Practice Areas:

Mediation & Arbitration

A substantial majority of business litigation features at least one form of alternative dispute resolution and Skelton & Woody excels in presenting its clients' cases in these formats. Mediation presents a unique opportunity to speak directly to the opposing party's decision makers, instead of their attorneys.  We make the best of this opportunity to convince the clients on the other side of litigation of the strength of our client's case, as well as our own abilities in persuading judges and jurors. Preparation is as crucial to successful mediation as it is to trial and we strive to out-prepare our opponents. We typically open with a mediation presentation designed to convey to both the opposing side and the mediator the strength of our case and the reasons a cost-effective settlement would be preferable to continued litigation.

Our approach is firm but friendly, communicating that we are reasonable people who can be worked with toward a mutually satisfactory resolution. We do not believe that a confrontational style is the most effective way to use the process to our clients' fullest advantage. When arbitration is at issue, we call upon over two decades of experience both compelling arbitration, and in a few circumstances, opposing it as not contractually mandated. We have arbitrated before AAA panels and many of the retired judges who have developed arbitration practices, with a good track record of success in convincing the arbitrator to abandon the all-too-common practice of splitting the baby, in favor of awarding our clients the decision they sought.