The Advantages Of Using Arbitration To Avoid Litigation

While there are several different types of ADR, arbitration is among the most used methods, and it has become the go-to way to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom. Here we’ll discuss how arbitration works and why you might want to consider using it rather than (or at least prior to) taking your dispute to court.

How Arbitration Works

Like other forms of ADR, arbitration involves bringing your matter before a neutral third party, who oversees the process and helps the two sides resolve their dispute. The third party, or arbitrator, can be a single person or multiple individuals. Most arbitration proceedings today use a panel of multiple arbitrators, and the final decision is made by a majority vote.

Arbitrators serve a role like that of a judge in which they hear arguments and are presented with evidence from both sides, and they then use that information to decide the outcome. Although arbitration proceedings are like those in a trial, they’re far less formal, with fewer rules and procedures to adhere to and a much more flexible timetable.

Arbitration is also a private process, and all of the proceedings are kept confidential. In contrast, the litigation process is open to the public and part of the public record, which can lead to negative publicity for your brand.

Binding vs. Nonbinding

The final decision made by the arbitrators may be either binding or nonbinding. If the arbitration is binding, the parties waive their right to take the dispute to trial, and they agree to follow the arbitrators’ decision, which can be enforced by the courts. There’s typically no right to appeal the arbitrators’ decision.

Nonbinding arbitration means that either party is free to take the matter to court if they disagree with the decision. Whether arbitration will be binding or not is agreed upon by both parties in advance, although binding arbitration is far more common when it comes to business disputes.

The Advantages of Arbitration

Arbitration is generally faster, cheaper, and more convenient than litigation. It can also be more flexible, allowing the arbitrators to come up with more creative solutions than a court would be legally allowed to impose. Plus, the process is often less hostile than court proceedings, which can be a big benefit if you want to maintain your business relationship with the other party.

Moreover, because arbitration is kept private, it’s far less likely to have a negative impact on your company’s reputation, and it allows you to keep your confidential information from your competitors' prying eyes.

While the process of arbitration does not require you to have an attorney present, many business owners do have lawyers on hand to serve as counselors and advocates during the proceedings. If that’s something you’d want, we can fill that role for you.

A More Productive Method for Managing Disputes

While disputes are an inevitable part of doing business, litigation doesn’t have to be. Arbitration can significantly reduce the direct and indirect costs of litigation by offering a quicker, more beneficial resolution for all parties involved. And by adding mandatory arbitration clauses to your agreements, you can have better control of potential disputes before they occur and help ensure contractual conflicts are handled in the most productive way possible.

As your Family Business Lawyer™, we can help you decide whether arbitration is an appropriate solution to your company’s disputes and support you in adding effective arbitration clauses to your agreements. Schedule an appointment with us, your Family Business Lawyer™ today to learn more.

This article is a service of Sky Unlimited Legal Advisory PC, Personal Family Lawyer® .  We're not your traditional law firm, we stand apart from the rest by helping you make informed and empowered decisions on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of an emergency. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services, including a New Business Planning Session or an Existing Business Review Session, which includes a review of all the legal, insurance, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. You can begin by calling our office at (650) 761-0992 today or book online to schedule a Business Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $950 session at no charge.