2025

• 2025 started off great with Lisa Savitt co-organizing the UIA World Forum of Mediation Centres Forum in Vienna, Austria and also moderating a panel "Innovative Settlements - Why Mediation is Good Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism”

• Sara Sandford assumed the Presidency of King County Dispute Resolution Center

• Cara Lee voted a Top Lawyer in Mediation by Minnesota lawyers in Minnesota Monthly magazine 2025 and 2024

• Sara will be a panelist in Singapore: "Shaping Global Dispute Resolution: The Significance of the Singapore Convention and Other Recent Developments" 

  2024

• Benchmark National ADR, LLC voted #1 Best ADR company in Minnesota Lawyers reader survey 2024

• Cara Lee Neville voted #1 Best Mediator in Minnesota Lawyers reader survey 2024

• Sara received recognition as a Washington Mediation Association certified mediator 

• Lisa was interviewed by American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Dispute Resolution Committee about her article on Practical Considerations for Mediations with International Parties.

• Lisa and Sara co-moderated a panel, “When Many Collide - Dealing with Multiple Party Disputes” - at the UIA Mediation Forum in London, England

• Lisa successfully moderated a program of international bar leaders at UIA Annual Congress in Paris, France 

• Sara joined mediation teaching team for students and professionals at University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, WA 

• Cara Lee taught mediation to lawyers at PowerHouse ADR and Advocacy Institute

• Sara presented a program on dealing with “difficult” parties in mediation for King County Bar Association ADR Committee

• Lisa published an article on “Practical Considerations for Mediations with International Parties” in the Dispute Resolution Committee newsletter of ABA Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section

• Cara Lee, Sara and Lisa requalified as Rule 114 mediators in Minnesota

• Sara presented a program on cultural diversity in mediation for the NW Dispute Resolution Conference

• Sara joined the teaching team to train Peer Mediators for King County Dispute Resolution Center, Tukwila, WA

• Lisa attended the ABA International Law Section Fall Meeting in London, England

• Sara & Cara Lee attended the ABA International Law Section Annual Meeting in Washington, DC

• Cara Lee accepted an ABA Presidential appointment as Special Advisor to the ABA to Rule of Law Initiative Board

• Lisa accepted an ABA Presidential appointment to the Center for Human Rights Advisory Committee

• Sara accepted an ABA Presidential appointment to the Center for Human Rights Board

• Sara accepted ABA Presidential appointments to return to the Rule of Law Initiative Board, and to serve as Chair of ROLI’s Africa Law Initiative Council

• Cara Lee was appointed to the select Committee of the House by the Chair of the ABA House of Delegates the policy-making body of the ABA

• Sara continued to serve as elected Delegate for the International Law Section to the ABA House of Delegates, the policy-making body of the ABA

• Lisa reappointed as an International Vice President of the Senate of the UIA (International Lawyers Association)

• Cara Lee was elected by the Minnesota State Bar Association to serve as a delegate for the state to the ABA House of Delegates, the policy-making body of the ABA

• Cara Lee was elected to serve on the Council of the ABA International Law Section

• Sara continued to serve on Administrative Committee of ABA International Law Section