Our firm stands ready to provide service as arbitrators, mediators, and case facilitators to other law firms and their clients regarding a wide range of disputes. We are committed to exploring all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution as a means of expeditiously and economically bringing business disputes to a final resolution. Whether through the use of arbitration, mediation, facilitation, or case evaluation, we recognize the benefits obtained by individuals, business, and public entities from early, final, and confidential resolutions of disputes.

A number of our attorneys are experienced in the administration of Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures and regularly act as arbitrators, mediators, and case facilitators in cases assigned to them by judges, tribunals, and counsel for parties.

Gene J. Esshaki has been named as a Michigan Super Lawyer in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution by Law & Politics Magazine. He sits on the Council of State Bar of Michigan Section on Alternative Dispute Resolution and lectures on the subject at the Annual Institute of Dispute Resolution sponsored by the Institute for Continuing Legal Education of the State of Michigan. Gene brings years of experience in ADR to parties and is often called upon by many state and federal judges to assist in the resolution of the most complex commercial cases through private mediation. He is also a member of the American Arbitration Association, sits on its complex commercial panel, and often acts as an arbitrator in commercial cases involving significant sums in dispute. A few of the cases in which he has acted as an arbitrator or mediator include disputes involving:

• Warranty claims for first tier automotive parts suppliers
• Catastrophic injury claims from the State Automobile Catastrophic Injury Fund
• Accounting audit damages in a venture capital acquisition
• Post closing purchase price adjustments in venture capital asset or stock acquisition transactions
• Patent royalty and next generation claims
• Class action claims for commercial and consumer injuries
• Commissioned agent claims
• Shareholder and partnership dispute claims
• Charter School disputes
• Breach of contract claims involving municipal and school construction costs
• Legal, accounting and architectural malpractice claims
• Real estate construction, development and sale disputes
• Probate and estate claims involving complex estates
• Natural gas transmission agreement disputes
• Oil and natural gas royalty agreement disputes
• Complex commercial transaction claims

Carl F. Jarboe serves as a facilitator, arbitrator, and mediator both through the American Arbitration Association and independent retention. Through his fourteen-year public service as the Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court Judge he has facilitated the resolution of literally thousands of cases. Carl is a member of the Panel of Facilitators for both the Detroit Metropolitan and the Macomb County Bar Associations. He has expertise in contracts, commercial transactions, real estate, and school law matters.

Timothy J.  Kramer is involved in numerous mediations and arbitrations involving family law matters.  He is currently appointed as a Family Law Mediator in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County Circuit Courts.  This appointment requires extensive training, experience, and continuing education.  Tim is qualified to mediate and arbitrate all types of family law matters.

Michael R. Blum brings years of experience in ADR to parties. Mike has mediated numerous employment discrimination claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee and Michigan Department of Civil Rights. He is a neutral member on the employment panel of the American Arbitration Association. Some of the cases in which he has mediated or acted as an arbitrator include disputes involving:

• Non-competition and confidentiality agreements
• Misappropriation of trade secrets
• Michigan Veterans Preference Act
• Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution
• 42 U.S.C. § 1983
• Wrongful discharge
• Tortious interference with contract
• Breach of employment contract
• Breach of duty of loyalty
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Payment of wages and bonuses
• Payment/repayment of stock options and grants
• Whistleblowers Protection Act
• Family and Medical Leave Act
• Sexual harassment
• Hostile work environment
• Disabilities discrimination
• Failure to accommodate