Tannenbaum Helpern’s Andrew Berger weighs in on the American Broadcasting Cos v. Aereo, Inc. court ruling and its possible impact on innovation.

The New York Law Journal recently extensively quoted Paul Sarkozi, a partner in Tannenbaum Helpern’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution department, about the new pilot mandatory mediation program in the New York County Commercial Division. Paul has been involved in the development of this program both through his work on Chief Judge Lippman’s Task Force on Commercial Litigation and the Chief Judge’s Commercial Division Advisory Council. The proposal, which has received strong support from in-house counsel and several bar associations, requires parties to conduct a mediation within seven months of assignment. The intent of the pilot program is to underscore the Commercial Division’s commitment to facilitate the early and cost effective resolution of business disputes. Often matters that are mediated – either initially or after some exchange of information – will either result in settlement or allow the parties to narrow the issues and thereby reduce the expense and duration of a litigation. As Co-Chair of the Advisory Council’s ADR Committee, Paul notes that he is thrilled that the court system has adopted the proposal.

Tannenbaum Helpern commercial litigation partner Paul Sarkozi on a recent proposal to encourage early informal “settlement discovery” discussion to resolve disputes.