Amy L. Van Horne

Recognition: Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Approved Mediator, U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska American Arbitration Association (AAA), panel arbitrator Member, Nebraska Mediation Association Member, American Academy of ADR Attorneys (Certified Mediator) Fellow, American College of Civil Trial Mediators (ACCTM) Fellow, American Bar Foundation Fellow, Nebraska State Bar Association Nebraska State Bar Association Outstanding Contributor to Women in the Law, 2020 Benchmark Litigation, Top 250 Women in Litigation, 2012 Benchmark Litigation Future Stars 2012 Benchmark Litigation Future Stars 2011 Benchmark Litigation Future Stars 2010

Why Mediate?

Most large, national law firms do not formally offer mediation-as-neutral services because the process can negatively impact their litigation revenues. However, Kutak Rock has found mediation services to be a natural expansion of its mission to provide excellent legal and client services at extremely reasonable rates.

While Kutak Rock litigators regularly represent their clients in mediations, a select group of attorneys comprise Kutak Rock’s Mediation Neutrals Group. They are trained to assist parties in reaching a mutually acceptable resolution of their dispute. The mediators are impartial, neutral and unbiased and make no decisions for the parties. The mediators do not provide legal advice or counsel.

Mediation is a personal, interactive, problem-solving method used to improve understanding and resolve problems in the most beneficial way for everyone involved. Emphasis is placed on all parties involved being heard and understood, and the process is private, confidential and considerably less expensive than protracted litigation.

Benefits to mediation include improved communication, the use of constructive problem-solving, control over the outcome, a collaborative resolution and, therefore, increased likelihood of follow-through. Additionally, mediation makes business sense, given that its cost is substantially less than that of extended litigation.

The mediation facilitator is an impartial, neutral and unbiased third party who assists all participants with communicating perspectives clearly, clarifying issues, exploring options and reaching and implementing agreements, if possible. The facilitator controls the process, not the content, and has no authority to make a judgment or influence any decision. Sessions are bound by statutory confidentiality provisions unless subject to open meetings law.