The Axelrod Firm understands that litigating a case and taking it to trial may not serve everyone’s best interests. Our clients, and attorneys and parties outside of our law firm, turn to us to help them resolve their matters as our partners are experienced in arbitration, private and court supervised mediation, as well as early case evaluation. We have participated in mediations on behalf of our clients including multi-party mediations and are experienced in dealing with sensitive and high profile matters as well as matters involving cultural, language and religious sensitivities.
In recognition of her skills in the courtroom and at the negotiation table, Ms. Axelrod was appointed a Judge Pro Tempore (JPT) / Settlement Master, an honor bestowed by the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Court on less than 130 attorneys in the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In the role, she has assisted the parties in settling approximately 85% of the cases that have come before her. This track record holds true even in matters in which the parties were ordered to attend settlement conferences before her, rather than requesting to do so, and even in cases in which counsel told her their clients’ cases would “never” settle.
Ms. Axelrod has completed the rigorous training required to join the roster of American Arbitration Association Arbitration (AAA) Panelists for consumer and commercial arbitrations, and has experience serving as an AAA Arbitrator. She is also specially rated by AAA to handle Large, Complex Commercial Disputes.
Mediation
Arbitration
Discovery Master
Receiver
Mediation
Mediation Services, in a Complex Real Estate Matter involving 10 Parties Represented by 6 Law Firms Resulting in a Global Settlement and Counsel Recommending Ms. Axelrod on LinkedIn:
This dispute involved issues surrounding title insurance, a prior foreclosure action, a mortgage, and alleged negligence. Ms. Axelrod managed to get all the parties to settle the entire matter in a single day. For her Settlement Master services in the complex action, an attorney in the case, Scott Rothman, posted the following recommendation on Ms. Axelrod’s LinkedIn profile:
“Sheryl served as mediator in a complex real estate litigation case, involving ten parties and six law firms. The parties and their respective counsel viewed a resolution as unlikely heading into a mediation session. Sheryl came prepared with a firm grasp of complicated facts and a good understanding of some atypical issues of law. By the end of the day, what seemed impossible became a reality, a settlement was accomplished, and an expensive trial proceeding was averted. I would recommend Sheryl for mediation services for both her knowledge of substantive law and expertise with dispute resolution.”
Mediation Services, in a Complex Real Estate Matter involving 10 Parties Represented by 6 Law Firms Resulting in a Global Settlement and Counsel Recommending Ms. Axelrod on LinkedIn:
This dispute involved issues surrounding title insurance, a prior foreclosure action, a mortgage, and alleged negligence. Ms. Axelrod managed to get all the parties to settle the entire matter in a single day. For her Settlement Master services in the complex action, an attorney in the case, Scott Rothman, posted the following recommendation on Ms. Axelrod’s LinkedIn profile:
“Sheryl served as mediator in a complex real estate litigation case, involving ten parties and six law firms. The parties and their respective counsel viewed a resolution as unlikely heading into a mediation session. Sheryl came prepared with a firm grasp of complicated facts and a good understanding of some atypical issues of law. By the end of the day, what seemed impossible became a reality, a settlement was accomplished, and an expensive trial proceeding was averted. I would recommend Sheryl for mediation services for both her knowledge of substantive law and expertise with dispute resolution.”
Mediation Services, in a Multimillion Dollar Business Litigation “Divorce” Between a Corporation and its Shareholders:
Ms. Axelrod assisted the parties in reaching an agreement calling for the shareholders’ amicable buyout of the corporation.
Mediation Services, in a Complex Insurance Coverage Claim:
This matter concerned water damage to a church. The cause of the water intruding into the church, and the timing of the damage, were both at issue, as a result of the insurer’s policy language. After Ms. Axelrod assisted the parties in resolving the dispute, Kutak Rock Partner Amy Blumenthal wrote the following recommendation on Ms. Axelrod’s LinkedIn profile:
“Sheryl served as a mediator in a six-figure property damage matter against my insurer client. The parties started out so far apart that we immediately walked in and said ‘this will never settle.’ However, after less than 4 hours we were done, with both sides being pleased with the result. I’d easily use Sheryl again for another matter.”
Mediation Services, in a Non-Compete, Non-Disclosure, Non-Solicitation, and Related Business Tort Claims:
Ms. Axelrod assisted the parties in resolving all of their claims and counterclaims in a consolidated matter brought by a Plaintiff-company against its former employee and his current company (the “Defendants”), for the former employee’s alleged breach of the non-compete, non-disclosure, and non-solicitation agreements he signed with the Plaintiff-company, and related business tort claims against the Defendant-company including for alleged unfair competition, unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, and accounting. Plaintiff claimed the former employee of Plaintiff converted and used Plaintiff’s trade secrets to divert Plaintiff’s clients and business to Defendants. Plaintiff asserted a claim for individual liability against one of the Defendant-company principals under a Participation Theory. The Defendants asserted a counterclaim for payment of Plaintiff’s commission and claimed Plaintiff violated the Fair Labor Standards Act. The consolidated action also involved choice of law issues and issues regarding the enforceability of various aspects of the parties’ aforementioned agreements.
