Dispute Resolution

"Dispute Resolution" means a procedure or forum for resolving legal disputes, which can include a lawsuit, arbitration or similar, sometimes governed by contract. "Alternative" dispute resolution refers to efforts to resolve a legal dispute out-of-court. These include arbitration, where a private tribunal replaces a judge and jury, or mediation (to name the most common types of "ADR"). Mediation is a private negotiation, usually involving legal counsel, the parties and a "neutral" professional negotiator, selected jointly by the parties. ADR is usually employed as an alternative to suing in court, but it can happen alongside a court proceeding, as a way to quicken a resolution without consuming court resources.