Harrie Samaras

This user account status is Approved

Pennsylvania
USA

United States

—

Daily flat rates available…

This user do not have any followers yet.

Open to Work

Mediating In-House

Evaluative

Facilitative

Transformative

Emerging

Very Experienced

Client Feedback Digest

Overview

This Feedback Digest has been updated to include 16 Feedback Reports and comments received relating to mediations that occurred between July 2005 and December 2020. The feedback respondents overwhelmingly expressed a willingness to use Ms. Samaras again as a mediator and indicated they would, without reservation, recommend her to others. Her skills were rated as highly effective, with all reviewers ranking her at 4 or 5 (with 5 being the highest possible) on the IMI Feedback request form. All of the reviewers were satisfied with the costs of the mediations. In fact, one reviewer commented, “Harrie’s rates are much lower than other mediators with whom I have dealt who weren’t nearly as effective as Harrie.” Overall satisfaction was also indicated as 4 or 5. Most of the responders commented on her depth of knowledge in the area of intellectual property matters, her persistence, her persuasiveness and her patience. As one person commented, “there was no need to ‘educate’ the mediator.” Another said she “understood the legal and technology issues without the need for extensive tutorials.” One reviewer noted that “she earned the confidence of the parties due to her knowledge of the subject matter.” Another commented that Ms. Samaras has “the rare combination of excellent mediation skills, detailed knowledge of patent law and patent infringement litigation procedure, and technical background that helps her quickly grasp the relevant technology.” She was also viewed as “very thorough” in her preparation, with “very good command of the relevant issues and law.” Multiple reviewers spoke of her skill in bringing difficult parties together, with one reviewer stating that her ability in this area was “outstanding." Another advised, “Ms. Samaras was very effective in moving the parties past deeply ingrained positions and negotiating a workable, common sense settlement.” A third mentioned that “She kept the parties talking far longer than I could have possibly imagined”, enabling the parties to narrow the dispute to a single key issue, allowing for “a quick settlement”. One person praised Ms. Samaras’ “extraordinary efforts to try and bridge the gap and reach a successful settlement.” Another expressed appreciation for her efforts “in what were clearly difficult circumstances.” Regarding her persistence, a typical comment was that “she did not give up when settlement seemed unlikely, but continued to re-focus the parties on workable solutions.” She was viewed as “committed, professional and persistent in getting the parties to the same page”. One attorney stated “Harrie had a major impact on getting a final resolution. The mediation was not successful during the formal 2-day mediation, but she persisted in her effort following the formal mediation, and we finally got the case resolved months later. It was also said that she was “flexible, creative and relentless.” Several commenters attributed the resolution of their disputes directly to Ms. Samaras’ efforts, such as by stating “our settlement would not have happened without you.” Key skills of Ms. Samaras, as noted by the reviewers, consisted of her ability to keep the parties focused, offer workable business solutions, and bring difficult parties together to focus on those solutions. She was also “very pro-active” after an agreement was reached to make sure it was fully documented and executed, and followed up after the settlement agreement was executed to ensure that the parties were meeting their obligations. Overall, Ms. Samaras was viewed as a highly effective mediator by her reviewers. Typical comments were that she is “a first-rate mediator”, and that her mediation skills “are outstanding and she earns the respect of the parties.” It was said that she is able to utilize “her legal and people skills in a most productive manner,” and that “her temperament is very well suited to mediation.” One reviewer, who is a mediator himself, remarked that “Ms. Samaras is among the absolute best in the patent field.” No reportable negative comments have arisen in any Feedbacks to date. One attorney, Joseph Wolfson, Esq. of Stevens & Lee, who represented a party in a mediation in 2020, offered to be a reference for Ms. Samaras. His contact information is 215-751-1249, jwo@stevenslee.com.

This feedback digest was last updated 11 April 2021.