Mediation Services, in a Mechanics’ Lien Claim for a Subcontractor’s Work Done on a Large, Well Known Commercial Property in Center City:
Ms. Axelrod assisted the parties in resolving multiple claims set out in separate lawsuits between a general contractor and the subcontractor that installed flooring and countertops on a high end, high profile piece of commercial real estate in Center City, Philadelphia.
Arbitration
Arbitration Services, on a Large, Complex Aviation Dispute Between a Charter Airline Company and its Broker over the Broker’s Fees for Bringing Professional Sports Teams and Rock Stars to the Airline as Customers:
This dispute involved numerous multimillion dollar claims and counterclaims that were litigated over the course of a 7-business days-long arbitration. The matter concerned a lengthy commercial contract that called for the broker’s fees to be paid under many different circumstances, each at rates that depended on numerous variables. Each side in the action was represented by a team of lawyers. The matter was highly complex. The panel’s 70-page arbitration award, was not appealed.
Discovery Master
Discovery Master Services, in a Huge Commercial Tenancy Action:
Ms. Axelrod served as Discovery Master in an enormous landlord-tenant action involving claims by Plaintiff against multiple named defendants. In the action, the plaintiff asserted it could pierce the corporate veil of the defendants, and the defendants brought multiple counterclaims. This matter involved the review of many motions, and raised numerous complex discovery issues, a number concerning: 1) an individual Plaintiff sought to depose, who allegedly resides overseas and was the claimed principal of the named defendants, 2) confidential bank records, and 3) the scope of legitimate discovery in consideration of the parties’ claims and counterclaims.
Brett A. Datto
PENNSYLVANIA & NEW JERSEY COMMERCIAL LITIGATOR
“I highly recommend Sheryl for her skills in helping to get cases resolved effectively and efficiently. Whether she serves as a Discovery Master or Mediator, Sheryl has a wealth of knowledge that spans a broad range of legal topics that helps her advance the interests of the parties towards resolution.”
Receiver
Receivership Services, Winding Down a Partnership:
Ms. Axelrod brings all of her skills to bear in her work. The following illustrates how her ADR / settlement skills assist even in her receivership work. Ms. Axelrod was appointed to serve as a Receiver in a complex commercial litigation matter, to wind down the assets of a partnership. Prior to her appointment, the parties – the partnership’s majority and minority partners – had engaged in protracted litigation. The matter had been appealed to the United States Supreme Court, and twice to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Over the course of 6 years of litigation, 3 Commerce Program judges presided over the case, with 2 actually retiring during the litigation. Ms. Axelrod was subsequently appointed by the Court as the Receiver to review the potential dissolution of the partnership with the potential liquidation of the real estate.
Despite the complex nature of the case, the partnership issues and laws involved, the strong presentations of the attorneys involved, and the involvement of non-party property owners, Ms. Axelrod put together a team of professionals to help determine valuations and options for the resolution of the matter.
Through direct involvement and constant attention to the parties’ concerns and issues, she helped broker the settlement of this case.
See Phillip Berger’s recommendation of her work which appears on her profile on LinkedIn:
“I represented Plaintiff minority partners in protracted litigation against a Defendant real estate partnership entity. The litigation involved claims of distributions alleged to be due to the Plaintiffs. The words “protracted litigation” are fitting, as the matter had been appealed to the United States Supreme Court, and twice to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Over the course of 6 years of litigation, 3 Commerce Program judges presided over the case, with 2 actually retiring during the litigation. Ms. Axelrod was subsequently appointed by the Court as the Receiver to review the potential dissolution of the partnership with the potential liquidation of the real estate.
Despite the complex nature of the case, the partnership issues and laws involved, the strong personalities of the attorneys involved, and the involvement of the non-party property owners, Ms. Axelrod was an absolute professional. Ms. Axelrod was always respectful to all of the parties, and put together a team of professionals to help determine valuations and options for the resolution of this very litigious matter.
Through Ms. Axelrod’s direct involvement and constant attention to the parties’ concerns and issues, she helped broker the settlement of this case.
I highly recommend Ms. Axelrod both as a Receiver, and also as a Mediator.”
Receivership Services, in an Action Between Shareholders:
Ms. Axelrod served as Receiver of a corporation which owned a parking lot, in a multi-party action which involved claims by one of the shareholders that the others were fleecing the corporation.