About:
Kwame Christian joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in August 2020, serving as Of Counsel. His practice focuses on representing closely held businesses and their owners in a broad scope of legal needs, including business formation and structuring, finance, transactions (including acquisitions and contract preparation and analysis), employment and general business, and legal counseling.
Kwame is also the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute. Under Kwame’s leadership, ANI has collaborated with marquee clients, including Apple, NASA, Target, Google, Shell, Intel, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and Sotheby’s International Realty, applying negotiation strategies to drive corporate success.
Professional Accolades
Education
Kwame received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Public Policy from The Ohio State University, and his Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He also serves as an adjunct professor for Otterbein University’s MBA program and The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law dispute resolution program.
Professional Recognition
Kwame has been recognized as one of Ohio Super Lawyers magazine’s “Rising Stars” for 2017 and 2023, a distinction given to no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys. Additionally, he was the recipient of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2020 and the Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in 2021, the Columbus 40 Under 40 Award in 2022, and The Ohio State University’s William Oxley Thompson Alumni Award in 2023. Kwame made history as the only individual to win consecutive alumni awards from both The Ohio State University law school and the Master of Public Affairs program. In 2024, he was also named to The National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list.
Publications & Speaking Engagements
+Speaking Engagements
Kwame is the host of the Negotiate Anything Podcast. With over 10 million downloads, listeners in over 180 countries, and over 300 five-star reviews, it’s the most popular negotiation podcast in the world.
Invited to speak at TEDx Dayton, his talk – Finding Confidence in Conflict – has over 375,000 views.
Kwame is frequently asked to share his knowledge, sparking conversations internationally. His other speaking engagements include over 70 guest appearances on top audio podcasts like Spartan Races Podcast, Coaching for Leaders, How to Be Awesome at Your Job, Redefining Wealth. In addition, video interviews include:
- “Negotiating Difficult Conversations about Race.” Rebecca Zung Negotiation Podcast, 29 June 2020
- “How to Talk About Race: with Dr. Lara Pence & Kwame Christian.” Courageous Conversations, Spartan Up Podcast, 11 June 2020
- “Negotiate Anything with Kwame Christian.” Daily Zoom Chats, Spartan Up Podcast, 1 May 2020
- “How to Talk About Race in the Workplace.” Tammi Mac Late Show, FOX SOUL, 8 July 2020
- “Negotiate Anything: Finding Confidence in Conflict.” Alumni Learning Consortium Webinar, 4 March 2020
- “Pasos Básicos de Negociación.” Armonia Emocional, 20 February 2020 (Spanish)
- “You Are Always Negotiating, so Learn the Art of Negotiation.” Spartan Up Podcast, 11 December 2018
- “Finding Confidence in Conflict,” Brady Ware & Company Take Five Nonprofit Leadership Conference, 6 December 2018
+Publications
Kwame is the author of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life, an Amazon Best Seller. The book has helped countless individuals overcome the fear, anxiety, and emotion often associated with difficult conversations through a unique approach called “The Compassionate Curiosity™ Framework.”
His second Amazon bestseller, How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race: Practical Tools for Necessary Change in the Workplace and Beyond, was released in September 2022 as a guide to safely and successfully engaging in some of the most sensitive and polarizing conversations happening in today’s world.
As a leader in the legal industry and an expert in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution, Kwame Christian’s unique negotiation and conflict resolution methodology has been featured in extensive news coverage by NPR, USA Today, BuzzFeed, Forbes, and CNBC.
- Furlan, Julia “Make All Your Arguments Win-Win: Stop Fighting and Start Brainstorming” NPR, 31 August 2020
- No, Michelle. “9 Negotiating Tips Millennials Need to Be Reminded About Over and Over Again.” Buzz Feed, 8 August 2019
- MacArthur, H.V. “Discussing Racism in the Workplace: Using Positive and Persistent Pressure to Enable Honest Dialogue.” Forbes, 9 June 2020
- Liu, Jennifer. “Talking about Racial Inequality at Work Is Difficult — Here Are Tips to Do It Thoughtfully.” CNBC, 5 June 2020
- Hazzard, Tracy. “‘ Dial Down the Information Overload to Create a Bingeable Podcast’ with Kwame Christian of the Negotiate Anything Podcast.” Authority Magazine, 19 May 2020
- Elliott, Christopher. “How to Fight Back Against the ‘Beyond Our Control’ Excuse.” USA Today, 29 October 2017
- Peñaloza, Marisa. “Protests May Prompt Dialogue on Racism, but ‘It’s Going to Be Uncomfortable” NPR, 16 August 2020
Community Involvement
Over the years, Kwame has volunteered his time with various community outreach programs. He was a member of the United Way of Central Ohio LINC Steering Committee, which organized a book drive with the Ohio State Bar Association, providing over 20 boxes for underprivileged children in Central Ohio. Kwame was an active volunteer with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus and a volunteer attorney at Stowe Mission. He counseled the board to start a free legal clinic for the at-risk population in south Columbus.
He was previously a national board member of WELD (Women for Economic and Leadership Development) and former board member of Wright Choice Inc. Kwame worked to bridge the education-to-workforce gap and eliminate barriers to employment for students with disabilities and minorities as a board member of the Columbus Urban League Youth Professionals, where he was a co-chair of the Education & Youth services initiative.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Kwame was among the chosen task force of judges, mediators, and attorneys selected by the Supreme Court to propose creative dispute resolution solutions for the backlog of evictions cases. He responded to this unique challenge to find efficient, fair, and respectful solutions for all parties involved.
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