SAM IMPERATI
Contributing Associate Professor
J.D., University of California at Davis
B.S., University of Santa Clara

EML: simperati@willamette.edu

Sam Imperati is the Executive Director of the Institute for Conflict Management, Inc.  He has been highly effective in resolving complex disputes, facilitating public policy issues, mediating multi-party cases, managing matters where emotions run high.  He also trains individuals and groups to help them navigate the intersection of logic and emotion.  His peers selected him for inclusion in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 editions of The Best Lawyers in America for mediation.  He was also the recipient of the 2007 OMA, Sid Lezak Award of Excellence for Outstanding Service to the Profession of Mediation in Oregon.

Sam has been an attorney for over twenty-nine years, enjoys Martindale Hubble’s highest rating, “AV,” and has been involved in more than 2,500 matters.  His legal background includes plaintiff and defense work, management and labor, along with litigation and appeals.  He was formerly Assistant Corporate Counsel with Nike, in private practice, and has handled litigation and mediated everything from “Admiralty to Zoning.”  He has served as a Judge Pro Tem, as Chair of the Oregon State Bar Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, and as an Executive Committee member of the Portland Neighborhood Mediation Center Advisory Committee.  Mr. Imperati has been a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR), the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA), the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2), and the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD).  He was on the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Ethics Committee, was Chair of the OSB Multnomah Local Professional Responsibility Committee, and serves on Oregon Mediation Association’s Standards and Practices Committee.

As a seasoned mediator and facilitator, Mr. Imperati is accustomed to being a guest at the parties’ table, working under deadlines, and collaboratively developing effective press relations, along with meaningful public involvement processes.  Sam’s specific skills lie in his ability to efficiently organize mass amounts of information in a short period, synthesize it, present it clearly, and effectively facilitate a large, diverse group of stakeholders.  He displays a tireless work ethic, models impartiality, and has endless energy.  Mr. Imperati has the ability to motivate people and break apparent impasse.  He creates an environment where stakeholders can explore the issues rather than debate them.  He uses “result-oriented” processes, effective option generating, realistic risk analysis, numerous impasse-breaking techniques, and diligent follow-up. 

His law review articles, “Mediator Practice Models: The Intersection of Ethics & Stylistic Practices in Mediation,” 33 Willamette Law Review 703 (1997), and “If Freud, Jung, Rogers and Beck Were Mediators, Who Would the Parties Pick and What are the Mediator’s Obligations, 43 Idaho Law Review 3(2007) explore the practical and ethical issues surrounding the competing practice styles of mediators.  Frequently, each party wants him to be “facilitative” with them and “evaluative” of the other side’s position.  In response, he uses “result-oriented” processes, effective option generating, realistic risk analysis, numerous impasse-breaking techniques and diligent follow-up.  He has been highly effective in resolving complex and controversial public policy issues.

Sam graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santa Clara.  He received his law degree from the University of California at Davis – King Hall Law School, where he was a law review, volume editor.  He co-authored two articles on water law and worked at California’s State Water Resources Control Board.  He was co-founder/editor of Environs, an environmental law and policy publication, and did a judicial internship with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in Seattle.

• Oregon Court of Appeals Settlement Conference Panelist and Trainer
• Oregon Dispute Resolution Commission Advisory Committee
• U.S. Dept. of Justice-U.S. Attorneys Offices (OR) Qualified Third-Party Neutral
• Oregon State Agency Mediator Roster
• Portland and East Portland Metropolitan Associations of Realtors: Panel of Mediators
• Portland Civil Rights Mediation Program Service
• Register of Mediators: U.S. Bankruptcy Courts (S. District of New York & Oregon)
• Oregon Work Group on Mediator Competencies
• OSB Debtor-Creditor Section ADR Subcommittee
• ODOT Right of Way Roster of Neutrals
• Lane County Community College Panel of Mediators
• U.S. General Services Administration Nationwide Source List ADR Provider
• OSB ADR Legislation Contact and OSB House of Delegates Service
• OSB Fee Arbitration Panel
• OSB Bar Counsel – Region 5
• OSB Workers Compensation Section Executive Committee
• U.S. District Court’s Environmental Mediation Pilot Project
• OMA’s Standards and Practices Committee
• Court-Connected Mediator Qualifications Advisory Committee

ICM is a Portland-based, national provider of mediation, facilitation, strategic visioning, and training services.  The organization brings years of experience in managing, presenting, and resolving matters in a thorough, clear, and balanced fashion. 

ICM's clients include public agencies, private companies, trade associations, hospitals, law firms, and universities. 

Mercury Rule Fiscal Impact Advisory Committee (2006): The report can be found at: www.deq.state.or.us/aq/mercury/index.htm.

Governor’s Vehicle Emissions Workgroup (2005): The report can be found at: www.deq.state.or.us/aq/aqplanning/orlev/docs/05Nov02WorkgroupRpt.pdf. 

Columbia River Gorge Air Quality Project.  The Work Plan Addendum and Redesigned Technical Study were reviewed by the various stakeholders and public before it was approved by the Columbia River Gorge Commission.  Website: www.gorgeair.org.)

Portland/Vancouver I-5 Transportation and Trade Partnership Final Strategic Plan.  The plan was reviewed by the various stakeholders and the public before it was approved by the participating jurisdictions.  Website: www.I-5Partnership.com.)

Portland Public Schools and Portland Association of Teachers Compensation and Health Benefits Advisory Committee Report.  This consensus report was used by the parties during their collective bargaining.  Full Report: www.patpdx.org/report.htm.)