Alternative Dispute Resolution

Gordon & Rees was founded in 1974 as a litigation firm and litigation continues to be the firm’s primary practice, with more than 75% of the firm’s business regularly involving dispute resolution. Clients choose Gordon & Rees because our litigation practice is led by lawyers who actually try cases on a frequent basis. While we do not believe every case should go to trial, we do believe every case gains a competitive advantage from a trial-ready approach.

Our record proves that leveraging the unique perspective of a trial lawyer is also the most powerful positioning tool for achieving the best possible solution in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, or other Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) forum. We have the comprehensive experience and knowledge required to successfully present the most complicated cases to judges, juries, mediators and arbitration panels.

Clients count on us for pragmatic legal advice that is the most beneficial to their reputation, business, and bottom-line. With this in mind, Gordon & Rees considers the use of ADR to be an integral part of the practice of law. Consequently, instead of creating a separate ADR practice consisting of only a few select lawyers, every one of our litigation lawyers has ADR experience and actively includes ADR in the evaluation of possible options for resolving all disputes.

Very early in the evaluation of the case, our trial lawyers have the depth of recent first-hand experience required to identify the primary issues of law and fact, provide reliable jury outcome scenarios, and develop realistic ADR options. The ADR experience of our litigation attorneys also eliminates the additional costs to clients that result when a dispute is transferred from the litigation team to a separate ADR team which must be brought up to speed on the case.

Our litigators are committed to principled and creative conflict avoidance, management and resolution. As a result, our approach to dispute resolution encompasses a full range of resolution options, including negotiation, litigation, arbitration, mediation and customized ADR options. When a dispute arises, we work closely with each client to assess the dispute and decide whether a particular dispute should be resolved through litigation, negotiation, or ADR. Our attorneys focus on the rights and the interests of the parties, the relationships, and the desired outcomes. Our analysis recognizes that the underlying business interests are as important to clients as are legal rights.

For many disputes, ADR can be a valuable tool to resolve disputes early, cost-effectively and expeditiously, while providing enhanced privacy, confidentiality and the preservation of relationships. Most importantly, with ADR, the parties have greater control over the process and the outcome. The process of mediation, in particular, offers creative business solutions not available in either litigation or arbitration. Through sophisticated ADR strategies and techniques, we can save time and money for our clients and help them achieve solutions to disputes consistent with the objectives of their business.

We also have an aggressive trial and ADR training program for associates and junior partners, thoroughly training our lawyers on the tactical and strategic aspects of a real-life trial and related ADR practice. As a result, we provide our attorneys with the skills, knowledge and experience required to achieve success in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. Our training team includes Gordon & Rees lawyers with specialty ADR certifications and qualifications, including certified arbitrators and mediators for the American Arbitration Association, a member of the Panel of Neutrals of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, a member of the International Trademark Association Panel of Neutrals, and a lawyer who has been recognized for his mediation expertise by receiving a certificate in Mediation and Dispute Resolution from Harvard Law School.