SME Dispute Resolution LLC

Sarah Miller Espinosa, J.D.

Labor Arbitrator. Mediator. Ombuds.

Member of the

National Academy of Arbitrators.

Expertise in the resolution of workplace conflict

Sarah Miller Espinosa, J.D.

Sarah Miller Espinosa, J.D., is a labor arbitrator, mediator, and organizational ombuds. Sarah is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators and is listed on a number of labor arbitration rosters and panels, including those administered by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the American Arbitration Association, the National Mediation Board, DC PERB, NJ PERC, and NY PERB. Sarah also serves as the Impartial Labor Relations Administrator for Arlington County Virginia, Fairfax County Virginia, City of Charlottesville Virginia, and Montgomery County Government in Maryland. Sarah serves on various permanent arbitration panels. Sarah is a senior extension associate at the Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution at Cornell University, where she teaches professional development courses including Ethics in Mediation and Arbitration and Employment Law Mediation Training. She is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Workplace conflict resolution services

Labor Arbitration

Sarah Espinosa has over twenty years experience and expertise in the field of labor relations. Sarah has been entrusted by the parties to serve as a labor arbitrator in hundreds of matters since 2013. Prior to establishing SME Dispute Resolution, LLC, Sarah served in a variety of roles, including vice president of human resources, director of labor relations, chief negotiator, and as a mediator and assistant general counsel for the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration and the State of Connecticut Board of Labor Relations.

Mediation

Sarah Espinosa specializes in the mediation and resolution of workplace and regulatory disputes and practices in accordance with the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and the ACR Ethical Principles. Sarah is listed on a number of mediation rosters and panels, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ADR Panel, EEOC RESOLVE, and the Cornell Roster of Neutrals, in addition to accepting ad hoc mediation appointments. Sarah previously served as a full-time mediator with the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration, where she assisted public sector employers and unions in the resolution of collective bargaining impasses.

Ombuds Services

Sarah Espinosa assists organizations in the establishment of organizational ombuds programs and serves as an organizational ombuds, providing impartial and independent assistance in the resolution of issues and concerns in accordance with the International Ombuds Association Code of Ethics. In this work, Sarah has collaborated with stakeholders at a variety of organizations, including at a multi-campus community college, public school division, and associations.

Professional associations

National Academy of Arbitrators, Member; Association for Conflict Resolution, ACR Ethics Committee Co-Chair; Labor & Employment Relations Association, Dispute Resolution Interest Section, Ombuds Practice Lead; LERA Virginia Chapter, Past President; Ray Corollary Initiative (RCI, Inc.), Board Secretary; LERA DC Chapter, Member; LERA Maryland Chapter, Member; Society of Federal Labor & Employee Relations Professionals , Member; American Bar Association, Labor & Employment Law Section & Dispute Resolution Section, Member; International Ombudsman Association, Member.

presentations, publications

"How the Arbitrators Rule", Panelist, 41st FMCS Arbitration Symposium, 2021; "Organizational Ombuds", Panelist, ADR Roundtable Discussion, Scheinman Institute on Conflict Resolution, Cornell University ILR School, 2020; "Building Broader Workplace Resolution Practices", Panelist, Labor & Employment Relations Association Annual Conference, 2020; “Ask the Arbitrators”, Panelist, American Arbitration Association, Successful Labor Arbitration Techniques, 2019; “Ombuds Office: One Way to Partner in a Post-Janus World?”, Panel Moderator, Labor & Employment Relations Association Annual Conference, 2019; “Disciplinary Issues”, Panel Moderator, National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions Annual Conference, 2019; “Evidentiary Issues in Federal Sector Arbitration,” Panel Discussion, Society of Federal Labor and Employee Relations Professionals Symposium, 2019; “Finding a Seat at the Table: Enhancing Ombuds Impact”, Co-Presenter, International Ombudsman Association Conference, 2019; “The Organizational Ombuds: Enhancing Government Through Conflict Resolution,” ABA Just Resolutions Newsletter, September 2018; “Discipline in the Federal Sector”, Panel Moderator at SFLERP Symposium, 2018; “Can an Ombuds Office help resolve conflict and positively impact labor relations?”, Panel Moderator at Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions Annual Conference, 2018; “Labor Relations: The Basics of Just Cause for Conflict Resolvers,” Co-Presenter at the International Ombudsman Association Annual Conference 2018, Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution Annual Conference, 2017, and Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Conference, 2016; “Ask the Arbitrators”, Panel Discussion American Arbitration Association/National Academy of Arbitrators, Philadelphia, November 2017; “Clarification – A Valid Exception to Functus Officio,” ABA Section of Litigation Update, Fall 2017; “Contract Language Interpretation in the Federal Sector”, Panel Discussion at SFLERP Symposium, 2017; “A Discussion of ACR Ethical Principles Across Workplace Practice Areas”, Panel Moderator, ACR Webinar 2017; “Options for Resolving Conflict,” Montgomery College, 2016; “Ask the Arbitrators,” Panel Discussion at the Maryland LERA, February 2016; “Organizational Ombuds: Roles, Responsibilities, and Opportunities,” Panel Discussion at the Association for Conflict Resolution Annual Conference, 2015; “Mediation and Arbitration in Public Sector Collective Bargaining,” ACResolution Magazine, Summer 2014.

Sarah Miller Espinosa, J.D.

Expertise in the resolution of workplace conflict

Sarah Miller Espinosa, J.D.

Workplace conflict resolution services

Labor Arbitration

Mediation

Ombuds Services

Professional associations

presentations, publications

Contact SME Dispute REsolution, LLC

To request resume, fee schedule, dates, or other information, email smedisputeresolution@gmail.com