Resolutions: A Podcast About Dispute Resolution And Prevention

In this episode of Resolutions, host Rekha Rangachari sits down with Wisconsin State Bar Ethics Counsel Timothy Pierce to unpack ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 518 — issued October 2025 and focused on a mediator's duty to avoid misleading communications when serving as a third-party neutral. They examine what the Opinion means in practice: the heightened obligation to maintain neutrality, the line between permissible evaluation and prohibited recommendations, and how Model Rules 2.4, 4.1, and 8.4(c) govern candor in mediation. Whether you're a seasoned neutral or newly stepping into the role, this conversation will help you recalibrate your ethical compass. This episode was published by the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution - the leading source of dispute resolution information and networking opportunities for professionals around the world. Not a member of the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution? Join today! Listen on Apple Podcasts, PodBean, and Spotify.