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.
Public Speaking
Our attorneys have taught how to win at arbitration and about the benefits of ADR, serving on panels presenting:
- The CLE, “And the Arbitration Award Goes To …. ! How to Win at Arbitration” (2025) with Ingeuneal Gray, the vice president of inclusion and engagement at the AAA, two in-house attorneys, and another external attorney.
- The webinar, “Business Continuity During the #COVID19 Pandemic — and How Alternative Dispute Resolution Can Help!” (2020) with two neutrals from JAMS.
Article About Our ADR Services
Pennsylvania Super Lawyers’ Magazine ran a cover story called, “Unshakeable,” about our ADR work (May 2024).
Publications
“Why Arbitrate? Why Not? The Benefits of Arbitrating Commercial Disputes,” by Sheryl L. Axelrod, Esq., American Bar Association, Business Law Today (Aug. 2025).
Arbitration
Mediation
Receiver
Special Master
Arbitration
The following are representative of our service as arbitrators:
Arbitrator 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.
John Lowe
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATOR AND MEDIATOR, LOWE ARBITRATION
“Ms. Axelrod served with me on a large complex commercial dispute with the amount in controversy in the tens of millions. During the two-week hearing she was very attentive, asking insightful questions and raising important points during the panel discussions. Fair and impartial to the core, she gave no indication to the parties of where her thinking lay. And, very importantly, she was instrumental in the preparation and finalization of the 70-page award that addressed all claims and counterclaims.”
Arbitrator on a Large, Complex Fee Dispute Between a Major Law Firm and its Former Client:
In this dispute, a major law firm brought a claim for millions of dollars in legal fees allegedly owed by its former client, a large institution which brought counterclaims for malpractice and raised alleged unethical conduct by the attorneys. The matter involved an underlying, over $100 million construction litigation case in which the lawyers represented the institution. Issues in the case included design defects and the cost of construction delays, battles between experts as to the work the attorneys did and its value, the cost and methods used to host the client’s terabytes of data, how the underlying action was settled and who was responsible for the settlement, and whether the law firm’s attorneys committed malpractice and ethical violations.
Arbitrator on a Large, Complex Fee Dispute Between a Financial Advisory Company and its Former Financial Advisor:
In this dispute, a financial advisory company claimed that one of its former advisors stole his book of business from it in violation of the non-compete agreement he had signed. Issues in the case, laid out by the parties’ dueling experts, included the value of that book of business, and the related issue of the length of time for which the former employer’s losses should be considered to continue, before those losses would become speculative.
Arbitrator in a Fee Dispute Between Former Defendants and Their Former Expert Witness
This arbitration arose out of a prior litigation matter in which the defendants retained an expert witness who in the arbitration, brought a claim against them for his fees for his expert witness services.
Arbitrator in Fee Dispute Between a Lender and a Debtor
This dispute was brought by a financial institution to recover monies loaned to a law firm which had secured litigation financing, settled the underlying litigation, and did not repay the loan.
Arbitrator in Franchise Disputes
Provided arbitration services in a number of disputes between franchisors and franchisees including in the restaurant industry and in the commercial cleaning industry. Dealt with related trade secrets, misappropriation, and fiduciary duty disputes.
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. Managed to get all the parties to settle the entire matter in a single day. For her Settlement Mediation services in the complex action, she received the following recommendation on Ms. Axelrod’s LinkedIn profile:
Scott Rothman
PARTNER, CURLEY & ROTHMAN
“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, she received the following recommendation on Ms. Axelrod’s LinkedIn profile:
Amy (Liesenfeld) Blumenthal
PARTNER, KUTAK ROCK
“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.
Mediation Services, on a Longstanding and Complex Federal Class Action Resulting in a Global Settlement (Approved by the Court) and Counsel Recommending Ms. Axelrod on LinkedIn:
For her mediation services in this matter, Ms. Axelrod received the following recommendation on her LinkedIn profile:
Jacob U. Ginsburg
KIMMEL & SILVERMAN, P.C.
