Practice Areas & Industries: Akerman Senterfitt

Practice/Industry Group Overview

The Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution ("ADR") Practice at Akerman Senterfitt is designed to help our clients, and also parties that are not clients of the firm, resolve disputes by using techniques that are as effective and more economical than traditional litigation. The methods we employ include pre-suit neutral evaluations, drafting ADR-friendly business agreements, mediation, mock trials, binding and non-binding arbitration, private judging, and less traditional methods of ADR.

Services Available

There are several ways in which we can assist in this process:

• Our lawyers can review and draft agreements to avoid costly litigation, including agreements which establish creative, business-driven solutions which may not be available in courts of law. These agreements often employ multi-step processes which combine various methods of dispute resolution, and result in settlements that are less time-consuming and, therefore, less costly.
• For parties that are not clients of Akerman Senterfitt, we have state and federal certified mediators and arbitrators who serve as neutral parties helping to resolve a variety of disputes, including securities law claims, construction projects, business transactions, employment matters and all types of commercial and personal injury cases.
• For clients of the Firm, Akerman Senterfitt's trial lawyers are familiar with various methods of dispute resolution, and have served as advocates for their clients during ADR processes.
• In addition, our certified mediators and arbitrators have served as consultants to our clients in preparation for pending mediation and arbitrations. Familiarity with the techniques employed by mediators and arbitrators can be invaluable in reaching a solution which is based on a client's real interests.

Clients:
JumboSports, Inc., Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., Inc., Affiliated of Florida, Inc.;, Hillsborough Holdings, Inc. (Jim Walter Corp), Fabric King, Inc., Koger Properties, Inc., Bicoastal Corp., Miller Brewing Co. , BP Oil Co. , Montenay Power Corp. , Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority , Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Ltd. , Hobbs & Curry