The Power of Apologies

Sid Kanazawa — mediator, arbitrator, and trial lawyer with over 40 years of experience resolving disputes locally, nationally, and internationally — will reframe how attorneys think about apologies in the context of conflict resolution. Drawing on his teaching at Pepperdine and his widely republished 2004 article "Apologies and Lunch," Kanazawa will explore why a genuine apology functions as a gift rather than a transactional tool, and why that distinction matters in mediation and negotiation. He will examine the different forms an apology can take, why not all apologies constitute admissions of fault, and how authentic expressions of empathy can restore dignity and social harmony between parties.The Alternative Dispute Resolution Section is chaired by Robert Cohen and Jeffrey Kravitz.