The ADR Center

THE KALON ADR CENTER

Home of Mediation by Design

The Next Step in ADR

CREATE VALUE, NOT CONFLICT

Want to resolve your case?

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

Email: Ckriesen@kalonlawfirm.com

Phone: 860-249-0979 x 700

OVERVIEW

If you have a case that you are unable to resolve, Christopher P. Kriesen can help you reach an agreement with your opponent, create value for your client, and close your case, avoiding the expense, time, and uncertainty of trial (a resolution method of last resort). We use Doodle to conveniently set up hearing dates, can set dates within a forty-five day window, and in arbitrations issue decisions within thirty days (and often much sooner).

If you need a date immediately, we will work with you to make it happen.

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

We are able to operate on-line, offering videoconferencing, private conferences, and document sharing.

The Kalon ADR Center donates 5% of its revenue to the Hartford Youth Scholars for use at their discretion to support their mission. Learn more here: http://www.hartfordyouthscholars.org/

About Attorney Christopher P. Kriesen

Attorney Christopher P. Kriesen established and heads The Kalon Alternative Dispute Resolution Center, where we seek fair resolutions of disputes by a rule of law centered process. He mediates and arbitrates in the following areas: torts, professional liability, medical malpractice, employment, education, contract disputes, construction, appraisal, business disputes, land use, fee disputes, family, and appeals. He is also able to facilitate conflict resolution in organizations. He is recognized by Best Lawyers (named a Lawyer of the Year, Hartford, 2021, for Mediation) and Super Lawyers, 2019-2021.

He is a trained mediator (Harvard Law School, Advanced Mediation Workshop, Program on Negotiation and the Quinnipiac School of Law Center on Dispute Resolution). He holds a Certificate in Strategic Decisions and Risk Management from Stanford University. He has tried cases in State and Federal Court and has argued appeals before the Connecticut Appellate and Supreme Courts. He is an Attorney Trial Referee, Fact Finder, and Arbitrator in the Hartford Superior Court.

He understands the elements of a case and the risks of a jury trial for both sides. Although some cases need to be tried, most cases get tried because one side (and sometimes both) miscalculated. Not only are jury verdicts unpredictable, but trying a case is expensive, inefficient, and does not offer finality – one side can always appeal.

“People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.”
— Abigail Van Buren, newspaper columnist

Mediation offers an opportunity for the parties to come to a consensus about a resolution of their case. Arbitration offers an opportunity for parties to resolve a case where they may not agree upon the value, but seek a more efficient resolution than a trial.

Attorney Kriesen dedicates himself to your case alone. He does not schedule matters at the same time, overlap schedules, or allow distractions. He offers his services statewide.

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

Reviews

“Fabulous demeanor, great with the clients, very attentive. Outstanding arbiter.”

“It was a great process all around. My client is happy with the outcome and it seems the other parties were also.”

“Attorney Kriesen was prepared, knowledgeable, polite and respectful to both sides, and effective.”

“It is always a pleasure working with Attorney Kriesen. Attorney Kriesen was able to explain the risks and potential downfalls of going to trial to the adjuster while not pressuring her. This really helped to facilitate a settlement. The adjuster was really happy with him as a mediator which helps me look good for recommending him.”

“Excellent in all respects.”

“Excellent experience from start to finish.”

“We were incredibly impressed with Attorney Kriesen’s understanding of the facts and issues, his disposition, and dedication to a fair resolution.”

“Appreciate the thought and attention that Chris gave to the case and the rapport he developed with my client. that made it much easier for me to get my client to but into the mediator’s suggested settlement figure.”

“Attorney Kriesen did a great job on a difficult case.”

“My adjuster and I enjoyed the experience. Atty. Kriesen was humorous and made the mediation pleasant as well as effective.”

“Atty Kriesen was a fantastic mediator. I would highly recommend him in the future.”

“Fair, measured, prepared, and communicated well with all parties to get the matter resolved.”

“This was my first experience with Chris as a mediator and I was very pleased with the way he handled the matter. He was obviously very prepared and really listened to what the parties had to say. He also showed a great deal of skill in handling the negotiations and knowing when to introduce new strategies into the process. I would most certainly recommend and use Chris as a mediator in the future.”

“Attorney Kriesen was fair and effective as a mediator. The case resolved. Would use him again.”

“I’m always agreeable to using Attorney Kriesen for the reasons above and because I’ve always found his decisions to be fair to both parties and on par with contemporary case values.”

“I look forward to working with Chris to resolve cases. He is both professional and competent.”

“It was an excellent mediation, the process went well and my client and I thank him for his efforts.”

