The McGrath North attorneys who are listed below received specialized ADR training.  In addition to representing firm clients in mediation and other ADR proceedings, these attorneys are available for retention by non-client parties and their counsel to serve as ADR neutrals to facilitate out-of-court settlements between adverse parties prior to or during the litigation process.  McGrath North attorneys have acted as mediators and arbitrators in a variety of disputes:

Mediation   Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party - the mediator - facilitates the parties to a dispute in negotiating a voluntary resolution of the dispute.  Mediation is different from other forms of dispute resolution in that the parties participate voluntarily, so the mediator has no authority to mandate a decision.  The decision-making authority is given to the parties to the dispute, making this form of ADR the most popular form of dispute resolution outside of the courtroom.  McGrath North mediators have successfully resolved hundreds of disputes through the mediation process.

Arbitration   Arbitration is the submission of a dispute to one or more impartial persons for a final and binding decision, typically referred to as an "award."  Awards are made in written decisions that generally are binding on the parties to the dispute.  McGrath North attorneys have served as arbitrators in a variety of legal disputes.

In the appropriate case, both mediation and arbitration provide significant advantages to the parties over traditional litigation:

• Informal - ADR processes are informal and flexible
• Confidential - ADR processes are confidential
• Quick and inexpensive - Disputes are resolved more quickly and with much less expense to the parties than traditional litigation.