board of Accountancy (1980-1988).     


1968 - 1970          United States Army

                                                                                                               
EDUCATION


1977                       Fordham Law School - J.D.


1972                       John G. Hagan Graduate School of Business - M.B.A., financial management


1967                       Manhattan College -B B.A., accounting and economics

                                
 
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS


1978 - Present      Member of Bar:  New York, Massachusetts,  Vermont, Supreme Court of the United States, several Federal Courts, Tax Court and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.


1972 – present     Certified Public Accountant; Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Adviser, and Certified Fraud Examiner.


Significant professional activity and Chairmanships in several professional organizations.


Significant professional speaking engagements and publications



OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

                               
Labor Negotiator (1973-1982).


CEO of dot.com startup (1999-2002).                           


Prefect (full time) for emotionally disturbed and criminally involved juveniles (1963-1967) (1970).


Teacher in the Vermont Prison School (1997- 98).


Fire fighter; Emergency Medical Technician; Fire and EMT Instructor (1970 - present).


Published Poet.

38 Heron Street

Long Beach, NY 11561

Phone: 516-835-2287

Phone: 802-342-4244

Email:  [email protected]