Tobin Lay

Tobin Lay, J.D., M.B.A.

Minnesota Rule 114 Qualified Neutral | Divorce, Family, Workplace & Community Mediator | Organizational Facilitator

Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota | Serving Clients Throughout Minnesota
________________________________________

Overview

Tobin Lay is a Minnesota Rule 114 Qualified Neutral, mediator, facilitator, and conflict resolution professional who helps individuals, families, organizations, businesses, and public entities resolve complex disputes through collaborative problem-solving and interest-based mediation.

As Executive Director of the Mediation Center, Tobin leads one of Minnesota's longest-standing community dispute resolution organizations, overseeing mediation, facilitation, conflict coaching, and educational programs that help individuals and organizations resolve conflict before it escalates into costly litigation or damaged relationships.

Drawing upon a unique combination of legal education, executive leadership, municipal administration, and conflict resolution expertise, Tobin helps parties navigate emotionally charged and multi-party disputes with professionalism, structure, and practical guidance.

He mediates throughout Minnesota, both in person and virtually.
________________________________________

A Career Built Around Conflict Resolution

Long before becoming Executive Director of the Mediation Center, Tobin built his career helping organizations solve difficult problems.

He served as City Administrator for several Minnesota municipalities, where he worked with elected officials, department leaders, employees, businesses, and community stakeholders to address organizational challenges, public policy issues, personnel conflicts, and complex community concerns.

That executive leadership experience provides valuable perspective during mediation, particularly when disputes involve multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, or relationships that must continue after the conflict is resolved.

Today, Tobin brings those same leadership and communication skills to every mediation he conducts.
________________________________________

Mediation Philosophy

Tobin practices interest-based, facilitative mediation, believing that durable agreements are achieved when parties move beyond positions and begin exploring the underlying interests driving the conflict.

Rather than imposing solutions, he creates a structured environment where participants can communicate more effectively, better understand differing perspectives, and develop agreements they create themselves.

His approach is particularly effective in disputes where preserving relationships, improving communication, and rebuilding trust are as important as resolving the immediate legal or business issues.
________________________________________

Organizational & Community Facilitation

In addition to mediation, Tobin regularly facilitates discussions involving organizations, nonprofit boards, government agencies, leadership teams, and community stakeholders.

His facilitation experience includes:
• Strategic Planning Sessions
• Board Governance
• Organizational Development
• Community Engagement
• Public Policy Discussions
• Multi-Stakeholder Meetings
• Workplace Communication
• Leadership Conflict

His experience guiding collaborative conversations enables organizations to address difficult issues while maintaining productive working relationships.
________________________________________

Teaching & Professional Leadership

Tobin serves as an Adjunct Professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, where he teaches courses in:
• Mediation
• Negotiation
• Conflict Theory
• Organizational Conflict Management

He is also a Board Member of Community Mediation Minnesota, contributing to the advancement of community-based dispute resolution throughout the state.

As a published author, Tobin has written on the importance of in-person mediation, including his Mediate.com article, "The Human Touch: Why Mediation Thrives When Parties Share the Same Room," which explores how communication, trust, and human interaction contribute to successful conflict resolution.
________________________________________

Why Parties Choose Tobin Lay

Clients choose Tobin because he brings more than mediation skills to the table.

His experience leading public organizations, teaching future mediators, facilitating organizational change, and resolving complex community disputes allows him to understand conflict from multiple perspectives.

Whether working with divorcing spouses, business partners, nonprofit boards, government agencies, or neighborhood groups, Tobin focuses on helping participants communicate more effectively, identify common interests, and reach thoughtful, durable agreements that allow them to move forward with confidence.
________________________________________