Fast Resolution Options to Use at Point of Dispute
Resolve A Dispute Using A Submission Agreement
Even if two parties lack an alternative dispute resolution clause in an existing contract, arbitration and mediation are excellent options to resolve a commercial conflict.
If you do not have a contract providing for CPR arbitration or another procedure, you can still agree to CPR arbitration and mediation after your dispute arises by jointly filling out the form accessed via this button:
Note: If you already have a contract that specifies CPR arbitration or another procedure, check the governing rules and File a Case for instructions on how to file with CPR.
As the U.S. court system reopens to hear cases, backlogs due to the pandemic and prioritization of criminal cases have led to even longer wait times for litigation than before the pandemic. There are faster routes to resolution, and for 40 years, CPR Dispute Resolution has helped businesses identify and navigate the most appropriate route for them.
CPR Dispute Resolution offers alternative mechanisms to courts and litigation designed to be faster and more efficient, allowing both parties to return their focus to their businesses. Parties simply submit an agreement to CPR to initiate the case, an agreement known as a “submission agreement.”
Why CPR Dispute Resolution?
Our case managers are attorneys experienced in dispute resolution. They provide personalized attention and boutique-style management to each case.
CPR supports a diverse Panel of Distinguished Neutrals who are expert mediators and arbitrators who understand the need to resolve business conflicts quickly and fairly. They also have training in how to conduct matters using videoconferencing. Focusing in more than 30 practice areas, CPR’s esteemed arbitrators and mediators have provided resolutions in thousands of cases, with billions of dollars at issue worldwide.
Four Options - Choose One:
Parties may select one of four alternatives to commercial litigation that are faster than courts and can be initiated with CPR at the point of the dispute:
| Mediation | Fast Track Arbitration | Concurrent Mediation-Arbitration | Commercial Arbitration |
| Provides a non-binding process where parties resolve the dispute on terms that the parties agree upon themselves. | Intended for parties that desire an accelerated, streamlined arbitral process designed to result in the delivery of an award between 90 and 180 days after the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal. | Provides parties the option to proceed with mediation and arbitration at the same time, maximizing the opportunity for a settlement informed by both of those proceedings. | Intended for parties that desire a full proceeding in final and binding arbitration, while still completing the process in an average 14.4 months, faster than under a court proceeding. |
| CPR Mediation Procedure | CPR Fast Track Administered Arbitration Rules | CPR Concurrent Mediation-Arbitration Clauses and Protocol | CPR Administered Arbitration Rules |
To proceed with one of these processes, parties may draft a submission agreement or simply fill out the submission form and include it as part of their filing through CPR's Complete Case Management platform. The platform may also be accessed by clicking File a Case.
Benefits of Using Alternative Dispute Resolution Processes:
- Party control: ability to craft your own process to fit your needs.
- Faster speed and lower cost: speed to a decision is often important so that business planning can continue, and long-term projects can proceed uninterrupted. On average, CPR commercial arbitration case length from commencement to award is 14.4 months.
- Knowledgeable decision-makers: selection of neutrals with subject-matter expertise is preferable to judges or juries without any subject-matter knowledge.
- Privacy/confidentiality: maintain the confidentiality of sensitive matters, such as proprietary business information, trade secrets and other intellectual property.
- Fair and neutral forum: offers the possibility of selecting a venue which is neutral to the parties and logistically convenient to both sides.
- Finality: arbitration offers the certainty of resolution, as awards are generally final and binding. Parties can, however, add an appellate procedure if desired.