Why Do Pets Matter? Podcast
Episode Feature: David A. Hoffman
Mediation, Man's Best Friend & Breaking Impasse

🎙️ Podcast Episode Introduction
What if the secret to breaking a legal deadlock walked into the room on four legs?
Welcome back to Why Do Pets Matter? — the podcast where we explore the profound, complicated, and sometimes hilarious ways animals shape our lives, our relationships, and yes, our legal disputes. I'm Debra Hamilton, and today's guest is someone who has been quietly revolutionizing the way we think about conflict resolution — one wagging tail at a time.
David A. Hoffman is a mediator, attorney, and founding partner of the Boston Law Collaborative. He's a lecturer at Harvard Law School, a thought leader in the world of alternative dispute resolution — and the proud handler of Bella, a golden retriever who may be the most effective mediator in New England. Bella has attended numerous mediations and has a perfect settlement record. Not one loss. Zero impasses on her watch.
In this episode, you'll discover:
• Why bringing a dog into a legal dispute room can accomplish what hours of argument cannot
• The science behind why pets release oxytocin — and why that matters at a negotiating table
• How to put the pet's best interest at the center of a dispute — not just the humans'
• David's brand-new book, Breaking Impasse — and the powerful concept of 'malatina' that could change how we resolve animal conflicts forever
• Why courts are often the worst place to settle a dispute about an animal — and what to do instead
David and I also get personal — talking about what it means to see someone more fully when a dog is in the room, how pets expose our shared humanity even in the middle of a fight, and why the physical environment of mediation matters more than most practitioners realize.
Whether you're a mediator, a veterinarian, an attorney, a pet owner in conflict, or just someone who believes animals deserve more than a footnote in the legal system — this conversation is for you.
Stay with us. Bella would want you to.

David A. Hoffman, Esq.

Mediator, Arbitrator, Collaborative Lawyer

(he / him / his) why?

New book: “The Art of Impasse-Breaking in Mediation: A Handbook for Mediators, Lawyers, and Other Professionals”

Boston Law Collaborative, LLC

Please note our new address:

383 Elliot Street, Suite F

Newton, MA 02464

(617) 439-4700 x101

BLC Assistant: Karen Richards - KRichards@BLC.law or 617-439-4700 x105

John H. Watson, Jr. Lecturer on Law

Harvard Law School

Cambridge, MA 02138

Faculty Assistant: Caryn Shelton-May – CJMay@law.harvard.edu or 617-495-9200