Alternative Dispute Resolution

Womble Bond Dickinson represents a domestic and international client base in arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation, summary jury trial, short trial, and settlement conferences. Our lawyers also serve as arbitrators and mediators.

Our services include drafting and negotiating alternative dispute resolution clauses, including "stepped" provisions that begin with direct party negotiations and lead to either arbitration or litigation. After an arbitration award is issued, we often assist in enforcing it. All the variations of ADR services we offer are critical to helping clients resolve their issues quickly and affordably.

Typical ADR Services

• Arbitration – A forum in which parties and counsel present their positions to a neutral party who renders a decision and award
• Early Neutral Evaluation – A forum in which each side presents its case early in the dispute to a neutral evaluator who has expertise in the subject matter of the case and can suggest possible settlement outcomes
• Mediation – A procedure in which parties enter into settlement discussions with the assistance of a third-party neutral
• MED/ARB – A hybrid of mediation and arbitration in which the dispute is first mediated
• Summary Jury Trial – A trial that is conducted in a manner designated to be completed in no more than two days
• Short Trial – A form of summary jury trial designed to be completed in one day
• Settlement Conference – An evaluative mediation performed by a judicial officer generally held as a last resort. This is a settlement-focused procedure before a standard trial