Kent Lawrence is a sought-after mediator and arbitrator who is retained either directly by counsel or through organizations such as the American Arbitration Association, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, f/k/a NASD), National Futures Association and the Center for Conflict Resolution. His mediations often focus on matters involving securities, options, commodities and futures, general commercial and real estate, but he has also mediated as a volunteer in employment discrimination, divorce fee and community matters.
Kent's reputation is that of a strong but fair arbitrator and a persistent mediator who can get parties to a settlement. This reputation is well-earned: He has served as an arbitrator in more than 80 cases and as a mediator in more than 150 cases, where he has a history of full or partial agreement over 75% of the time and almost 90% of the time in securities and commodities casework. Part of the reason for his success is his broad range of experience. Before becoming a mediator, Kent honed his skills in both litigation and transactions, representing business clients in the binding, computer systems, construction, cosmetics, CD development, coin-operated laundry machines, personal services and real estate industries. His individual client work also includes estate and tax planning, return preparation, probate and investments.
Parties employing Kent's services as a neutral often find detailed background information useful to them (or their clients).
Kent is not only an active neutral in alternative dispute resolution, he is also a leader in the field who has been involved throughout Illinois in the formulation and evaluation of court-annexed systems and initial training of mediators in those systems. A frequent speaker on alternative dispute resolution topics, Kent has organized and participated on numerous panels over the years, including the Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division, CLE program in September 2008 entitled "What Happens Before the Mediation: Use of Pre-Work to Improve the Chances of Success - Settlement" and the November 2011 Decalogue Society lecture at John Marshall Law School entitled "Disingenuousness and Deceit in Mediation Advocacy."
Kent serves as an officer and director of several not-for-profit grant-giving foundations. Kent and his wife Kathy also established, and work with, the Kickapoo/Mud Creek Nature Conservancy in Oregon, Illinois, and enjoy their "green," architectural-award-winning second home there.
Articles & Presentations by this Attorney
5/1/2006, Mediation of Securities Disputes: Views from the Advocate and the Mediator, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Securities Litigation Committee
Experience
Lawrence, Kamin, Saunders & Uhlenhop LLC
- Partner: 1975-Present
- Associate: 1969-1975
Honors
2005-2012 Illinois Super Lawyer -
Super Lawyers Magazine
Professional Memberships & Affiliations
Northwestern University School of Law,
- Adjunct Professor
- Commercial Arbitration, 1982-1993
Illinois Supreme Court
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinating
- Committee of the Illinois Judicial Conference
- Court-Appointed Advisory Member, 1993-Present
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority
(FINRA, f/k/a NASD)
- Member, Panel of Arbitrators, 1977-2005
- Member, Mediation Roster, 1997-Present
National Futures Association
- Member, Arbitration Panel, 1986-Present
- Member, Business Conduct Hearing Committee, 2001-Present
International Mediation Institute
- Certified Mediator, 2009-Present
American Arbitration Association
- Member, Panel of Arbitrators, 1974-Present
- Member, Panel of Mediators, 2005-Present
Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois,
- Law Division
- Listed Mediator, 2004-Present
Illinois 18th Judicial Circuit
- Court-Ordered Mediation for
- Civil Cases Program
- Certified Mediator, 2000-Present
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators,
- North American Branch
- Associate Member (CIArb), 1999-Present
Chicago Board Options Exchange
- Member, Panel of Arbitrators, 1995-Present
Association for Conflict Resolution/Chicago Chapter
- Treasurer, 2006-2008
- Board Member, 2002-Present
Chicago Bar Association
- Chair of ADR (Arbitration) Committee, 1987-1988, 1998-1999
- Vice-Chair of ADR (Arbitration) Committee, 1985-1987, 1997-1998
- Securities Law Committee 1971-Present
Northern Illinois University College of Law
- Board of Visitors, Member, 1992-2008
