Hon. Leah Ward Sears (Ret.) is an arbitrator and mediator with extensive ADR, trial and appellate experience in the fields of contracts, torts, construction, eminent domain, local government law, products liability, professional malpractice, public utilities, title to land, torts, and wills. She is a partner at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, and member of the Law Firm’s Executive Committee. Sears previously worked at Schiff Hardin LLP from 2009 – 2016, where she was also a partner. She was the first woman to hold a position on the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. In 1992, was appointed to Georgia’s Supreme Court as the first woman and...

Justice Robert Young Jr. is the former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court appointed to that Court in 1999. Justice Young was then elected in 2000 and 2002 and again won reelection in 2010 for a term ending in 2019. Justice Young was elected Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court on January 5, 2011, where he served with distinction by improving the service and performance of the Michigan judiciary. In acknowledgment of his extensive knowledge and fair application of state, federal, and constitutional law, in May 2016, Young was selected to be...

Linda Klein’s practice includes most types of business dispute prevention and resolution, internal investigations, contract law, professional liability, and risk and crisis management. She has worked extensively with clients in the construction, higher education and pharmaceutical industries. Linda is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America®, Who’s Who in America and Chambers USA. She is regularly named to the Super Lawyers top 100 lawyers in Georgia and is also regularly named one of the top 50 female lawyers in Georgia by Super Lawyers. In 2021 she was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year in Arbitration” by The Best Lawyers in America®. In...

Former Chief Justice Carol Hunstein is an arbitrator and mediator with more than 40 years of experience. She was appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court in November 1992 by then Governor Zell Miller. Hunstein is the second woman in history to serve as a permanent member of the Court. In 1984 Justice Hunstein won election to the Superior Court of DeKalb County. Prior to serving on the bench, Justice Hunstein was in private practice. She has been a member of the Georgia Bar since 1976. As a superior court judge, she was active at...

Nigel is a registered mediator and arbitrator, practicing New York and Georgia attorney, as well as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Nigel has over 30 years of mediation and arbitration experience including all non-personal lines insurance claims. Nigel also has a significant insurance and reinsurance coverage background including federal and state coverage disputes, Bermuda Form, international, and domestic arbitrations.  Nigel has been Head of Claims, and Head of Specialty Claims, at two international carriers as well as a senior partner at two Am Law 100 law firms, on both...

Chong Kim was the first Asian American woman appointed to be a pro hac Judge to the Fulton County Magistrate Court.  She served on the bench from 2000-2008.  In 2020, Chong was appointed to be an Associate Judge for the Municipal Court of the City of Doraville.  She is also the first Korean American woman appointed to the bench for the city of Doraville. Additionally, Chong has represented approximately ten thousand clients in her over twenty nine years of practice in state and federal courts.   Chong has been a special master to the...