MEMBER SPOTLIGHT - ANNE BLOOM

Contributed By: Naomi M. Massave, Attorney at Carlton Fields and WCC Communications Committee member

Anne Bloom is a woman who has forged her own path, living by the philosophy, “I’ll either find a way, or I’ll make one.”

Anne’s path has taken her to interesting destinations – from South Florida to college at Yale, law school at the University of Miami, working in Washington, D.C. and Israel, and practicing law in South Florida. In Israel, Anne honed her negotiation skills while bargaining for just about everything, which led her to fulfill her seemingly lifelong destiny – becoming a mediator. “Being a mediator is part of my innate personality,” Anne said. “I feel I have found my true calling.”

Anne said she started honing her mediation skills as a child. She would listen to her father, Judge Philip Bloom, as a lawyer, talking about cases at home and she would play devil’s advocate, always trying to see things from the other perspective. Anne also learned the art of persuasion while watching her mother, Elaine Bloom, working as a state legislator. Now, Anne said, she finds that her experience as a mediator helps her to be a better wife and stepmother, knowing when to give some space, and knowing when to bring in reinforcements.

Early in her career, Anne was working on a large antitrust case involving 22 sanitation companies. Anne represented the largest of these companies and was tasked with convincing the other 21 companies to agree to a settlement. Anne said she accomplished this by “lawyering the old fashioned way” which is another way of saying Anne channeled her inner mediator. She sat in a room full of male attorneys with their male clients, letting them vent and curse for a while; then Anne gave a convincing speech about how if they settled, they could all save money on attorney’s fees and be freed from the burden of litigation. Over the course of the next few weeks, young Anne was able to bring about the settlement.

Anne’s life experiences have helped her form her successful practice as a mediator and arbitrator at Bloom Mediation, where she handles cases ranging from commercial and employment disputes to divorce and child custody. Anne said her general approach as a mediator is to use practical solutions. “How people got into the situation that they’re in is not as significant as how they’re going to solve it.” Anne said one of the keys to being a good mediator is allowing people to vent about their predicament, then knowing when to turn the focus towards resolution and avoiding similar problems in the future. Anne thinks one of the reasons why mediation works is because “people want someone to listen to them. A mediator will listen to them, while the judge will hear from their attorney.” Anne added that one of the things she likes most about mediating is helping people to resolve their disputes and leave the litigation behind them. She said she consistently tells her clients that when they settle the case, they will leave with a big smile on their faces, and they do.

When asked to pass on her secrets to running a successful business, Anne said it takes more energy than you think. You have to be your own best representative around the clock and cannot make excuses to avoid networking and other opportunities that will help you grow your business. At the same time, Anne said not to exhaust yourself and to only participate in activities and groups that are worthwhile. Anne likes the Women’s Chamber of Commerce because people make the effort to reach out and get to know each other (and added that those relationships have led to business referrals) //8689520v.1 . Anne believes that networking only works if you make it work – you have to take that extra step to cement the relationship if you want to get more business.

Anne also suggested building a good support network for your business, such as hiring a good website designer, so “you can focus on the things that only you can do.”

Aside from having a natural penchant for mediating, Anne has built up her business with a lot of hard work. Anne quoted a wise Chinese proverb that she often reminds herself of: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

– Back to Fall 2010 Newsletter Index