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Abbott Nicholson is a Detroit-based law firm that has served clients since 1977. The firm practices law in corporate and business, labor and employment, commercial and medical malpractice defense litigation, real estate, tax, trusts, and estates. Abbott Nicholson is the east Michigan member of the Meritas Global Network.
Berry Moorman provides legal representation and services in Detroit, Birmingham, and Ann Harbor. The firm focuses on business law, tax and estate planning, and labor and employment. Several of the attorneys also offer civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Berry Moorman was ranked U.S. News—Best Lawyers 2016 list of best law firms, the 2015 Top Ranked Law Firms, and the AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
Bingham Legal Group provides legal representation to clients in the Detroit Metro area and throughout Michigan. The firm has more than 20 years of experience in estate planning, probate administration, and litigation. The firm’s attorneys are also experienced mediators and arbitrators. Bingham Legal Group participates in the AARP Legal Services Program, giving discounted rates to current AARP members.
Bogas & Koncius has over 50 years of experience in employment law for the greater Detroit area. The attorneys act as facilitators, arbitrators, mediators, and investigators, handling a variety of dispute cases. The attorneys are also active members of several organizations, including the National Employment Lawyers Association, the Michigan Association for Justice, and the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers.
Foster Swift Collins & Smith PC is a firm with over 100 years of legal experience in Michigan and over 95 attorneys located throughout the state. The firm’s practice areas span business and corporate law, general and commercial litigation, healthcare, public entity law, trusts, and estates. U.S. News—Best Lawyers recognized Foster Swift as a Tier 1 firm in arbitration and mediation.
Fraser Trebilcock is a full-service law firm with locations in Detroit, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. Started as a small practice in 1883, the firm has grown to a team of over 40 lawyers, covering more than 70 practice areas. Fraser Trebilcock is also the Michigan member of SCG Legal, a worldwide law firm network. The attorneys of Fraser Trebilcock have received professional recognition from Martindale-Hubbell, U.S. News and Best Lawyers, and the peer-reviewed publication Best Lawyers.
Keller Thoma has served clients throughout Michigan for over 80 years. Located in Southfield, the firm specializes in labor and employment law, education law, and corporate law. The firm represents hundreds of clients, including corporations, health care organizations, municipalities, insurance companies, and educational institutions.
Maddin, Hauser, Roth & Heller, P.C. is a law firm serving the greater Detroit area with a wide range of practice areas. The firm’s principal specialties include insurance coverage, employee benefits, estate planning, franchise law, litigation, mortgage dispute resolution, and taxation. The law firm represents individuals, businesses, and government entities, having worked with many clients for 25 years or more.
Michigan Judicial Mediation Services, P.C. (MI-JMS) provides alternative dispute resolution services to clients living in the greater Detroit area. With offices in Livonia and Bay City, MI-JMS is led by three retired circuit judges who are arbitration and mediation neutral experts. They have a combined 67 years of judicial experience. MI-JMS accepts cases that include commercial and business litigation, class action, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and domestic and family issues.
Nemeth Law specializes in labor and employment law for the greater Detroit area. Founded by attorney Patricia Nemeth in 1992, Nemeth Law is the largest woman-owned law firm in Michigan to represent management for labor and employment disputes. The attorneys have received recognition and awards from Best Lawyers in America, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, and Martindale-Hubbell’s 2015 Bar Registrar of Preeminent Women Lawyers.
The Dispute Resolution Center offers affordable mediation services and training for the Ann Harbor community and greater Detroit area. Started in 1983, the center is supervised by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. Over 180 state-approved mediators volunteer for The Dispute Resolution Center. The organization leads several conflict resolution satellite sites in neighborhoods, schools, and community housing facilities.
Vandeveer Garzia has provided legal help and counseling throughout Michigan for over 100 years. The firm has received the Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, the highest rating the program gives. The attorneys of Vandeveer Garza are licensed to practice law in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois as well as the 6th and 8th Circuits of the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. The firm’s practice areas range from alternative dispute resolution to malpractice, litigation, and liability.
Vestevich, Mallender, DuBois & Dritsas, P.C. is a law firm serving Michigan clients in a wide range of practice areas. The law firm’s specialties include alternative dispute resolution, arbitration, divorce, litigation, personal injury, real estate, and taxation. Originally founded in 1848, the firm now has a team of six experienced attorneys. Alan M. Kanter is a Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and was named in 2012 among the list of “Detroit’s Best Lawyers.”
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Mediation is an alternative to going to trial during legal disputes. The parties on both sides agree to work with an impartial third party who oversees discussions concerning the matter in dispute. The goal and hope of mediation is to come to a settlement or compromise that is agreeable to both parties. The mediator doesn't represent either party but works with both to help ensure that discussions are civil and agreements are as fair as possible given the situation. In many cases, if mediation fails, then the parties can move on to a trial in court.
Arbitration is another alternative to a court trial, but it's a bit more formal than mediation. During the arbitration, evidence and testimony is presented to a panel of people who act as judges of sorts. They issue an opinion about the matter in writing, and depending on how the arbitration was entered into, it may or may not be binding. If it's binding, the parties must accept and abide by the decisions of the arbitrators. Commonly, each side selects a third-party arbitrator, and each of those people selects a third person.
Arbitration and mediation both have pros and cons, and which one is right for you depends on your personal preferences, legal goals, and the details of your case. Mediation can offer more control, and because of that, those who go through it tend to report a higher level of satisfaction. But arbitration is more formal and may provide a more structured environment, which may be needed if civil discussions aren't possible.
If you can choose a mediator or arbitrator, it's critical to look for a neutral third party. Someone who is in any way tied to either side or who might have a known strong opinion on matters related to the case may not be the best option. Legal knowledge is important for mediators and arbitrators, but arbitrators should also have court experience. Retired or former judges or trial lawyers may be good choices for arbitrators, for example.
An arbitration agreement waives your right to seek legal remedies in court under certain circumstances, specifically, if you and the other party have unresolved disputes. You submit to binding arbitration over all matters, which can be somewhat risky as arbitration agreements are usually requested by companies that have arbitration processes set up, and those processes may not be impartial.
Mandatory arbitration occurs when someone is forced to use arbitration as a means of settling an issue. One of the most common scenarios for this is employment. Employers may require that employees sign an arbitration agreement before they can begin work. The employees then give up some rights to go to court over certain employment issues.
During a child custody mediation, the mediator will likely encourage each party to focus on the needs of the child or children. The parties work together to agree on custody. They typically won't discuss matters of child support, marital property, or other factors of the divorce—unless the mediation is for the whole divorce. If you are attending mediation, it is advised to come prepared to discuss what's in the best interest of your children and situation, but also be prepared to reach a compromise.
