View All PracticesAlternative Dispute Resolution
Areas of Concentration
- Securities arbitrations
- Construction arbitrations
- Commercial arbitrations
- Arbitrations involving state, municipal and quasi-public entities.
Alternative dispute resolution pioneers, experienced and talented AP&S attorneys have been intimately involved in ADR since its inception, obtaining landmark decisions, leading the way in cases enforcing contractual arbitration provisions and working to advance and support arbitration with bar and court constituencies. That includes winning the pivotal decision from the Rhode Island Supreme Court that requires compulsory arbitration in public works cases and helping draft ADR procedures and techniques for New England.
We regularly represent brokerage firms in FINRA arbitrations, successfully working to compel claimants to arbitrate these disputes. We routinely handle construction arbitrations for public agencies—including educational, municipal and correctional clients—and large building contractors. We also serve as arbitrators and mediators in cases not involving our clients, for the American Arbitration Association, the United States District Court ADR program and the Rhode Island ADR program.
Our accomplished and committed attorneys continue to work at the forefront of alternative dispute resolution advancement, lecturing and authoring articles on ADR issues for bars across New England and working to extend its reach and refine its application in state, federal and regulatory venues.
Representative Matters
- In Sterling Engineering & Construction Co., Inc. v. Town of Burrillville Housing Authority, AP&S attorneys obtained a landmark decision from the Rhode Island Supreme Court that required compulsory arbitration in public works cases.
- In another landmark decision from the Rhode Island Supreme Court, AP&S attorneys successfully argued that discovery should not be permitted in arbitration proceedings, which preserved the expedited procedures for which ADR has become so popular among clients, corporate or otherwise.
- We were also pioneers in establishing mandatory arbitration in Rhode Island Superior Court for certain cases.
