In February 2012, I was selected as a Charter Member of the New York Academy of Mediators & Arbitrators (NYAMA), and a member of the NYAMA's parent organization, the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN).  

The NADN is a professional association consisting of attorney-neutrals distinguished by their hands-on experience in the field of conflict resolution and by their commitment to the practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution.  Membership is by invitation only and limited to neutrals with proven experience in the resolution of commercial and civil disputes, recognized through a peer-nomination and client review process.  Fewer than sixty top-tier ADR practitioners have been confirmed to the New York Academy state-wide, with only a handful on Long Island. 

This organization is intended to provide a source of well-vetted business neutrals who are ready and able to serve a wide variety of business cases.  
 



Please click to view my NADN member profile: 

http://www.nadn.org/david-abeshouse 

Please click to view my NYAMA member profile and availability calendar: 

http://www.nymediators.org/david-abeshouse 






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My law practice helps entrepreneurs, professionals, and companies who have been stung personally, professionally, and financially by a painful business dispute, often at the hands of a partner, contractor, vendor, associate, or other affiliate.  I am dedicated to resolving clients’ business disputes creatively through arbitration, mediation, or (where appropriate) court litigation to achieve success and peace of mind.

Some disputes require outright litigation battle to achieve resolution. Others are more susceptible to "creative" business dispute resolution.  This means looking for solutions beyond the obvious.  It also involves attempting to achieve results that are beneficial or at least palatable for both sides rather than mechanically resorting to bashing each others' heads in (a process that principally benefits the lawyers' pockets) simply because the attorney doesn’t know how to do anything else.  It also can lead to exploring whether there's a possibility for presently warring parties to work together in future.  As one who also wears the hats of a professional neutral arbitrator and mediator, I understand this process well. 

My message is straightforward and clear: For the vast majority of business disputes involving small or medium-sized businesses, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provides superior means of achieving resolution, in contrast to court litigation.

I place particular emphasis upon effective, responsive communication with clients, helping to inform and guide them through the often unfamiliar and confusing maze of business litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).  Other central services include helping clients avoid business disputes by performing litigation risk management (troubleshooting for potential areas of litigation liability); representing clients who have received a subpoena from a governmental agency such as the New York State Attorney General or the United States Department of Justice; as well as drafting, reviewing, and/or negotiating confidentiality and non-competition agreements, commercial leases, and other types of contracts.

My firm practices primarily in New York State and Federal trial and appellate courts, and before arbitrators and mediators in the New York metropolitan area.  Based on my unique level of experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), I provide ADR consultation services to other attorneys.  I also serve regularly as New York or Long Island local counsel to out-of-state lawyers or companies involved in litigation in this region, respecting and protecting referring professionals' relationships with their clients.

My practice background includes clerkship with a federal Magistrate-Judge early in my legal training; service with a significant midtown Manhattan law firm; more than a decade as a partner in a medium-sized, high-quality Nassau County, Long Island law firm; and, since 2000, managing my own firm.

In addition to my law practice, I devote significant efforts to my service as a professional neutral commercial arbitrator for several major forums and as a private professional neutral commercial mediator.  As an arbitrator, I hear and adjudicate business dispute cases, rendering binding Orders and Awards that are legally enforceable in court.  As a mediator, I facilitate consensual resolution of business disputes, resulting in the parties' written settlement agreement.  In each of my capacities, I handle conflict management in the context of business dispute resolution.  

I also have personal experience running a small business: From 1988 through 2007, as President of a domestic real estate company owned by an Australian client, I managed autonomously the business operations and commercial real estate holdings of this entity, acting in all respects as a commercial landlord concerning property in Manhattan.  I regularly serve on the boards of New York not-for-profit corporations, and help to run legal and business networking groups, enabling me to develop and foster a broad and deep network of trusted professionals on whom I can rely to assist my clients and colleagues for matters that are outside the areas of my expertise.   

Business disputes should not be handled absent expert assistance.  Not only should you not seek to deal with a brewing dispute by yourself, you also should be wary of hiring those whose legal practice focuses in other arenas (e.g., corporate transactional work; tax; real estate; personal injury; and the like) to handle the legal aspects of your business dispute.  I don't presume to be able to practice in their areas; you should be cautious about having them venture into these specialized waters.  In each instance, you likely are better off with a niche practitioner.  By way of analogy: You wouldn't go to your psychiatrist for orthopedic surgery.   

If you are interested in finding out more about how I might help you, please look through the following pages of this website or get in touch with me through the contact page.  I would be happy to arrange a free telephone consultation of duration appropriate to the matter. 

David Abeshouse was selected to New York Super Lawyers 2007 -- Metro.

An AV rating shows that a lawyer has reached the height of professional excellence. He or she has usually practiced law for many years, and is recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.

CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.

Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review process that rates lawyers. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.

 
David J. Abeshouse
         

"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity.  The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty."