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Legal community not the same without Chris Kauders

admin//November 12, 2021//

Legal community not the same without Chris Kauders

admin//November 12, 2021//

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CHRISTOPHER P. KAUDERS
Jan. 20, 1956 – July 31, 2021

Our legal community has suffered a tremendous loss with the passing of Christopher P. Kauders.

Chris was a bright star, an inspirational person, and an authentic role model. Chris had a passion for helping people resolve their disputes so they could move on with their lives. He understood the complexities of litigation and the emotional toll lawsuits have on litigants. He possessed an innate ability to connect with the parties no matter their background and to disarm contentious attorneys, creating an environment conducive to settlement negotiations.

Even when the world shut down and we shifted to virtual sessions, Chris developed and honed his unique ability to connect with people screen-to-screen.

When Chris got involved, he would get the case settled. We called it The Kauders Magic. Both sides would walk into his office and become so utterly charmed by him that they would stop clinging to futile positions and grab hold of the logical lifeline he offered.

His brilliance, his methodical process, his unending patience, and his thorough knowledge of the many facets of the law contributed to his success as one of the best neutrals we’ve ever had the privilege of working with.

Chris was an unfailingly kind and upbeat person. He’d always ask how you and your family were, and he genuinely cared about the answer. Chris knew how to make anyone smile, a rare talent with some of the serious and devoted litigators with whom he worked.

His unbridled optimism, principled approach, and good nature were unparalleled. Within minutes of meeting Chris, you understood his sincere desire to connect with people and put them at ease in settings that often were inherently stressful.

He treated everyone with dignity and respect, working intensely and tirelessly to resolve their disputes. It was hardly unusual for Chris to commit long hours and go the extra mile to bridge differences that others, including the parties themselves, frequently thought irreconcilable. Chris never, ever gave up on resolution.

It was always mildly ironic to us that he could see the pathway to a settlement while both sides saw little hope of settling, often just scheduling with Chris in an effort to insulate from the judge who might later inquire: “Have you guys tried mediation?”

Chris was an extraordinary mediator and arbitrator. Working with him was always interesting and enjoyable; reading his opinions on cases made us all better lawyers. He was fair and attentive and an avid listener. He loved his work and was immensely proud of his 90 percent success rate — as he should have been. In the rare sessions where the case didn’t settle, the other side should have listened to Chris’ impartial consideration of the matter at hand. He took little satisfaction in the avoidable judgments that followed.

Not only was Chris instrumental in furthering dispute resolution’s success within the Massachusetts legal community, he made it more inclusive, welcoming and gratifying for those who might otherwise feel distrustful of or even intimidated by the judicial process.

Over the many years during which we worked with Chris, not once did he ever complain or voice frustration with the challenges he faced. Everyone who had the pleasure of working with him knew he refused to allow his visual impairment to constrain him. To the contrary, he brought an unflappable spirit and vitality to every encounter.

When Chris got involved, he would get the case settled. We called it The Kauders Magic.

Chris was committed to providing equal access to the law. Throughout his career, he sought to advance the rights of people with disabilities within our community. He continued to do so even in the final weeks of his life.

Chris often provided a sympathetic and supportive ear to people whose resort to the legal process was precipitated by hardship or tragedy. He often used his sense of humor to break the ice. More than a few attorneys who sought Chris’ help as a neutral recognized his penchant for using his beloved German shepherd Seeing Eye dogs to calm flaring tensions among counsel and their clients in the midst of a mediation.

Chris was a man of many accomplishments, but he was humble and did not boast, except when it came to his family. In addition to being a gifted attorney, Chris was a devoted husband and loving father. All who knew Chris understood the deep love and pride he had for his wife, Lee, and daughter, Hannah. A dispute resolution session with Chris always brought with it a glowing update on Hannah’s accomplishments.

In June, it was obvious that Chris’ health was deteriorating. How incredibly bittersweet it was to talk with him about the fragility of life. His fundamental message: work hard and live life to the fullest.

Chris’ life ended far too soon, but those of us who had the good fortune to know him will carry him and his many lessons with us. He will live on as a shining example of an honest, kind and decent soul whose love for the law and for his family was boundless.

May we all continue to follow his good example; model his grace, courtesy and wisdom; and aspire to listen — and really see — as he did.

Rest in peace, Chris. You are missed, and the world is not the same without you.

The above piece is by Ira H. Grolman, Brian R. Jerome, Chrisann Leal, Richard E. Quinby, Edward D. Shoulkin, Alexander C. Teschemacher, Christopher Trundy and Sheri Wilson.

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