Professor Emeritus | Columbia University | Mediator
Vivian Berger is the Nash Professor of Law Emerita at Columbia University School of Law. A seasoned ADR (alternative dispute resolution) practitioner, she has conducted hundreds of mediations since the mid-1990s and been designated an Advanced Practitioner in employment mediation – her specialty – by the Association for Conflict Resolution. She has also done arbitrations and independent workplace investigations and served as a special master in federal court.
Vivian brings substantial and diverse professional experience to her current work. Her many years of public speaking, in forums ranging from the classroom to radio and television, have honed her communication skills. Her numerous publications in newspapers, magazines and academic journals have made her an effective writer as well.
With regard to workplace-related mediation, Vivian’s background has prepared her to relate to the concerns of both employers and employees. For example, as Vice Dean of her law school for four and a half years, she oversaw the Human Resources area; she also grew up in a family business. As one who began her career at the New York State Division of Human Rights and who served for twenty years as a general counsel for the ACLU, she is, in addition, sensitive to the interests of workers. Moreover, her years as a prosecutor and defense attorney have given her experience that, together with her substantive knowledge of employment law, enhances her ability to handle employment investigations.
Sean P. Carter
Member | Cozen O’Connor | Attorney
Sean P. Carter concentrates his practice in commercial and mass tort litigation, with a particular focus on cases involving claims under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and Anti-Terrorism Act.
Sean received his B.B.A from the College of William and Mary in 1993 and earned his law degree at Villanova University in 1996, where he was a member of the law review.
Appointed as a Co-Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in the Multi-District Litigation proceeding In Re: Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001. The plaintiffs in the September 11th MDL are pursuing claims against numerous foreign states, ostensible charitable organizations, corporations and individuals, who are alleged to have provided material support and resources to al Qaida in the years preceding September 11, 2001.
Link to Cozen O’Connor’s Website
John Giordano
Partner | Archer
John Giordano is a Partner in the Philadelphia office of Archer, P.C., where his practice focuses on government and regulatory affairs. Prior to joining Archer, John served as Deputy General Counsel on the Presidential Transition Committee of President Donald J. Trump. During this time, he also served as one of only ten people on the U.S. Department of Energy Landing Team.
Immediately before joining the Trump Transition Team, John was the founding Assistant Commissioner for the division of Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability (AQES) at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The creation of AQES marked one of the most comprehensive reorganizations of the Department and ushered in a new focus on energy security.
Earlier in his career, John was a federal prosecutor and a senior Justice Department official, serving in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and as Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (ENRD). While with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, John prosecuted federal felony and misdemeanor matters, including national security violations. As Counselor to the Assistant Attorney General for ENRD, John provided counsel on civil and criminal matters involving various environmentJohn is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and a Faculty Advisor at The Wharton School’s Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership. He has also lectured at the University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Science on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.
Before joining the Justice Department, John served as a Senior Advisor and Staff Director in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he provided counsel on energy policy, energy related economic activities, and national security issues.
Prior to his experience in Washington, D.C., John was an associate at DLA Piper, and a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph E. Irenas for the U.S. District Court, D.N.J.