About Us
Jessica S. Rothberg, Founder & Principal Attorney-Mediator
Jessica began her legal career after graduating from Northeastern Law School and working as an advocate for union employees in New York City. Her passion for mediation surfaced as she negotiated settlement agreements and navigated labor disputes. Founding Mediation Works in 1998 marked a shift in Jessica’s focus to family and divorce mediation. For nearly 30 years, Jessica has found a rewarding career guiding people through some of the most challenging times of their lives.
Jessica has received formal mediation and collaborative divorce training from the Center for Understanding in Conflict, the Ackerman Institute for the Family, the Center for Mediation & Training, Elder Decisions, and the New York Association of Collaborative Professionals.
Jessica is an active member of the family and divorce mediation and collaborative attorney community in New York. She is an Advanced Practitioner member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, an Accredited member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York, the Association of Professional Family Mediators, and the LGBTQI Family Professionals of NYC.
Jessica co-taught an advanced seminar on Family and Divorce Mediation at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (2008-2013). She currently presents on mediation topics throughout New York and oversees the Mediation Works Training and Consultation Programs.
Jessica is a Brooklyn native, leaving to spend her young adulthood in Madison, Wisconsin, attending University and working in early education. After law school, Jessica returned to Brooklyn, where she raised her children and now lives between Brooklyn and Woodstock, serving clients remotely all over New York state.
Staff Mediators
Mediation Works, NY LLC’s staff of professional mediators have received the highest standard of training and are available on a case-by-case basis. Retaining a Staff Mediator is a great option for those who need flexibility in pricing as our Staff Mediators work at a lower hourly fee than our Principal Mediators.
Meredith Cairns, Staff Mediator
Meredith practices a balanced approach to mediation, focused on helping couples reach effective and lasting solutions. Meredith’s empathetic and professional approach intentionally seeks to minimize the emotional and financial toll of dispute resolution, guiding clients through difficult discussions with clarity.
As a former litigator with extensive courtroom experience in cases involving families and children in criminal proceedings, Meredith brings a unique perspective to the mediation room. She knows how adversarial processes can escalate conflict and is committed to working with couples and families seeking a more constructive, solution-focused path forward.
Meredith holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Juris Doctor from Temple Law School. Meredith is an active member of various mediation organizations and professional associations, including the Family and Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York and the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation. Meredith lives with her family on Long Island, and works remotely serving clients all over New York State.
Laura Warren, Staff Mediator & Parenting Specialist
Laura is a certified Parenting Coordinator, having received training through the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
Laura brings more than 20 years of experience working with children and families, with a professional background rooted in child development, psychology, and family conflict resolution. She brings a deep understanding of child development, neurodiversity, and family dynamics to her work and is known for her calm, grounded, and direct style.
Trained and practiced in London before relocating to New York, Laura has worked extensively with couples and families navigating significant life transitions. Her early career in the UK’s public and private education systems, together with her work supporting children with special educational needs and families facing complex challenges, shaped a pragmatic, developmentally and situationally informed approach that emphasizes clarity, perspective, and durable outcomes.
In her mediation work, Laura creates a steady, non-adversarial environment where conversations can remain productive and focused -helping clients move out of circular discussions and toward decisions that feel realistic and sustainable. As a Parenting Specialist, she brings particular depth to cases involving children, supporting parents in translating values, concerns, and developmental considerations into clear, workable parenting agreements, while keeping parents firmly in the role of decision-makers.
Laura is an active member of various mediation organizations and professional associations, including the Family & Divorce Mediation Council of Greater New York and the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation. Laura lives with her family in upstate New York, and works remotely serving clients all over New York State.
Elizabeth Larsen, Family and Divorce Mediator
Elizabeth offers a supported process enabling co-parents and divorcing spouses to reach informed, collaborative, creative, and lasting resolution outside a courtroom. She is a member of the Family & Divorce Mediation Council (FDMC) and the NYS Council on Divorce Mediation, and mediates for both the NYC Family Court and Kings County Supreme Court. Elizabeth has participated in extensive conflict-coaching, co-parenting and mediation training and has completed an advanced apprenticeship at New York Peace Institute. Elizabeth graduated from Columbia Law School, and also has an MA in Digital Media Design for Learning from NYU, and a BA in Economics and Russian from the University of Michigan. Previously Elizabeth practiced land use law at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel.