Michael Winkelstein named to American Arbitration Association's Roster of Neutrals

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Cooper Levenson is pleased to announce that Judge Michael Winkelstein (retired) has been added to the Roster of Neutrals by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). The AAA, the nation’s leading provider of alternative dispute resolution services, is an international, nonprofit organization committed to the development and use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The organization provides case management services to individuals and organizations who wish to resolve conflicts out of court.

"All of us here at the firm have long known of Judge Winkelstein’s expertise and impressive record as a neutral. It is satisfying, though, to see that the American Arbitration Association has confirmed our thoughts by inviting the Judge to their Roster of Neutrals, an extremely limited list," said Kenneth J. Calemmo, Jr., Chief Operating Officer.

As chairman of Cooper Levenson’s ADR Practice Group, Judge Winkelstein provides valuable services to outside attorneys, assisting in evaluating all options – mediation, arbitration, or other non-traditional approaches – for expeditious and efficient solutions to disputes.

Winkelstein first took the oath of office as a Superior Court Judge on May 11, 1989.  He served in the Family Part and Civil Division, as Presiding Judge of the Civil Division, and as the Atlantic/Cape May vicinage Assignment Judge. He was elevated to the Appellate Division on August 1, 2001, where he served until his retirement; he was designated as a Presiding Judge for one of the Appellate Division Parts in his final year on the appellate bench. During his tenure on the bench, he served on a number of Supreme Court committees, and has participated in ICLE and other seminars. He has authored approximately a thousand opinions – over one hundred of them published - covering all aspects of the legal system.

Winkelstein received his undergraduate degree from the American University School of Communications (B.A. 1968) and his law degree from Temple University School of Law (J.D. 1973).

Cooper Levenson is a full service law firm since 1957, with 70 attorneys and New Jersey offices in Atlantic City, Cherry Hill, Newark, Princeton, and Trenton. The firm has regional offices in Bear, Del., Harrisburg, Pa., and Las Vegas, Nev.

About the American Arbitration Association

The global leader in conflict management since 1926, the American Arbitration Association is a not-for-profit, public service organization committed to the resolution of disputes through the use of arbitration, mediation, conciliation, negotiation, democratic elections and other voluntary procedures. In 2006, more than 137,000 cases were filed with the Association in a full range of matters including commercial, construction, labor, employment, insurance, international and claims program disputes. Through 29 offices in the United States, Ireland and Mexico, the AAA provides a forum for the hearing of disputes, rules and procedures and a roster of impartial experts to resolve cases. www.adr.org