Gary T. Furlong stands as one of the most influential figures in conflict resolution and mediation, bringing over 30 years of expertise to the Sports Conflict Institute as Senior Advisor, Mediator, Trainer, and Conflict Coach. As author of the seminal work The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict (now in its second edition, Wiley 2020), he has shaped how practitioners worldwide approach dispute resolution. His collaborative work with Joshua Gordon on Strategic Negotiation: Building Organizational Excellence (2023) and The Sports Playbook: Building Teams That Outperform Year After Year (2018) brings cutting-edge conflict resolution principles directly to sports organizations. A Chartered Mediator (C.Med) with a Master of Laws in ADR from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Stanford University graduate, Mr. Furlong’s expertise spans from multi-million dollar commercial disputes to complex organizational transformations.
As past president of the ADR Institute of Ontario and recipient of the prestigious McGowan Award of Excellence in ADR (2005) from the ADR Institute of Canada, Mr. Furlong has mediated litigation claims ranging from $50,000 to over $100 million across commercial, construction, personal injury, estates, insurance, wrongful dismissal, and workplace conflicts. His impact extends far beyond individual mediations—he has trained judges through the National Judicial Institute, hundreds of lawyers through the Law Society of Upper Canada, and thousands of managers, union leaders, police officers, firefighters, and government officials across federal, provincial, and municipal departments. His pioneering work includes serving on the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program roster for nearly 10 years, mediating for the Education Relations Commission, and facilitating the financial reorganization and amalgamation of school boards as a Provincial Facilitator with the Education Improvement Commission.
Through his role as principal with Agree Dispute Resolution and his teaching positions at Queen’s University Industrial Relations Centre, York University, University of Toronto, and Osgoode Hall Law School’s LL.M. program, Mr. Furlong continues to shape the next generation of conflict resolution professionals. His third book, BrainFishing: A Practice Guide to Questioning Skills (2018), demonstrates his commitment to practical tools that enhance practitioner effectiveness. At SCI, he brings this wealth of experience to sports organizations, helping them build robust conflict management systems, design effective dispute resolution processes, and transform destructive conflicts into opportunities for organizational growth.
Professional Experience
Current Positions
Senior Advisor, Mediator, Trainer, Conflict Coach
Sports Conflict Institute | Ongoing
Provides expert mediation, training, and conflict coaching services to sports organizations. Co-author of Strategic Negotiation and The Sports Playbook with Joshua Gordon. Designs conflict management systems and facilitates complex multi-party disputes in sports contexts.
Principal
Agree Dispute Resolution | Ongoing
Mediates complex commercial, construction, and organizational disputes. Provides consulting, facilitating, and coaching services in dispute resolution, partnering, organizational change, and conflict management.
Instructor, Negotiation Skills
Queen’s University Industrial Relations Centre | Ongoing
Teaches negotiation skills and conducts research into employment models of dispute resolution in Canadian companies.
Selected Previous Experience & Appointments
Past President
ADR Institute of Ontario
Led provincial organization dedicated to advancement of alternative dispute resolution practices.
Roster Mediator
Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program | Nearly 10 years
Regularly appointed to court-annexed ADR Centre in Toronto during first three years of operation.
Provincial Facilitator and Mediator
Education Improvement Commission
Assisted with financial reorganization and amalgamation of school boards in Ontario.
Mediation Panel Member
Law Society of Upper Canada & Teachers College of Ontario
Served on complaint mediation panels for professional regulatory bodies.
Organizational Development Consultant
Various Corporations | Canada and U.K. | 6 years
Provided organizational development consulting to large and small corporations internationally.
Areas of Expertise
- Complex Commercial Mediation ($50K-$100M+)
- Organizational & Workplace Conflict Resolution
- Construction Disputes & Partnering
- Conflict Systems Design
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Sports Conflict Management
- Negotiation Training & Coaching
- Judicial & Legal Education
- Personal Injury & Insurance Disputes
- Estate & Wrongful Dismissal Mediation
- Educational Institution Disputes
- Multi-Party Facilitation
Academic Credentials & Teaching
Education
- Master of Laws (LL.M) in Alternative Dispute Resolution – Osgoode Hall Law School
- Bachelor of Arts – Stanford University, California
- Chartered Mediator (C.Med) – Professional Designation
- Fellow – International Academy of Mediators
Teaching & Academic Appointments
Guest Instructor at Osgoode Hall Law School LL.M. program. Teaches negotiation, mediation, and conflict management at Queen’s University Industrial Relations Centre, York University, University of Toronto, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Conrad Grebel College. Has delivered ADR and conflict management training for judges through the National Judicial Institute and for hundreds of lawyers through the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Publications & Thought Leadership
Books
- Strategic Negotiation: Building Organizational Excellence (Routledge, 2023)
Co-authored with Joshua Gordon – Revolutionary approach to building organizational negotiation capability through the Negotiation Capability Model (NCM) - The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict (Wiley, 2020 – Second Edition)
Seminal work providing eight different models for conflict resolution, widely used by practitioners globally - The Sports Playbook: Building Teams that Outperform Year After Year (Routledge, 2018)
Co-authored with Joshua Gordon and Ken Pendleton – Framework for building high-performing team cultures - BrainFishing: A Practice Guide to Questioning Skills (FriesenPress, 2018)
Practical guide to enhancing questioning techniques for mediators and negotiators
Thought Leadership Impact
- The Conflict Resolution Toolbox is considered essential reading for ADR practitioners worldwide
- Frequent presenter and speaker on alternative dispute resolution and conflict management
- Pioneered use of Partnering in unique organizational settings
- Developed innovative approaches to conflict systems design for organizations including Royal Bank of Canada
Notable Achievements & Recognition
- McGowan Award of Excellence in ADR (2005) – ADR Institute of Canada’s highest honor
- Past President – ADR Institute of Ontario
- Fellow – International Academy of Mediators
- Mediated litigation claims ranging from $50,000 to over $100 million
- Trained judges nationally through the National Judicial Institute
- Trained hundreds of lawyers through Law Society of Upper Canada and major law firms
- Trained thousands of managers and union leaders in private and public sectors
- Facilitated school board amalgamations as Provincial Facilitator in Ontario
- Pioneered Partnering facilitation in construction industry
- Designed conflict management systems for Royal Bank of Canada and other major organizations
Training & Facilitation Experience
- Judges – National Judicial Institute
- Lawyers – Law Society of Upper Canada
- Police Officers – Various departments
- Firefighters – Emergency services training
- By-law Enforcement Officers
- Federal Government – Multiple departments
- Provincial Government – Various ministries
- Municipal Governments – Across Canada
- Private Sector – Managers and executives
- Union Leaders – Labor organizations
Speaking & Consulting Topics
Gary Furlong is available for keynote speaking, workshops, mediation, and consulting on:
- The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Eight Models for Effective Resolution
- Building Organizational Negotiation Excellence
- Conflict Systems Design for Sports Organizations
- Advanced Mediation Techniques for Complex Disputes
- Partnering in Construction and Organizational Settings
- Workplace Conflict Resolution Strategies
- Building High-Performance Teams Through Conflict Management
- BrainFishing: Advanced Questioning Techniques
- Diagnosing and Resolving Multi-Party Conflicts
- Training the Trainer: Building Internal ADR Capacity
Gary T. Furlong, LL.M, C.Med
Senior Advisor, Mediator, Trainer, Conflict Coach | Sports Conflict Institute
Principal | Agree Dispute Resolution
Connect & Learn More
Leverage world-class expertise in conflict resolution, mediation, and organizational transformation.
Sports Conflict Institute | Portland, Oregon | info@sportsconflict.org