Alternative Dispute Resolution

Stevenson & Bullock, P.L.C. is regularly retained for assistance in resolving complex disputes. The firm’s attorneys are sought after for their extensive experience with multiparty financial, business, and real estate matters.

In some cases, resolution of these disputes calls for litigation, which can be drawn-out and costly given the many competing interests involved. Often, alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) such as mediation, facilitation, or arbitration is a more efficient and cost-effective approach.

Attorney Charles D. Bullock, founding member and managing partner of the firm, has served as a court-appointed mediator in multiple Michigan counties and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The firm’s other attorneys routinely represent clients in mediation and other ADR processes.

Alternative Dispute Resolution for Complex Financial Matters

The use of alternative dispute resolution in financial and business disputes preserves value, saves time, and offers flexible solutions that may not be available in the litigation context. The attorneys at Stevenson & Bullock, P.L.C. are frequently involved in the following ADR processes to improve outcomes for all stakeholders:

• Mediation in bankruptcy and commercial disputes, including creditor-debtor disputes, valuation issues, and plan confirmation disputes.
• Facilitation in multi-party disputes, such as complex bankruptcies or business wind-downs that often involve many stakeholders.
• Arbitration in commercial contracts, including business or real estate agreements that contain arbitration clauses.
• Out-of-court negotiations and workouts, including efforts to restructure debt, extend payment terms, or resolve other disputes before litigation becomes necessary.
• Serving as court-appointed mediators, arbitrators, discovery masters, and facilitators.

Because alternative dispute resolution often leads to faster and mutually-agreeable resolutions that reduce judicial burden, courts frequently encourage ADR. These processes tend to be more collaborative than adversarial, which can also help to preserve working relationships among stakeholders.