ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
What is Alternative Dispute Resolution?
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a term that describes a range of methods and processes used to resolve conflicts or disputes outside of traditional courtroom litigation. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods are ofen used because they tend to be faster, less expensive, and more flexible than going to court.
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The most common forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution include:
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​Mediation: Mediation is when a neutral third party, called a mediator, helps the parties in conflict reach a mutually acceptable resolution. The job of a mediator is to assist the parties in in communicating and negotiating. Learn more - see our Complete Guide to Mediation in Florida & Tampa Mediators.
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Arbitration: In arbitration, a neutral third party, called an arbitrator, listens to both sides of the dispute and makes a binding decision. Arbitration can be either voluntary or mandatory and is often used in commercial disputes.​
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Negotiation: Negotiation is the simplest form of ADR, where the parties involved in the dispute negotiate directly with each other to reach a settlement. Negotiation can be informal or structured, depending on the situation.
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Conciliation: Similar to mediation, conciliation involves a neutral third party assisting the parties in resolving their dispute. However, the conciliator may take a more active role in proposing solutions and encouraging compromise.​
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Collaborative Law: In collaborative law, each party retains their own attorney, and all parties commit to resolving the dispute through negotiation rather than litigation. This method often involves interdisciplinary teams to address various aspects of the dispute, such as financial or emotional issues.​
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Settlement Conferences: Settlement conferences are meetings facilitated by a judge or neutral third party to encourage settlement negotiations between the parties before trial.
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ADR methods can be used in a variety of disputes, including commercial disputes, family law matters, employment disputes, and more. Many legal systems encourage or require parties to consider ADR before pursuing litigation, and ADR clauses are common in contracts and agreements.
Property and Community Association Disputes
Automobile Negligence
Business, Contract, and Collection Disputes
Insurance Claims
Labor, Employment and Civil Rights
Product Liability
Medical Malpractice and Long-Term Care matters
Personal Injury
Tampa's Experienced Alternative Dispute Resolution Attorneys
The Tampa alternative dispute resolution attorneys at Sisco Law firm are experienced at working with parties to evaluate risk and resolve cases to eliminate the uncertainty of trial. In addition to being an efficient and effective approach to resolving disputes before starting a lawsuit or going to trial, alternative dispute resolution can save you money and time (not to mention the prolonged stress of a trial).
The terms “arbitration” and “mediation” are sometimes used interchangeably, but in reality, they have very different approaches and outcomes. As mentioned above, in a mediation, the process is somewhat informal and the mediator facilitates the discussion of possible solutions between the disputing parties with the goal of having the parties come to an agreement on the issues in dispute. Arbitration is a more formal process involving the presentation of evidence by the parties with a final decision made by the arbitrator. Arbitration can be binding or non-binding.
The dispute resolution attorneys at Sisco Law have a reputation for bringing creativity and tenacity to matters involving both federal and local law, and handle local, national and international disputes. Leveraging our extensive litigation experience, we provide parties with information they need in order to evaluate the risk of proceeding to trial.
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If you have a civil dispute matter and would like more information on our services, we would love to connect! Please reach out to us via email (info@sisco-law.com), fill out our contact form below, or give us a call at (813) 224-0555 and we will be happy to discuss your options with you.