Theodore Hess-Mahan Joins Zeytoonian Center for Dispute Resolution

- Attorney’s extensive background in civil litigation informs his alternative dispute resolution approach -

Wellesley Hills and Westborough, Mass. – March 17, 2009 – Theodore M. Hess-Mahan, a well-known civil litigation attorney formerly with Ropes & Gray LLP, has joined the Zeytoonian Center for Dispute Resolution, a new center that offers alternatives to resolving disputes in court, as Of Counsel. At the Center, Hess-Mahan works with businesses and individuals to resolve disputes outside the civil litigation system.

“In my nearly 20 years of representing clients in complex civil litigation cases, my experience has been that cases are almost always settled without going to trial,” said Hess-Mahan. “Through my litigation experience, I became aware that the overwhelming majority of parties would prefer a model that enabled them to collaborate with the people on the other side of the lawsuit and avoid litigation. Whatever the nature of the dispute, the parties are typically businesspersons, neighbors, professional colleagues, or have some other type of relationship in which they will encounter one another on an ongoing basis, and they would like to preserve these relationships. It just makes sense to try and avoid the costs and damage to relationships often associated with litigation by working together from the outset to settle disputes out of court.”

Trained in Collaborative Law, Hess-Mahan also practices at Hutchings, Barsamian, Mandelcorn and Zeytoonian, LLP as Of Counsel. He has litigated and negotiated settlements in numerous individual, class and derivative actions involving claims asserted under antitrust, civil rights, consumer protection, business and government contracts, disability, employment discrimination, health care, insurance, intellectual property, judgment enforcement, securities, tort and unfair business practice laws. Previously, he was associated with the law firm of Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP. Hess-Mahan began his practice as a civil litigation attorney with Ropes & Gray.

“Ted’s deep background in complex litigation lends an important perspective and skill set to the Center,” said Center founding partner Michael Zeytoonian. “He is able to thoroughly explore the advantages of each approach with our clients based upon their specific situation and draws upon his background in assisting our clients in developing strategies. Beyond his expertise, Ted’s commitment to the use of an appropriate process of dispute resolution, like collaborative law, as well as his commitment to his community makes him an excellent fit for the Center.”

Hess-Mahan is a former co-chair of the Boston Bar Association Class Action Committee and a former member of the BBA Litigation Section Steering Committee. He has lectured at legal seminars and published articles on class actions, securities, special education, and medical records privacy laws, and has been a guest lecturer on voting rights at the New England School of Law. Recently, he co-authored a chapter on depositions in class actions published in the Massachusetts Deposition Practice Manual. He served for 10 years as a voluntary pre-trial conferencer in civil cases in the Boston Municipal Court, meeting with the parties’ attorneys to assess case-readiness and to mediate discovery and other disputes. In addition, Hess-Mahan is active in the Newton Needham Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Business Lawyers Network.

A resident of Newton, Mass., Hess-Mahan has been active in public service as an elected, at-large member of the Newton Board of Aldermen since 2003. Previously, he served as a member of the Newton Human Rights Commission, and is the former President of CAN-DO, a non-profit developer of affordable housing in Newton.

Mr. Hess-Mahan received his BA from Tufts University in 1981 and graduated at the top of his class at Suffolk University Law School in 1990, where he was lead articles editor of the law review and director of the Honorable Frank J. Donahue Lecture Series. From 1990-1991, he was a law clerk for the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He has been admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Zeytoonian Center for Dispute Resolution provides legal and dispute resolution services that are preventive, proactive, efficient and collaborative. Our early intervention services work proactively to help clients anticipate problems that arise in organizations and put policies, procedures and training programs in place to engage, manage and diffuse problems and prevent them from escalating into disputes or claims. Utilizing the talents of lawyers, mediators, expert consultants and coaches, our dispute resolution services are designed to efficiently offer the kind of advocacy that protects clients’ rights, educates them on the best approach to their dispute, and helps them achieve a resolution that satisfies their interests. The Center has offices in Wellesley Hills and Westborough, Mass.

For more information, please visit www.zeytooniancenter.com or contact the Zeytoonian Center at (781) 489-2270.

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