Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Serving Parties Nationwide
Experienced Arbitration & Mediation for Complex Workplace Disputes
Mark J. Berkowitz brings more than 35 years of labor and employment law experience to the resolution of workplace and employment disputes. Serving as an arbitrator and mediator from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Mark combines decades of litigation experience with a practical, informed approach to alternative dispute resolution.
Arbitrator · Mediator · Attorney · Adjunct Professor of Law
Experience That Informs Resolution
Decades of Experience. A Focus on Resolution.
Mark practiced labor and employment law for more than 35 years before expanding his work as an arbitrator and mediator. That depth of experience informs a practical, well-prepared approach to resolving disputes fairly and efficiently.
His experience includes matters involving
- Employment discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Retaliation
- Wrongful discharge
- Wage and hour disputes
- FLSA matters
- FMLA matters
- Employee benefits and ERISA
- Whistleblower matters
- Employment contracts
- Severance disputes
- Employee classification
- Workplace harassment
- Hostile work environment
- Workplace investigations
- Labor disputes
- Collective bargaining matters
- Public-sector employment disputes
Arbitration
Arbitration Grounded in Experience and Preparation
Mark understands arbitration from multiple perspectives — including decades representing parties in labor and employment disputes and now serving as a neutral. That perspective informs proceedings that are efficient, well-prepared, and fair to every party.
- Efficient case management
- Thorough preparation
- Fair and impartial proceedings
- Clear communication with counsel
- Respect for all parties
- Familiarity with complex employment and labor issues
- Virtual and in-person proceedings
Mediation
Helping Parties Move From Conflict Toward Resolution
Mark's approach to mediation is structured, informed, and practical — focused on helping parties evaluate disputes and explore meaningful opportunities for resolution while preserving party self-determination.
His interest and scholarship in Early Dispute Resolution emphasize the exchange of information, risk analysis, and informed settlement discussions — giving parties what they need to make considered decisions about resolution.
Professional Credentials
Appointments & Panel Memberships
Mark serves on respected arbitration and mediation panels and holds appointments that reflect decades of work in labor and employment law.
American Arbitration Association
Labor and Employment Arbitration Panel
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Approved Labor Arbitrator
FINRA
Arbitrator
Florida Supreme Court
Circuit Mediator
Florida
Qualified Circuit Court Arbitrator
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Contract Mediator, Tampa District Office
St. Thomas University College of Law
Adjunct Professor of Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution
Education
Academic Foundation
Mark's legal education spans advanced study in the law and a grounding in government and public policy.
Thought Leadership
Thought Leadership in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
Articles and insights on arbitration, mediation, and the evolving practice of dispute resolution.
A Closer Look at AAA's Early Dispute Resolution Process and the Impact on Parties and Florida Mediators
An examination of Early Dispute Resolution, risk analysis, forecasting, informed negotiation, mediator ethics, and the importance of preserving party self-determination.
Read Article →The Use of AI in Arbitration
How artificial intelligence is shaping document review, evidence analysis, and case management in arbitration — and the safeguards neutrals and counsel should consider.
InsightsEarly Dispute Resolution Protocols
Practical protocols for structuring early dispute resolution — information exchange, risk analysis, and informed settlement discussions.
InsightsLocal Ordinances and Just Cause Standards for Dismissal
How local ordinances interact with just cause standards for dismissal, and what neutrals and counsel should understand when evaluating these disputes.
Speaking & Education
Teaching and Advancing Alternative Dispute Resolution
Mark teaches Alternative Dispute Resolution as an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. Thomas University College of Law and regularly participates in professional programs involving arbitration, mediation, labor, and employment law.
Speaking topics include
- —Presenting Your Case for Arbitration
- —Strategies for Mediation in Employment Cases
- —Early Mediation
- —Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration
- —Labor and Employment Dispute Resolution
Virtual & In-Person Services
Available for In-Person and Virtual Proceedings
Mark can conduct arbitrations, mediations, preliminary conferences, and related proceedings in person or using platforms such as Zoom and other online meeting systems. Secure electronic document exchange can also be accommodated.
Based in Fort Lauderdale and serving South Florida, virtual proceedings allow him to serve parties well beyond the region.
Recognition
Mark J. Berkowitz, P.A. was named "Best Employment Attorney in South Fort Lauderdale for 2026" by BusinessRate. This recognition is secondary to his work as a neutral arbitrator and mediator.
Ready to Move Forward
Request Arbitration or Mediation
Attorneys, firms, employers, employees, unions, and agencies are welcome to inquire. Mark will respond promptly to discuss availability and next steps.