Robert A. Baruch Bush

Robert A. Baruch Bush is the Harry H. Rains Distinguished Professor of Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Settlement Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law, Hofstra University. He is a leading scholar in mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), known globally for co-developing the transformative approach to mediation. He teaches courses in ADR, mediation, negotiation, and Torts, and is a founding leader of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation (ISCT).

• JD, Stanford Law School (1974), Order of the Coif
• BA, Harvard University (1969), magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
• Research Fellow, Center for Comparative Judicial Studies, Florence, Italy
• Research Fellow, Yale Law School

Professor Bush's research centers on transformative mediation, emphasizing party empowerment and recognition. His work explores ethical dimensions, training models, and the integration of mediation into legal and social systems. He advocates for mediation as a process that enhances human interaction, not merely as a tool for settlement.

His recent publications reflect a sustained focus on the philosophical foundations and practical applications of transformative mediation. Themes include mediator assessment, pluralism in ADR, social justice, and the evolving relationship between mediation and courts. His scholarship consistently emphasizes self-determination, ethical integrity, and the transformative potential of conflict engagement.

• Harry H. Rains Distinguished Professor
• Founding Fellow, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation
• President, Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation

Professor Bush has led major research projects, consulted for the U.S. Postal Service and the Hewlett Foundation, and trained mediators worldwide. He has co-authored influential books and numerous articles, shaping national and international discourse on mediation. His work with ISCT supports research, training, and dissemination of transformative practices.

The Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation (ISCT) at Hofstra Law, which he co-founded, serves as a hub for research, publications, and training in transformative mediation. ISCT promotes the development of conflict intervention practitioners and programs grounded in the transformative framework.