ABOUT

With more than 35 years of experience as the principal mediator for the NY State Unified Court System, Michele Kern-Rappy, Esq., is a seasoned veteran whom clients can trust to optimize their settlement success rate. Having developed and trademarked the court’s unique and award-winning mediation program, she has mediated more than 6,500 commercial and civil disputes as an authority in such areas as pre mises liability and construction, labor law, personal injury, insurance coverage, malpractice, product liability, commercial litigation, employment law, partnership, and family business.

A highly-skilled and renowned professional in her field, Ms. Kern-Rappy offers private lawyers a robust and purposeful approach to mediation that she has finely honed during her extensive career. Bringing an elevated level of trust, tenacity, and transparency to each case she referees, Ms. Kern-Rappy is well recognized and respected as a proficient and dynamic mediator with an enviable settlement rate.

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5

years of
experience

1000

civil disputes
mediated

15 %

settlement
rate

Tenacity, creativity, and trust are hallmarks of Ms. Kern-Rappy’s approach to mediation

Representative Matters

Business/Commercial

Contract disputes, partnership or corporation disputes, shareholder disputes, class action suits

Construction Accidents/Labor Law

Labor Law sections 200, 240 and 241-6, as well as related indemnity and insurance issues

Insurance

Resolving hundreds of cases involving coverage issues including: co-insurance, D&T liability, disaster insurance, subrogation, primary of coverage, and value of property damage

Complex Energy Disputes

Resolving complex energy disputes and utility disputes involving a variety of public and private constituencies including matters regarding service interruptions compliance and others

Personal Injury

Construction accidents, automobile accidents, medical malpractice, traumatic brain injury, complex  products liability, legal malpractice

Professional Liability

Personal injuries stemming from all kinds of hazardous conditions on property

Employment

Discrimination, leave, hostile work environment, noncompetes, retaliation, harassment, wage and overtime, whistleblower, wrongful termination

A Sought-After Speaker,
Trainer and Panel Facilitator

Ms. Kern-Rappy frequently organizes, speaks and facilitates panels on various topics in the ADR and mediation space. She has given presentations around the country, including before bar associations such as the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, Brooklyn Bar Association and the New York Women’s Bar Association, as well with other prestigious organizations including the Judicial Institute at Pace Law School.

To schedule Ms. Kern-Rappy for
a program, contact:

Rebecca Liebowitz Rothman, Esq., LL.M

Director of Operations and Programming

T: 516.672.7112

E: rebecca.liebowitz@acrgny.org

Thought Leadership

WCBA, Meet the Experts: Judges Share their Settlement Strategies
Creator/Moderator,
May 2026
NYSBA Trial Lawyers Dispute Resolution Section, NYS Supreme Court, Lean into Liens CLE
Creator/Co-Moderator,
August 2026
WWBA ADR Committee, Lean into Liens CLE
Creator/Moderator,
November 13, 2026, 5:30pm-7:30pm at Legal Aid Society of Westchester
NYSBA TICL Fall Conference, Observations from the Bench and Advice from the Advocate,
Moderator,
November 2026
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