Francine Friedman Griesing

March 04, 2021 | The Legal Intelligencer

Over the past decade, we have been in the trenches facing bias and discrimination—both directly and systemically—and have worked tirelessly to open doors for our team and other women and diverse-owned law firms and businesses.

By Francine Friedman Griesing

10 minute read

February 05, 2021 | New York Law Journal

Meeting our ethical duties takes conscious effort, but it can make the difference between keeping your team on the right side of the line and facing avoidable sanctions.

By Francine Friedman Griesing

8 minute read

March 05, 2020 | The Legal Intelligencer

Our profession can only achieve genuine diversity, inclusion, equity and elimination of bias when the people in the trenches can speak out against bias without fear of retaliation.

By Francine Friedman Griesing

10 minute read

January 17, 2017 | The Legal Intelligencer

Very few neutrals, arbitrators or mediators, however astute, can truly appreciate what a party is feeling in the midst of mediation or court mandated settlement conference. Similarly, even the most committed and well-meaning counsel may not be able to provide the level of emotional support or guidance a client needs in this setting as they have never walked in the client's shoes. Until you have been a party to a dispute yourself, not merely an advocate or a neutral, you may imagine, but have not experienced, the feelings of fear, anger, disappointment, frustration and confusion that parties bring to the alternate dispute resolution process. Having experienced all of the roles at play— arbitrator, mediator, defense counsel, plaintiff's counsel and finally and most critically, as a party myself, one can understand and appreciate more directly the stress parties face in this process. If you have been a party, you are more acutely aware of how trying the experience can be and thus understand the value of considering that perspective. Bearing this in mind, neutrals and counsel can take some straightforward steps to make the experience more tolerable for all parties, increasing the chances of reaching a successful and time-efficient resolution.

By Francine Friedman Griesing and Emily Griesing

13 minute read

January 14, 2014 | The Legal Intelligencer

It's the season when everyone is reflecting about the past year and looking ahead striving to fulfill well-intentioned New Year's resolutions. Law firms, like any other businesses, want to learn from the challenges of 2013 and move forward to achieve greater success in 2014.

By Francine Friedman Griesing and Jessica L. Mazzeo

7 minute read

November 29, 2012 | New Jersey Law Journal

What are the best practices for women- and minority-owned law firms seeking new opportunities? We share advice from leaders of the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, in the hope it will assist diverse law firms in attracting substantial clients with sophisticated work.

By Francine Friedman Griesing

7 minute read

October 29, 2012 | The Legal Intelligencer

At barely 7 a.m. on May 14, under overcast skies, more than 5,000 people snaked their way to the security checkpoint.

By Francine Friedman Griesing

10 minute read

October 17, 2005 | The Legal Intelligencer

Most clients assume when they confer with counsel that the substance of those communications are subject to the attorney-client privilege and must be kept confidential. In today's legal environment, though, that is not a safe assumption, particularly for corporate clients.

By Francine Friedman Griesing

9 minute read