Practices

Businesses and citizens who are faced with the prospect of expensive and drawn-out litigation often desire alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to resolve their disputes more efficiently and confidentially. Many are subject to mandatory ADR by contract or court rule. The attorneys in Connolly Gallagher’s ADR group respond to this need by serving as arbitrators, mediators, and hearing officers in a wide range of matters, including complex corporate, commercial and intellectual property disputes, employment disputes, disputes involving restrictive covenants and other contract issues, as well as commercial bankruptcy-related disputes. We have also represented parties in ADR proceedings and in drafting provisions requiring ADR.

Our training and experience in serving as neutrals is broad. Among other things, Matt Boyer has been appointed by the Court to serve in a special master role, which has included mediating cases and in resolving discovery disputes, sometimes involving complex e-discovery issues. Matt Boyer, Arthur (Chip) Connolly, Timothy Holly, and Max Walton have completed the mediation training program sponsored by the Delaware Superior Court and are certified by that Court to serve as mediators. Jeffrey Wisler completed the American Bankruptcy Institute’s inaugural bankruptcy mediation training program and is a member of the mediation panel for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Timothy Holly and Matt Boyer have been selected to serve as hearing officers in public school teacher termination proceedings.

In each of these roles, our aim is to resolve disputes fairly, efficiently, and cost-effectively for all concerned.