Deborah Coleman

Ms. Coleman arbitrates complex commercial disputes, with deep experience in technology, intellectual property and antitrust matters.

Experience

As a neutral and as a lawyer, Deborah Coleman has worked with businesses and institutions at all levels of commerce, and in industry sectors including software, arts and entertainment, finance, insurance, real estate, health care, manufacturing, distribution, and electric power. Her experience includes supply chain disputes, claims arising from the sale of a business, claims among the owners of closely-held firms, and disputes between joint venture partners. She has handled matters involving non-profit organizations and government agencies. Her understanding of business issues informs her active case management as an arbitrator, and her persistence in seeking resolution as a mediator.

Ms. Coleman has arbitrated cases independently and under the AAA, ICDR and CPR rules. She has mediated cases independently and as a member of AAA, CPR state and federal court panels. She often serves as sole arbitrator or arbitration panel chair. Her experience includes international as well as domestic cases.

Work History

Ms. Coleman established her own firm in 2013 to provide dispute resolution services and counseling and representation on matters of legal ethics. A lawyer with over 35 years of practice experience, she was previously a litigation partner in the firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, where she worked as an advocate and counselor on complex business matters, including antitrust, patent, trademark and copyright infringement cases, and disputes concerning computer hardware and software. She also served as the firm’s Ethics Partner. In addition to her commercial and business litigation work, Ms. Coleman has handled employment, public law and bankruptcy adversary cases.

Training

Arbitration training: Programs and courses sponsored by CCA, ABA Dispute Resolution Section, American Arbitration Association and others. Mediation training: Miki Kashtan “Convergent Facilitation Training” workshop (2017); Ike Lasater, “Advanced Mediation Skills” (2014); Forrest (Woody) Molsten, “Advanced Strategies for Building Agreements and Breaking Impasse” (2012); Zena Zumeta, “Workshop on Caucus v. Joint Session Mediation (2011); CPR Institute, Advanced Mediation Skills (2007); University of Cincinnati, Counseling & Convincing Difficult Emotional Clients (2004); Capital University, Negotiations and Advanced Mediation Training (2002).

License(s)

Admitted to practice in Ohio, Northern District of Ohio, Southern District of Ohio, Northern District of Texas, Sixth and Federal Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Education

Harvard University, 1973
Harvard Law School, 1976

Publications

’Requests for Interim Relief’ in D. Singer, ed., ARBITRATING COMMERCIAL DISPUTES IN THE UNITED STATES’ (PLI 2020); ’Antitrust Issues in the Litigation and Settlement of Infringement Cases,’ AKRON LAW REVIEW, vol. 37, no.2, 2004; co-author, ’Pleadings and Motions in Business and Commercial Cases,’ COMMERCIAL LITIGATION IN OHIO, Law Practice Handbooks, Inc., 1995; articles published in AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION LITIGATION NEWS, BUSINESS FIRST, CLEVELAND BAR JOURNAL; frequent speaker to local and national audiences on litigation, dispute resolution, intellectual property, ethics, and professionalism.

Awards

The Best Lawyers in America, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Arbitration (2008-2017); Ohio Super Lawyers, Alternative Dispute Resolution (2004-2017); Hon. William K. Thomas Professionalism Award, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (2007); John and Ginny Elam Award, Ohio State Bar Association; Pro Bono Publico Award, American Bar Association.

Panels

AAA Commercial, Technology and Large Complex Commercial Panels; CPR Institute Distinguished Panel of Neutrals and Technology Panel, Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center Tech List.

Associations

American Bar Association; Ohio State Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.

Miscellaneous

International Mediation Institute Certified Mediator. Adjunct Instructor Cleveland Marshall School of Law teaching Arbitration (2016, 2017); Professional Ethics (2005).