A Dispute is a Small Part of a Much Larger Relationship

A dispute is not an isolated event or a solitary happening. If there was no relationship between two people or entities, it would be impossible for a dispute to arise. A dispute grows out of a relationship but it should never overshadow or overwhelm that relationship. Something or many things connect people; something within that connectedness then lobbies for separation and works to break the connection. As lawyers and professional neutrals, we have a choice. We can either focus our energies and talents on maintaining and strengthening the connections between people we counsel, or be agents of division and separation.”

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