Robert L. Baum Email & Phone Number

Practice focuses on resolving disputes in the manner most appropriate for the client, through ADR when possible and litigation when necessary. Majority of dispute resolution is through mediation, collaborative law and facilitation. Also serve as arbitrator and trial counsel. Matters include business, “hi-tech,” health, intellectual property, environmental/land use and family law matters.

Full service dispute resolution practice, including negotiation, collaborative law, mediation, arbitration and litigation. Philosophy is to resolve cases with the least cost and pain to my clients; if direct discussions are not fruitful, then usually exploremediation and collaborative law options before resorting to litigation. Representative cases include serving as "first chair" in nationwide litigation (federal court) construction defect litigation, litigating contract and family law cases in state court, serving as the arbitrator (or on arbitration panel) for federal contract and business to business contract disputes, mediating commercial, real estate and family law cases and representing parents in collaborative law cases.

Served as Special Assistant to the Secretary for resolving outstanding disputes during the final months of the Clinton Administration.

Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals (SES level V political appointment.) Served as the chief judge for the Department's administrative appeals office and as the Department's Dispute Resolution Specialist. Conducted numerous hearings, trainings, mediations and facilitations. Initiated Departmental mediation program for employee and environmental disputes. Gave speeches throughout the country on ADR. Represented the Department at the Justice Department's Inter-Agency Dispute Resolution Working Group and helped other Departments design ADR systems. Supervised approximately 90 judges, attorneys and support staff.

Special Assistant to the Secretary for Dispute Resolution, 11/2000-1/2001. Oversaw final design and implementation in the final days of the Clinton administration of the dispute resolution program (primarily mediation and facilitation) for some of the most difficult environmental, natural resources and employment issuesDirector, Office of Hearings and Appeals, March 1998 to Nov. 2000. Directed and served as the chief judge for the Department’s administrative appeals office and as the Department’s Dispute Resolution Specialist. Also conducted numerous trainings, mediations and facilitations. Gave speeches throughout the country on ADR. Represented the Department at the Justice Department’s Inter-Agency Dispute Resolution Working Group and helped other Departments design ADR systems. Supervised approximately 90 judges, attorneys and support staff.Associate Solicitor, Conservation and Wildlife, 6/1993-3/1998. Served as chief legal counsel to the Assistant Secretary and the Directors of the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service. Advised top departmental and White House officials and managed some of the most controversial and sensitive Executive Branch matters involving natural resources. Supervised, and participated in several mediations; facilitated numerous contentious meetings. Practice included client counseling, negotiations of complex business transactions and acquisitions, pleadings review, case strategy development, preparation of legislation and legislative strategy. Supervised 30 attorneys and support staff.

Served as primary counsel for a variety of entertainment, computer software, publishing and other clients; responsible for all aspects of trademark and copyright matters, including licensing, prosecuting trademark and copyright applications, and litigating before federal and state courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board; was the; nominee for U.S. Trademark Commissioner. Served as regulatory affairs advisor to major health care provider publication. Also had primary responsibility for general contract and litigation matters. Provided pro bono assistance in environmental issues.

Public interest law firm. In addition to public interest work (primarily constitutional medical issues, intellectual property (trademark and copyright) and employment discrimination), I also provided much of the working capital to support the public interest cases through my intellectual property and health law clients.

Served as intellectual property attorney in the corporate relations department, licensing and enforcing the intellectual property (trademark, copyright) rights of the LAOOC. Also served in the crisis command center.

Designed and directed comprehensive program to protect Olympic related copyrights and trademarks. Negotiated and drafted sponsorship, supplier and licensee contracts and releases for the 1984 Summer Olympics. Negotiated international trade disputes. One of forty-five people selected to serve in the crisis management center during the Games.

Developed and managed administrative and litigation matters involving intellectual property, environmental, telecommunications and health issues.

Corporation owned radio station KIOE, Honolulu; produced and syndicated first call-in talk show to be nationally distributed via satellite.

Community organizer and consumer's issue researcher for the Vermont Alliance, funded by the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).

J.D., Law

B.A, Environmental Policy And Planning

Activities and Societies: Graduated with High Honors

Education record