Current Position & Background

Ms. Samaras founded the ADR Office of Harrie Samaras (formerly, ADR & Law Office of Harrie Samaras) for which she provides dispute resolution services including serving as an Arbitrator, Mediator, Early Neutral Evaluator, and consultant on ADR issues. Her practice includes intellectual property (IP) (patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret), business/technology, commercial contract and employment disputes. Ms. Samaras serves as a neutral for the CPR Int’l Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, American Arbitration Association and its International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and U.S. International Trade Commission. Ms. Samaras has worked as an attorney in the corporate and private sectors and for the U.S. government as a staff attorney and law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (including appeals in patent infringement, international trade, government contract and certain employment cases), and as a Patent Examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Her practice has included IP litigation and licensing, commercial transactions and alternative dispute resolution, as summarized below: Alternative Dispute Resolution: Ms. Samaras serves as a mediator in commercial disputes including: breach of contract and related claims (e.g., license, exclusive distribution, technology transfer, development/joint development, assignment, employment, reseller, goods/services, supply/purchase, clinical trial services, master services/license, tortious interference); IP (all areas) infringement; inventorship, unfair competition and unjust enrichment claims. She has served as an arbitrator in both U.S. and international cases, as the sole arbitrator or Chairperson/wingman on three-member panels. Ms. Samaras arbitrates cases involving commercial agreements (see previous list for mediation), intellectual property infringement/misappropriation, wrongful termination and domain name claims. As a client advocate in private and corporate practice, Ms. Samaras has represented clients from the U.S. and abroad in mediations and settlement discussions involving contract/licensing, intellectual property infringement and business/technology issues. Corporate Counsel: Ms. Samaras served as Director of Intellectual Property Litigation for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company doing business worldwide, and as Vice President Intellectual Property, Legal for a business unit of a multi-national pharmaceutical company. She was responsible for prosecuting (enforcement) and defending actions involving IP assets worldwide before courts and administrative tribunals, performing early case assessment, negotiating commercial contracts, negotiating settlements, and serving as an advocate in mediating disputes. Outside Counsel: Ms. Samaras served as lead counsel and as co-counsel with other law firms in IP and related cases at the trial and appellate levels. Her practice also included working with clients to perform early case assessment regarding potential and ongoing IP disputes, negotiating settlements, and representing clients in mediations and arbitrations relating to infringement and contract disputes over IP assets. Ms. Samaras also served as a mediator and arbitrator in the same kinds of cases she currently handles. Technology: Ms. Samaras has mediated and arbitrated cases in such areas as: biotechnology; clinical trials; consumer goods; medical devices; pharmaceuticals; computers/information technology; and software. She litigated cases in such areas as: consumer diagnostic testing (e.g., test strips, immuno-assays); video games; medical devices (e.g., excimer lasers, nicotine patches); pharmaceuticals and drug delivery; mechanical devices (e.g., coin-dispensers, locks, vehicle accouterments, beverage cans); telecommunications and/or computer systems (e.g., call processing, phone-based time and attendance systems, pre-flight/checking files); and biotechnology (e.g., products for consumers and laboratories). Ms. Samaras holds Bachelor and Masters’ degrees in the life sciences and chemistry. As a Patent Examiner at the PTO she examined patent applications related to mechanical inventions in the health, pharmaceutical and medical device areas.

Practice Areas

Intellectual Property (infringement) disputes involving patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets Internet Licenses Business and Technology Commercial contracts Employment

Mediation Style

I am a facilitative mediator, but I use evaluative mediation when the parties request it or it may assist in the process (with full knowledge and consent of the parties). Mediation should take into account the past, current and possibly future relationship of the parties. Mediation is more than a “session.” There are building blocks before, during and after the session that connect to create the right environment and circumstances for a resolution. Two of the mediator’s roles are: (1) as a guide to help the parties tailor a process that fits their needs; and (2) as an objective facilitator who brings perspective to the emotional, substantive and financial issues in the dispute and helps the parties consider practical options for resolving their dispute. Having been a client (in-house counsel) in two companies, I can often understand the emotional toll and the distraction a dispute can take on those directly involved. That experience helps me to help the parties focus on their interests and those of their opponent so that they can develop practical solutions to settle the dispute.

Public credential

Certified Mediator

Live verification page with current IMI credential status and badge details.

VerifiedView credential

Support IMI.

IMI is wholly reliant on grants and contributions from stakeholders.

Thank you for your contribution – it supports furthering of IMI’s Vision and Mission, worldwide.

Make a Contribution

Client Feedback Digest

Overview

Current Position & Background

Practice Areas

Mediation Style

Mediation Experience

Mediation Education

Teaching & Mentoring

Mediation Publications

Affiliations

Code of Conduct

Complaint Process

Professional Indemnity Insurance

IMI Credentials

Certified Mediator

Support IMI.