A lawyer’s judgment.
A mediator’s neutrality.
Elizabeth M. Dodd founded Coordinating Compromise to give people in conflict a better path than the courtroom: one built on preparation, honest information and mutual respect.
Experience on every side of the table
Elizabeth has practiced law in Kentucky since 1998 and in Indiana since 1999. She comes from one of the state’s longest legal traditions: she is the sixth generation of attorneys in a family firm founded in 1869.
Her practice has covered the full range of disputes that bring people to mediation. She has negotiated employment contracts and handled unemployment hearings, discrimination, wrongful-termination and sexual-harassment cases. She has formed corporations, family limited partnerships and LLCs and drafted the agreements that hold them together. She has written wills and trusts and litigated will contests. And she has represented families in divorce, custody and adoption, including service as a guardian ad litem, representing the interests of children in dependency court.
She trained as a mediator in 2013 and founded Coordinating Compromise to put that experience to work for people who would rather resolve a dispute than fight one.
How she works as a mediator
A mediator doesn’t decide who is right. Elizabeth’s role is to create a setting where honest communication is possible, to make sure every person can speak without interruption, and to help each side understand the other’s point of view well enough to consider it.
Because she is an experienced attorney, she can also explain what each party may face if no agreement is reached. That clarity often moves a negotiation forward: when people understand the realistic alternatives, the options on the table start to look different.
When serving as your mediator, Elizabeth is a neutral. She does not represent or give legal advice to either party, and she encourages each party to consult their own attorney.
Credentials
- Bar admissionsKentucky, 1998; Indiana, 1999
- MediationTrained in mediation, 2013
- Law schoolCumberland School of Law
- UndergraduateVanderbilt University, B.A. in English
- RecognitionNamed one of the Forty Under 40 Business Leaders of Louisville
- Law practicePrincipal of Dodd Attorneys, PSC, focused on estate planning, probate, guardianship, business transactions and nuptial agreements
- CommunityActive in professional organizations and community boards in Louisville
“A good settlement is better than a good lawsuit.”Abraham Lincoln, a guiding idea at Coordinating Compromise
Rooted in Kentucky law
Six generations of her family have practiced law in Kentucky. Elizabeth has added nearly three decades of her own.
- 1869
Her family’s law firm is founded. Elizabeth is the sixth generation of attorneys to carry the tradition forward.
- 1998
Admitted to the Kentucky bar after earning her law degree at Cumberland School of Law.
- 1999
Admitted to practice in Indiana, serving clients on both sides of the Ohio River.
- 2013
Trained as a mediator, bringing years of courtroom and transactional work to the table.
- 28years practicing law
- 2state bars: Kentucky and Indiana
- 6thgeneration Kentucky attorney
- 5areas of mediation
What clients value in her
“She deals with high conflict divorces, understands the need to compromise, negotiates effectively and swiftly deals with problems. She walked me through an emotional process and was patient and kind.”
“She has a remarkable ability to clarify the complexities of the legal process in simple, understandable terms, demonstrating both patience and efficiency.”
Ready to talk it through?
A short conversation is the best first step. Elizabeth will listen, explain how mediation could work for your situation, and answer your questions about timing and fees.
1041 Goss Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217
Monday to Friday, 8 to 5; weekends by appointment