ADR is a significant focus of our legal practice. The firm’s attorneys serve as mediators and arbitrators in a full range of disputes, including employment, business litigation, family law, professional malpractice and construction matters. We act in this capacity as a result of court appointments, referrals by attorneys and other professionals and existing client requests.
Both arbitration and mediation are designed to resolve a dispute in a timely manner for a fair outcome through a neutral party. We encourage the use of ADR where we believe that ADR will lead to the best result at the least cost to our clients.
Mediation is a voluntary path to justice when negotiation and settlements cannot be reached. Arbitration is often stipulated as part of a contract or an option that both parties consent to in good faith to resolve a legal matter. Binding arbitration carries the same weight as a court judgment.
MEDIATION: THE DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION OPTION
Mediation is an ADR method designed for both parties to reach mutually satisfactory agreement. A neutral and impartial third party, the “mediator”, facilitates dialogue to help all parties resolve a dispute.
Attorney Jonathan J. Lerner is a mediator qualified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey pursuant to R.1:40 and is frequently appointed by the New Jersey Superior Court to mediate civil litigation matters. Attorney Ronald L. Davison is a member of the Early Settlement Panel of the Probate Part of the New Jersey Superior Court, which conducts mediations through court appointments in estate litigation matters, including will contests and other estate disputes.
Mr. Lerner is a member of the Executive Board of the esteemed Justice Marie L. Garibaldi American Inn of Court for Alternative Dispute Resolution. The Garibaldi Inn is comprised of state and federal judges, law professors, legal practitioners and ADR professionals, including attorneys, arbitrators and mediators. The Inn works to foster excellence, ethics and professionalism through monthly presentations by national and local ADR experts and practitioners. Mr. Lerner is also a member of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators (NJAPM). Mr. Lerner serves on the Board of Directors of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, which promotes ADR in New Jersey by educating the Bar, the judiciary, the legislature and the public on its value. Mr. Lerner is a Mediator Mentor appointed by the New Jersey Superior Court to assist new mediators in becoming qualified to become New Jersey mediators and frequently lecture on ADR matters.
Attorney Charles F. Vuotto, Jr. is a mediator qualified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey pursuant to R.1:40. Additionally, Mr. Vuotto serves as a panelists on the Union County Early Settlement Panel (“ESP”), and various Blue Ribbon Panel and Intensive Settlement Conferences (“ISC”) assisting parties in resolving their disputes.
ARBITRATION: EFFICIENT LEGAL PROCESS TO RESOLUTION
ADR is a significant focus of our legal practice. The firm’s attorneys serve as mediators and arbitrators in a full range of disputes, including employment, business litigation, professional malpractice and construction matters. We act in this capacity as a result of court appointments and existing client requests.
We undertake Arbitration in a variety of forums, including the federal and state courts, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), which encompasses the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (NJDCR).
Attorney Ira M. Starr is frequently selected as an arbitrator by FINRA and has served as the chairperson of many FINRA and NASD arbitration panels in the New York metropolitan area and throughout the country. Amos Gern is frequently appointed by the New Jersey Superior Court to arbitrate personal injury cases. Attorney Charles F. Vuotto, Jr. is certified by AAML to arbitrate family law matters (2013-2015). Mr. Vuotto was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Arbitration of Family Matters, which culminated in significant changes to the New Jersey Rules of Court that became effective in September of 2015. Mr. Vuotto has authored or co-authored over 100 articles on the topic of family law, many of which deal with mediation and arbitration. All his articles are available at http://www.vuotto.com/divorce-article/.