Rich Cassidy is a Vermont mediator and arbitrator.

A founder of Rich Cassidy Law, before transitioning to full time practice as a neutral, he had more than 40 years of experience as a litigator and trial lawyer in Vermont. Over the years, his practice changed substantially. As a result, Rich has experience representing all sides in many kinds of disputes: plaintiffs and defendants, employers and employees, injured parties, and insurance companies. He believes that the breadth of his experience benefits his work as a neutral.

He has advocated for individuals, businesses, and governments in a broad range of civil litigation, including in construction cases, cases under the Uniform Commercial Code, and contract and business tort claims. He has significant experience with litigation and alternative dispute resolution involving higher education, public education, public safety, health care, municipalities, and manufacturing. His clients have included college students, faculty, and administrators as well as individuals, businesses, governmental agencies, and not-for-profit entities. He represented both labor unions, management, and individuals in collective bargaining relationships.

For the last decade of his work as a trial lawyer, Rich’s practice focussed on personal injury and labor and employment law. 

Since 1994, he has been a member of the Panel of Early Neutral Evaluators for the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. He is alsoon the early neutral evaluation panels for the Vermont Environmental Court and Vermont Superior Courts.

Rich believes that legal process can serve the ends of justice and has been active in work to improve the law throughout his career. For details see his curriculam vitae.

When he’s not working or in a committee meeting, Rich enjoys reading, walking his dog, Sophie, skiing, swimming, and rowing his Adirondack Guide Boat on Lake Champlain.

• Albany Law School Union University, Albany, New York
  • J.D. – 1978
• University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
  • B.A. – 1975
• Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Rutland, Vermont
  • College Preparatory Diploma – 1967 -1971

• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
  • Member, Vermont Chapter
• Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School
  • Certificate of Completion: “Mediating Disputes” (2021)
• Early Neutral Training, United States District Court for the District of Vermont,  1994
• Diploma, National Institute of Trial Advocacy,  June 9, 1984

   

• American Arbitration Association
  • Panel of Arbitrators, 1990-1995 
• American Bar Association
  • • Member, 1978 to present
    • Board of Governors, 2005 – 2008
    • House of Delegates, 1999 – 2015
    • Member and Chair, Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services, 2005-2011, Board Liaison, Member and Chair
    • Board Liaison, Section of Labor and Employment, 2005-2008 
• American Counsel Association
  • Member
  • President, 2009 – 2010
  • Director
• American Law Institute, Elected Member, 2015 – Present
• Uniform Law Commission
  • Vermont Commissioner, The Uniform Law Commission (formerly known as the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws)
    • 1994 - current
    • Officer: President, 2015-2017
      • Chair, Executive Committee 2013-2015
      • Chair, Scope and Program Committee, 2011-2013
      • Secretary, 2009-2010.
    • Former Member, Committee on Liaison with the American Bar Association.
    • Lead Commissioner, Vermont adoption effort on the Uniform Mediation Act
    • Lead Commissioner, Vermont adoption effort on the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act
    • Drafting Committees
      • Member, Drafting Committee on the Model Punitive Damages Act.
      • Member, Drafting Committee on the Revised Uniform Arbitration Act
      • Member, Drafting Committee on the Apportionment of Tort Responsibility Act.
      • Chair, Drafting Committee on the Uniform Collateral Consequences of Conviction Act.
      • Chair: Uniform Restrictive Employment Agreement Act
• United States District Court for the District of Vermont.
  • Early Neutral Evaluator, 1994 - Present
• Vermont Employment Lawyers Association
  • Founding Member
  • Past President
  • Treasurer
• Vermont Bar Association
  • Member, 1978- Present
  • Member, Board of Managers, 2020 - Present
• Acting Judge, Small Claims Court, Chittenden County, Vermont
  • Circa 2007 -- 2020
• Vermont Board of Bar Examiners
  • Associate Examiner 1991 –1993
  • Examiner, 1993 –1996
  • Chair, 1996-2004
• Vermont Human Rights Commission[
  • • Commissioner
    • 1973 --1975 

       

       

$325 per hour.