Andrew Horowitz Shares Strategies on How to Build Trust and Manage Trauma in Employment Disputes

In an October 2, 2026, article published in the Lawyers Journal, titled “Addressing a Client’s Trauma When Mediating Their Employment Case“, Pittsburgh-based Obermayer attorney and mediator Andrew Horowitz examines the impact of trauma on plaintiffs in employment disputes and offers strategies for addressing it effectively during mediation.

Andrew emphasizes that a traumatized plaintiff faces a heightened risk of becoming completely alienated by the mediation process, explaining that initial joint sessions, facing opposing counsel, or witnessing defense representatives may be triggering. To prevent this, Andrew recommends evaluating a client’s comfort with joint sessions, pre-emptively requesting that defendants skip opening statements, and utilizing a support person—as mediation confidentiality often extends to non-parties in many jurisdictions. Furthermore, he cautions attorneys against aggressive posturing during negotiations, advising:

“As a mediator, I have observed that some counsel are accustomed to performing for their clients by expressing outrage at the opposing party’s offers. This is always counterproductive, but especially so when your client is a victim of trauma.”