Stop Building Alone

The ABA Dispute Resolution Section Practice Incubator is a nine-month practice-building program designed to help dispute resolution professionals strengthen the business, visibility, systems, and strategy behind their work.

A flagship program of CMS, presented in partnership with the ABA Dispute Resolution Section, our founding program partner.

Applications close Friday, August 21, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Pacific)

Key dates - 2026–2027 cycle

Applications Open
Now
Application Deadline
Friday, August 21, 2026 (11:59 p.m. Pacific)
Acceptance & Waitlist Notifications
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Program Orientation (Required)
Thursday, September 17, 2026
12:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CT / 10:00 a.m. MT / 9:00 a.m. PT
Program Begins
October 2026
Participants will receive their cohort meeting schedule during Orientation.

What Makes the Practice Incubator Different?

The Practice Incubator is a nine-month guided practice development program designed exclusively for dispute resolution professionals who want to build stronger, more sustainable, and more successful practices.

Through structured learning, small facilitator-led cohorts, practical business-building tools, implementation support, accountability, and a nationwide community of peers, participants don't simply learn new ideas. They put them into action.

Building a successful dispute resolution practice takes more than professional expertise. It requires a clear strategy, consistent action, trusted guidance, and people who will encourage and challenge you along the way.

That's exactly what the Practice Incubator provides.

Throughout the program, participants work through a structured curriculum while receiving individualized feedback from experienced facilitators, collaborating with a small cohort of peers, participating in monthly Office Hours with nationally recognized leaders, and developing meaningful professional relationships that continue long after the program ends.

The results speak for themselves. Participants consistently report leaving the Incubator with greater clarity about their business, renewed confidence, practical strategies they immediately implement, valuable professional connections, and measurable progress toward building the practice they truly want.

What Past Participants Say

The strongest proof of the Practice Incubator's impact comes from the professionals who have experienced it. Past participants consistently describe greater clarity, renewed confidence, meaningful professional relationships, and real momentum in building their practices.

I finally feel like I am getting some direction
and real movement forward.
E.E., Florida

What Participants Gained

  • Greater clarity about the direction of their practice
  • Increased confidence in business and growth decisions
  • Practical tools they could implement immediately
  • Accountability that helped turn plans into action
  • Valuable relationships with colleagues across the dispute resolution community

By the End of the Program, You'll Have...

  • A clear roadmap for growing your practice
  • Practical marketing and business development strategies
  • Systems that improve efficiency and sustainability
  • Greater confidence in your business decisions
  • Accountability that creates lasting momentum
  • A trusted network of colleagues and referral partners
  • Practical tools and templates you can continue using
  • A stronger, more intentional practice built for long-term success

What participants will build

Over the course of the program, participants develop a working Practice Portfolio of nine Practice Assets, organized across four stages.

Foundation
  • Business Plan
  • Positioning Statement
Visibility
  • Brand Messaging
  • Referral Strategy
  • Marketing Plan
Operations
  • Client Journey
  • Pricing Strategy
  • AI Workflows
Growth
  • Annual Growth Plan

Program format

  • Nine-month program, October 2026 through June 2027
  • Small cohorts with two facilitators
  • Monthly cohort meetings
  • Bonus Expert Learning Sessions
  • Strategy Sessions with Susan Guthrie
  • Practical assignments and downloadable tools
  • Approximately four to six hours per month
  • Program investment: $3,000, due upon acceptance

Who this is for

The program is designed for dispute resolution professionals who:

  • Building, rebuilding, or expanding a practice
  • Want more structure and accountability
  • Ready to work on the business side of their practice
  • Value practical guidance over theory alone
  • Value collaboration and peer support
  • Willing to commit time each month to implementation