Sara Kula

ADR Training
Fee Dispute Arbitration Training (NYCBA); Employment Arbitrator Pathways Training (CPR); Basic and Advanced Mediation Training (Stalder Mediation); The Science of Fairness (SDNY) Getting Past Impasse (SDNY) AAA Higginbotham Fellowship (including Mediation Process Overview and Role of the Mediator; Setting the Stage for Effective Mediation; Facilitating Communication; Issues Identification and Setting the Mediation Conference Agenda; Applying Settlement Building Techniques; Ethical Dimensions of Mediator Influence; Character Traits of an Excellent Arbitrator; Arbitrator's Role and Authority; Arbitrator Ethics, Practice Standards and Disclosures; Labor and Employment Arbitration Law and Practice; Preparing for and Conducting a Preliminary Hearing; Managing Evidentiary Hearing Issues; Writing the Award and Post Hearing Issues; International Arbitration Law and Practice; Drafting ADR Clauses; Building a Career in ADR) Building a sustainable ADR program (NYSBA) Best Practices in Employment Mediation (JAMS) Mandatory Arbitration of Employment Disputes (Littler) Advanced Mediator Training - The extent (or limit) of Mediator Influence to Effect Settlement (AAA) Southern District of New York Mediation Training University of Pennsylvania Law School ADR Clinic.

Professional Training
University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D. 2003 (magna cum laude); University of Rochester, B.A., 2000 (magna cum laude); Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen, 2003-2005; Littler Mendelson, 2005-2011; Town Sports International, LLC, 2012-2015; DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, 2016-2020; Kula Law, P.C., 2021-Present

Professional Experience
Over 15 years practicing exclusively employment law as an advocate and as a neutral arbitrator investigator and mediator. Specialties include wage and hour matters (FLSA, NYLL); discrimination, harassment and retaliation (Title, VII, ADEA, ADA, NYHRL, NYCHRL); and issues relating to disability accommodations and leaves (FMLA, ADA, NYPFL). Has served as an advocate for both employers and employees, providing compliance advice, counseling and litigation services on an individual and class and collective basis. Regularly drafts employment agreements, commission agreements and policies, separation agreements and offer letters. Regularly advises clients on federal, state and local employment law compliance issues. Experience with retail, hospitality, professional services, insurance, finance, construction, aviation, health and fitness and other industries.

ADR Experience
AAA Employment Mediation Panel, 2016 - present. Mediation Panel for the Southern District of New York, 2012- present. Advisory Committee Member for Southern District of New York, 2015-2017. Advisory Committee Member for Eastern District of New York, 2021-present. 2015 American Arbitration Association Higginbotham Fellow.