Ms. Melissa H Biren

Arbitrator & Mediator

Melissa H. Biren, Esq.

81 Parker Avenue
Maplewood, New Jersey 07040

Fax: 973-761-1842

Professional Work History

2002 to present: Arbitrator and Mediator - Full time ADR practice focusing on resolution of workplace disputes in the private and public sectors, including labor and employment cases involving diverse disciplinary, contract, statutory and common law issues in a broad range of industries/agencies. Listed on national, state and local arbitration rosters as well as various permanent panels listed below. Member of the National Academy of Arbitrators. Prior Experience: Over 20 years legal experience in traditional labor and employment matters (including collective bargaining negotiations and handling litigation before various Federal and State courts and agencies and arbitrators.) Served as General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer for international companies and as associate in NYC law firms. Admitted to practice law in NY, NJ and CT Publications: Discipline and Discharge in Arbitration, Norman Brand and Melissa Biren Editors-in-Chief (Third Edition, BNA, 2015 and Second Edition, BNA, 2008)

Dispute Resolution Experience

Currently listed on the following arbitration/mediation rosters: American Arbitration Association (Employment and Labor Panels); Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; NYS Public Employment Relations Board; NYC Office of Collective Bargaining; NJ State Board of Mediation; NJ Public Employment Relations Commission. Permanent Panels include (2019): City University of NY/Professional Staff Congress; NJ State Department of Education - Teacher Tenure Panel under TEACH NJ; NYS/PBA Disciplinary Arbitration Panel for the Agency Police Services Unit; NYC Department of Education/UFT and NYSED - 3020a Panels; Realty Advisory Board on Labor Relations/SEIU Local 32BJ; Temple University Hospital/PASNAP; United Parcel Service/IBT Local 177; U.S. Postal Service/NLRCA. Serve as Special Master under the NYC Department of Education/IUOE Local 891 collective bargaining agreement. Named arbitrator in collective bargaining agreements in the building services industry.

Cornell University Dispute Resolution Training (Course titles and dates taken)

Alliance for Education in Dispute Resolution, Employment Arbitrator Training Program (2003)

Served as Lecturer for the Scheinman Institute's Labor Arbitrator Development Program, Seven Tests of Just Cause (2009 and 2011)

Other Dispute Resolution Training

Regularly attend seminars offered by NAA, AAA, FMCS, Bar Associations and other organizations to stay current in ADR practice and in the substantive areas of labor and employment law. Frequent speaker on labor and employment arbitration issues at various professional conferences. Faculty - AAA - Managing the Arbitration Process (2012); Witness Preparation (2019). FMCS - Private Sector Arbitration Training (annually, 2012-2019).

Professional Associations

National Academy of Arbitrators (former Chair, NAA-NY Metro Region); NYS Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law Section); NJ Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law Section, Member of Section Executive Committee); American Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law Section); Sidney Reitman Employment Law American Inn of Court; NJ Labor and Employment Relations Association (past president).

Education

Albany Law School of Union University, JD, magna cum laude, Albany Law Review. Harpur College, SUNY Binghamton, BA, graduated with honors, Phi Beta Kappa.

References

Available upon request.

Fee Policy

December 2019: Labor Arbitration: $2,300 per diem (Hearing and Study/Writing), Per diem rate cancellation fee charged for each scheduled hearing date if canceled with less than 28 days written notice. Employment Arbitration and Mediation:$525 per hour, plus expenses; $2,500 minimum for each scheduled hearing day. $2,500 cancellation fee charged for each scheduled hearing date if canceled with less than 28 days notice (45 days notice if multiple hearing days scheduled in a 30 day period).

Roster of Neutrals