CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution: Alternative Dispute Resolution - The Fastest Growing International Trend in Resolving Corporate and Personal Controversy.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 2004

Two decades after the foresighted corporate pioneers who founded The CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution first brought Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) into the legal lexicon, the use of mediation and a host of other conflict management tools have revolutionized the way we settle legal cases. This revolution has impacted upon the corporate community in terms defined by billions of dollars. And now the use of ADR by the world's most renowned practitioners is moving overseas, with global force.

CPR, a nonprofit alliance of 500 of the largest global corporations, law firms, scholars, and public institutions, is an ADR pioneer and leader. We would be pleased to serve as subject matter expert for future stories you develop, or write an article on one of the following topics.

-- ADR, A Primer - There has been a dramatic increase in the

number of complex, multi-million dollar cases resolved by ADR

procedures - and that number is growing, not just here but

throughout Europe, China and the Far East, and Latin America.

How and when does ADR work? What are the implications for

corporations doing business in the U.S. and abroad?

-- Consumer Disputes and "Private Justice" - Today, millions of

buyers of all kinds of consumer goods and services are being

called upon to resolve claims against companies through

private processes such as binding arbitration. While avoiding

the courthouse may save everyone time and money, private

alternatives raise basic questions about satisfaction and

fairness.

-- The Vanishing Trial - A widely-publicized 2003 study confirms

that while court filings are at an all-time high, fewer cases

go to a judge or jury. What are the causes, and the present

and future consequences of this evolution?

-- Incidents of Outrageous Originality in Getting the Deal Done -

Creative mediators talk about innovative ways of settling

seemingly intractable problems out of court - and laying the

groundwork for more satisfactory business relationships.

-- Building More Effective Corporate ADR Systems - A growing

number of companies have developed new programs for nipping 

conflict in the bud and saving millions of dollars in

litigation costs and even greater risks. What techniques are

currently employed, and just how well are they working? Case

studies and statistics are available.

-- Baseball's "Last Offer Arbitration" - What is the impact of

this technique on baseball, in which a private judge must

select between one of two "final offers"? What are other

potential applications of "baseball arbitration"?

-- Employment Dispute Resolution - Increasingly, employers are

asking prospective employees to commit to multi-step

procedures, including mediation, for resolving

employment-related issues. A survey of twenty leading

corporate programs illustrates the range of possible

solutions, and variable practical and legal benefits and

concerns.

-- Global Evolution in Conflict Resolution - Today, US-style

litigation has begun to rear its head in Europe and other

parts of the world. At the same time, some companies in the

EU, the Far East and other places are turning to mediation and

other out-of-court processes to avoid the costs and risks of

litigation - while others are resisting.

If you would like to develop any of the above - or any other topic on litigation and alternative dispute resolution, it would be our pleasure to be of help to you.

About CPR Institute For Dispute Resolution

CPR Institute For Dispute Resolution is a pioneer and leader in the area of dispute resolution. In February 2004, CPR was ranked #1 in alternative dispute resolution performance among General Counsels and their Deputies. Founded in 1979 as the Center for Public Resources, CPR promotes excellence and innovation in public and private dispute resolution, and serves as a primary multinational resource for avoidance, management and resolution of business-related and other disputes. CPR's unparalleled wealth of intellectual property and published material in this area has educated and motivated America toward an increased reliance on negotiation rather than litigation. CPR's proprietary Panel of esteemed arbitrators and mediators has provided resolutions in thousands of cases, with billions of dollars at issue, worldwide. For more information, please visit our web site at www.cpradr.org.