Day 3 Takeaway – Harvard Mediation Intensive

Professor Bob Mnookin - non-caucus and lawyers in the room

1. Professor Bob Mnookin – the brilliant, funny, truly magical wizard of mediation. Seeing him mediate live is an experience: vast knowledge, sharp mind, humour, deep humanity all at once.

2. Bob is a non-caucus (no individual session) mediator and demonstrated in today’s role play how powerful joint sessions can be when handled with clarity and courage. I was genuinely amazed how many US colleagues (mostly lawyers) rely on a strict caucus model and feel uncomfortable addressing emotions directly in the room or at all.

I prefer avoiding caucuses by ensuring an environment where all that matters gets revealed in a natural way based on increased trust.

3. Working with legal counsels in the room.

Bob showed masterfully how to involve lawyers with respect, at the right moments, while still keeping the mediator’s leadership and the structure of the process. The result? Greater subjective value for everyone at the table.