Page 16 - Phoenix Vol 11 No 1

MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR
I embrace the balance that comes from having
the heart of a litigator and the eye of an artist.
I see things di erently because of it.”
e Creative Mediation Practice
WRITTEN BY SUSAN CUSHING PHOTOGRAPHED BY ANDREW PAUL
WendiSorensen
endi Sorensen, a partner with Burch & Crac- chiolo P.A., appears to be an anomaly in the eld of mediation, because of her unwillingness to compromise. Both a proli c attorney and a gi ed artist, she exhibits the same zeal and focus
at her potter’s wheel as she does in any negotiation. “ ere is something to be says for refusing to conform to anyone’s expectations,” she says. “I embrace the balance that comes from having the heart of a litigator and the eye
of an artist. I see things di erently because of it.”
Her method is working.
She has extensive experience in both state and federal
court and is recognized among Arizona’s Finest Law- yers. Certi ed by the Arizona Bar in personal injury and wrongful death law, her practice focuses on aggravated
liability and damages matters, including Federal Motor Carrier cases, vehicular products liability matters, con- struction site injury and death matters, and premises li- ability cases. Currently, she is serving as a member of the Board of Legal Specialization, and the Arizona State Bar committee responsible for standards relating to specializa- tion certi cation.
Sorensen has now augmented her burgeoning practice to encompass mediation and other alternative dispute resolution work.
“My brain is wired to see both sides,” she says. “And I nd this work compelling. It can change lives. I love that, and I equally love digging into the technical aspects of each le – the legal and the scienti c. at undoubtedly helps in mediation.”
ATTORNEY AT LAW MAGAZINE · PHOENIX· VOL. 11 NO. 1 16