Alternative Dispute Resolution

When and Why? An Overview of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) refers, literally, to resolving disputes by means other than filing a lawsuit or, if a lawsuit has been filed, by resolving the matter without going to trial. The process can take on many forms, but the ultimate goal is the same: reaching the best solution for the lowest cost.

Before hiring, "the meanest, toughest, gunslinger trial lawyer" you can find, consider talking with a professional who is not just familiar with ADR, but who practices ADR. Or, if a lawsuit is already pending, consider hiring ADR counsel to assist in resolving it. At ADR Source, we serve clients in the Denver, Colorado, area and throughout the nation as arbitrators, mediators, settlement counsel and in other roles as ADR Professionals.

If you have a business dispute, contact us to learn more about the services we offer and how they might benefit you.

Services We Offer

We can play a number of roles in the ADR process:

• Dispute Resolution (DR) Counsel: As an option to hiring a traditional gunslinger litigator to take your case to trial, you can hire an experienced litigator who is also trained in dispute resolution, like those at ADR Source. We can often save you time, money and energy by resolving the dispute more quickly. We actively represent only one party in the dispute or lawsuit.
• Neutral fact finding: In cases where a conflict is the result of misinformation or a lack of information, we can conduct a neutral investigation to gather the facts that might lead to a resolution. We do not represent either party, we only determine the facts.
• Mediation: We can serve as a neutral third party to facilitate negotiations between disputing parties. We do not advocate for either party or decide who wins; we only try to bring the parties to agreement. Mediation is non-binding.
• Non-binding arbitration: We can serve as a neutral arbitrator in a non-binding arbitration, which is more formal than mediation, but less formal and less costly than a trial. We generally issue a decision as to who wins and who loses. While the decision is not binding, it is often instructive and instrumental in resolving the dispute.
• Binding arbitration: We can also serve as a neutral arbitrator or sit on a three-arbitrator panel, which is common. In this case, the arbitrator issues a decision, called an award, stating who wins and who loses and that decision is binding.
• Mini-trials: We can conduct a mini-trial, based on a structure you select, and make a reasoned determination as to the probable outcome of a full trial. The decision is not generally binding, but knowing the outcome can motivate either or both parties to reach an agreement.

Conflict Management Systems and Training

ADR Source also assists businesses in analyzing and setting up conflict management systems for the early identification and treatment of disputes (EDR). Think of this as setting up a legal triage system. We can coach legal and business professionals in ADR and EDR methods to avoid or resolve conflict.

Call 303-893-1667

For a fresher approach to dispute resolution and experience you can trust, call the experienced team of ADR mediators and arbitrators at ADR Source. Contact us online, or call us at 303-893-1667.

ADR Source
383 Inverness Parkway, Suite 300
Englewood, CO 80112
Phone: 303-893-1667
Fax: 303-813-1122
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