”Attorney Kriesen was well versed in the facts and issues presented by this case; he facilitated discussion and, in total, was an extremely competent mediator.”

”Thank you for your valuable role in bringing my case to a successful conclusion. It was a pleasure to meet you and I was very impressed with your space in the Colt Building. It is bright, cheerful, and welcoming – preferable to more formal settings.”

“Attorney Kriesen is an extremely fair and competent arbitrator.”

“As always, Attorney Kriesen was very well prepared and certainly listened to the arguments of counsel in evaluating the case. He asked appropriate questions for clarication and allowed the lawyers to present the case without interruption. His decisions are always fair and reasonable.”

“Very professional and a pleasure to work with.“

“Chris was excellent to work with. He was throughly prepared and had reviewed all of the Arbitration materials that had been submitted prior to the hearing. He was friendly and approachable for the Plaintiff and explained the process as he was conducting the hearing.”

“Appreciate your treatment; very professional”

“Chris was very well prepared and knew the law and materials quite well. He was also very fair in his handling of the matter. He was also efficient in issuing his decision, which is a very refreshing considering how long most Arbitrators take to send out their decision.”

“Will certainly use him again in the future – Very fair results”

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

Mediations

Mediation by Design

Our 4 Point Plan

1. Connection

2. Decision Quality

3. Story

4. Value Creation

“In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
— Charles Darwin

Mediations are informal, guided negotiations in which the neutral explores a resolution of a case with the parties, taking into consideration the elements of the case and the particular risk factors of trying the case for both sides. Mediations offer an opportunity to express differences, create value, find common ground, and agree upon a solution, rather than be bound by a decision issued by a judge or jury.

How Attorney Kriesen can help you:

Attorney Kriesen has developed “Mediation by Design,” a four-point plan of 1) Connection, 2) Decision Quality, 3) Story, and 4) Value Creation, a kind of blended facilitative/evaluative/transformative process (adapting his approach according to the situation). Connection is about building rapport with and among the parties. Decision Quality is a fact and logic-based process of decision making to help parties understand their ingterests, consider options, and reach favorable solutions. Story is about exploring narratives that are creating conflict among the parties and working with reframes to find new, better narratives. Value Creation is about constructing agreements that maximize realization of the parties’ interests.

Counsel are expected to submit mediation statements (which they may agree to share), give an opening statement, and engage in a good faith negotiation. Principal decision makers are expected to be present, but, if out of state, may attend through teleconferencing.

Our free guide on how to prepare for and present at a mediation is available for you here: The Mediation Process

The Signs of a Great Mediator:

1. Prepared;

2. Self-Aware;

3. Follows a Process;

4. Listens;

5. Objective;

6. Credible;

7. Creative;

8. Persistent;

9. Guides the Parties to Their Solution.

Reasons to Mediate:

1. It’s a fair process;

2. It’s less expensive than litigation;

3. It’s faster than litigation;

4. It’s confidential;

5. You control the outcome.

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

Arbitrations

“Clients should understand that it often is to their benefit to trade hope for certainty.”
— Goltz, “Settling the Score”, ABA Journal 8/96, p. 90

Arbitrations are mini-trials, in which the rules of evidence apply (but may be waived by the parties), and the arbitrator decides the issues submitted.

How Attorney Kriesen can help you:

As an active litigator for over twenty years, he has his finger on the pulse of case values. He will issue a written decision within thirty days of the hearing.

Counsel are expected to submit stipulated evidence before the arbitration, stipulate to facts not in dispute, give opening statements, introduce testimony at the hearing, and may give closing statements.

Our free guide on how to prepare for and present at an arbitration is available for you here: The Arbitration Process

Signs of a Great Arbitrator:

1. Competent;

2. Objective;

3. Listens;

4. Thorough;

5. Discreet;

6. Decisive.

Reasons to Arbitrate:

1. It’s a fair process;

2. It’s less expensive than litigation;

3. It’s faster than litigation;

4. It’s confidential;

5. It’s final.

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

Settlement Days

Looking to move your caseload, save litigation costs, and better serve your insureds/clients? Attorney Kriesen can facilitate Settlement Days for insurance companies and/or plaintiffs’ firms with large volumes.

To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.

Fee Schedule

The initial fee is $850 per party, which covers scheduling, review of documents submitted before the hearing, the first three hours of the hearing, and writing of a decision (for arbitrations). Each hour thereafter will be billed at $400 an hour (or portion thereof) split evenly between the parties. Short follow up discussions to resolve a case will not be charged. Settlement Days are a flat fee of $3,000.00.

Our walnut slab table, where we help you reach a solution.

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To set up a hearing, contact Attorney Kriesen or Nita Williams.