Meet Our Mediators/51

Keywords: Two Party, cyber-property, Intellectual Property, negligence, intentional harms, Family Matters, separation property division, Parenting Time, Wills and Estates, child custody, finances, Bad Business, contract disputes, misrepresentation, commercial, public policy

More about Mike Boersma:

I have been an attorney for 10 years and an arbitrator, facilitator, and mediator for almost 20 years. I have had experience arbitrating or arbitrating disputes involving negligence, business, online, wills and estates, domestic relations (including divorce and separation issues such as parenting time, property division, custody, and support), real estate, business (including contract disputes, business torts, employment, and warrantee issues) as well as other matters.

When I am not assisting folks in resolving their disputes I can be found on my bike.

The fine print:

Education 1994 – 1997 The Detroit College of Law Detroit, Michigan
Juris Doctor
 Concentration in International Law
1991-1998 Wayne State University Detroit, Michigan
Master of Arts
 Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy
1986-1990 Calvin College Grand Rapids, Michigan
Bachelor or Arts
 Philosophy
Professional experience 1999 – 2006 The Law Office of Michael E. Boersma, PC Kalamazoo, MI
Attorney
 Practice areas focus on corporate law, employment law, real property law, alternative dispute resolution (facilitation, mediation and arbitration), and family law.
2000 The Otsego County Prosecutor’s Office, Gaylord, Michigan
 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Prosecuted Felony, Misdemeanor and Delinquency cases. Prosecuted Child Abuse, Neglect and Parental Rights Termination cases. Performed Warrant Duty. Performed Community education activities.
1997-1999 The Wayne County Prosecutors Office, Detroit, Michigan
 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Special Crime Unit. Trial and appellate practice in prosecution of money laundering, narcotics, gambling, prostitution, and illegal enterprise criminal prosecution. Prosecution of narcotics forfeiture and public nuisance abatement cases. Performed Warrant Duty. Performed police training activities.
Publications 10 Points to Consider in Choosing a Mediator, The General Practitioner, July 2005
Alternative Dispute Resolution for the General Practitioner, The General Practitioner, December 2004
Manifest Necessity: Extraconstitutional Measures in United States Law, MSUDCL J. INT’L LAW 11.2, 2003
A Five Minute Guide to School Discipline, The General Practitioner, November 2002
Analysis of the Application of Economic Coercion to Correct Breaches of International Obligations: The Use of Force by the United States to correct Cuba’s breaches of its international obligations. MSUDCL J. INT’L LAW 10.1, 2001
International Business Transactions, the Internet, and the Convention on the International Sale of Goods: Preventing Unintentional Pitfalls. DCLMSU J. INT’L LAW AND PRACTICE 7.1, 1998
Additional professional activities Michigan Court Rule General Civil Mediator, Michigan Court Rule Domestic Relations Mediator, BBB Arbitrator, Cook County Circuit Court Arbitrator, Federal District Court Arbitrator, State Bar of Michigan Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, Gryphon Place Dispute Resolution Services Advisory Board.
Professional memberships State Bar of Michigan, Kalamazoo County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association
Languages Spanish
Community activities Chair, Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study Citizens Advisory Committee. Michigan Transportation Summit, 2003-2004. MDOT long range planning. Kalamazoo Bicycle Club. League of Michigan Bicyclists.
Accreditations Licensed to practice law in Michigan, Illinois, and Federal Courts.

Volunteer experience






Alternative Dispute Resolution Chair, Kalamazoo County Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, Volunteer mediator for Citizens Mediation Service. Volunteer Mediator for Gryphon Place


General Civil Mediator Training (40 Hour), Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, June 2003; Advanced Civil Mediator Training (8 Hour), April 2006 and May 2004; Domestic Relations Mediation (40 Hour), May, 2005; Adult Guardianship Mediation (16 Hour), September, 2004; Special Education Mediation (16 Hour), October, 2005; Cook County Circuit Court Mandatory Arbitration Training, September, 2003. BBB Autoline Arbitration Training, April 2006. NFA Arbitration Training, December 2004. ICC International Arbitration training, 2004.