My Story

I've sat at thousands of negotiation tables over my 20+ year career as an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator. I was often the only woman in the room, and while most conversations were productive, the difficult ones stayed with me. For years, I struggled with the anger and frustration that lingered after contentious negotiations. In 2016, I became ill from stress and exhaustion. That's when everything changed.

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I started meditating daily, enrolled in courses on positive psychology, obtained mindfulness coaching credentials, and pursued yoga teacher certification. I was searching for ways to take charge of my emotions, and what I discovered transformed not just my health, but my entire approach to conflict.

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At the same time, I was consulting behind the scenes for friends and colleagues: accomplished women who were partners in law firms, entrepreneurs, doctors, artists, and scientists. When it came to negotiation, the refrain was always the same:

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"I don't want to push too hard."
"They'll say I'm being too aggressive. Again."
"I hate negotiating for myself."
"I'm afraid I'll ruin the relationship if I ask for too much."

 

That's when it clicked: mindfulness and negotiation were deeply connected. What if we could marry the two to create better experiences and outcomes?

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Take Charge Negotiations was born.

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My Work

Today, I'm a law professor and professional mediator, taking cases privately and for the United Nations Panel of Mediators. I've taught negotiation to thousands of people, from small entrepreneurial associations to Fortune 50 companies to large law firms. I've personally negotiated deals ranging from five to nine figures.

 

My work has been featured in goop, Forbes, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, and other national media.

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I earned my Master of Laws degree from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law in 2005, and my JD five years earlier. My entire legal career has been devoted to promoting fairness, efficiency, and equity in dispute resolution.

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The Books

I'm the author of The Refocus Collection, a mindfulness series that translates conflict resolution expertise into practical tools for everyday stress. These aren't aspirational wellness books; they're real strategies for difficult moments, from family gatherings to workplace tensions to the chaos of the holiday season.

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Book 1: Holiday Stress Relief: 10 Quick Mindfulness Practices is available November 7, 2025 on Amazon.

Book 2: Starting Fresh: 10 Quick Mindfulness Practices to Start Your Year Right, available late December 2025.

Books 3 & 4: Details to come shortly.

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Let's Connect

I'm honored every day that I get to do this work—whether it's teaching negotiation, mediating disputes, writing books, or helping people find calm in the middle of conflict.

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Feel free to drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you.

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Erin E. Gleason Alvarez
Founder & CEO, Take Charge Negotiations
Brooklyn, New York