“We hired Sheryl to serve as mediator in a longstanding federal class-action. Leading up to the mediation, it seemed unlikely the case would settle. However, Sheryl defied the odds and worked tirelessly through the mediation and in the days that followed to get the case resolved. Most impressive was the thoroughness with which Sheryl prepared. The case involved disputes over granular legal issues and had a factual record, which was developed over years of discovery. Nonetheless, she was able to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the case as a mediator with remarkable fluency. When the parties reached an impasse on negotiations at mediation, rather than continuing through the late afternoon and evening with frustrated parties, Sheryl called it a day and told the parties to get back to negotiations after having some more internal deliberation. In the following days, Sheryl continued to work with the parties and helped us bridge the gap. I’d highly recommend Sheryl to anyone interested in resolving a complicated case, looking for a mediator who will give it special focus/attention.”
Mediation Services, on a Complex Class Action Resulting in a Settlement of All Claims (Which Received Court Approval) and Counsel Recommending Ms. Axelrod on LinkedIn:
For her mediation services in this matter, Ms. Axelrod received the following recommendation on her LinkedIn profile:
Jarrett Ellzey
ELLZEY KHERKHER SANFORD & MONTGOMERY, LLP
“We had the pleasure of working with Sheryl as plaintiffs’ counsel in a complex class action, and I cannot recommend her highly enough. She navigated the case with exceptional skill, quickly and efficiently bringing both sides to resolution. Her attention to detail, clear-eyed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of each position, and ability to communicate hard truths candidly and constructively were invaluable.
Most impressive was her insight into the risks of continued litigation—artfully balancing the plaintiff’s time and expense against the defendant’s risk of losing leverage on appeal. Thanks to her leadership, we achieved a fair and favorable settlement in a remarkably efficient manner.
As Litigators, Represented an International Party in Negotiations in a Major International Mediation:
The Axelrod Firm attorneys represented a client based in Europe in the aviation industry in an international mediation in the United States. In the action, our overseas client-plaintiff company had a multimillion dollar contract with the defendant, a United States-based company, to purchase 40 aircraft from the defendant-company (4 aircraft a year for 10 years), which we sought to enforce against the opposing party which, we claimed, was raising the purchase price in violation of the parties’ contract.
While the mediation was unsuccessful, we later managed to fully, successfully, and amicably resolve the action.
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 the following recommendation of her work which appears on her profile on LinkedIn:
Phillip Berger
MANAGING PARTNER, BERGER LAW GROUP
“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.”
Ms. Axelrod was also given the following recommendation of her work which appears on her profile on LinkedIn:
Brett Berman
CO-CHAIR OF LITIGATION, FOX ROTHSCHILD
“I represented multiple Defendants in a protracted litigation in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, that had multiple appeals over the course of 6 years of litigation. Ms. Axelrod was appointed by the Commerce Court as the Receiver to address significant issues raised by the Superior Court. Despite the extremely contentious nature of the case, Ms. Axelrod was a true professional in both her role as a receiver and an informal mediator. After retaining skilled professionals to assist Ms. Axelrod in completing detailed analysis of the factual and legal issues in the case, Ms. Axelrod was able to successfully work with the parties to resolve a case that seemed completely unresolvable.
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.
Receivership Services, in an Action Involving Multiple Corporations
Ms. Axelrod is currently serving as Receiver of multiple corporations collectively owning 17 properties, and assisting the corporations in amicably selling the properties and dissolving.
Special Master
Special Master Services, in a Huge Commercial Tenancy Action
Served as Special 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.”
Special Master Services in Discovery Dispute Involving International Parties and a Major Law Firm
Served as the parties’ Special Master on a major international commercial litigation action in which the primary defendant, located overseas, was the subject of many of the parties’ discovery disputes, and the opposing party was represented by a major law firm.
Special Master Services in Discovery Dispute Involving Over 1,000 Documents
Served as Special Master in reviewing and deciding which of over 1,000 documents had to be produced in a Freedom of Information Act matter. In the action, the parties, both major entities, agreed in advance by stipulation and court order, that the Firm’s Special Master findings and determinations would be binding and unappealable.