JAMS, based in Irvine, California, is one of the largest providers of alternative dispute resolution services in the world. Alternative dispute resolution is usually considered to be an alternative to litigation. The rising popularity of ADR can be attributed to the increasing caseload of traditional courts, the perception that ADR costs less than litigation, a preference for confidentiality, and the desire of some parties to have greater control over the selection of the individual or individuals who will decide their dispute.
Founded by Hon. H. Warren Knight (Ret.) in 1979 under the former name Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc., JAMS has grown rapidly through mergers with several other similar companies, and at present now goes simply by its former acronym. It currently features a panel of more than 270 neutrals, consisting largely of retired judges and attorneys.
Contents |
JAMS handles complex mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluations, settlement conference, Mini Trials, Summary Jury Trials, Neutral Fact Findings, Special Master, Discovery Referees, Class Action Settlement Adjudications and Dispute board (DRB) services. Areas include Business/Commercial (Antitrust, Bankruptcy, Breach of Contract, Franchise, High-Tech/Software, Partnership Disputes, Sarbanes-Oxley, Securities, Telecommunications, and Utilities/Electric and Nuclear Power/Oil & Gas), Civil Rights, Class Action, Construction Defect & Delay, E-Discovery, Employment (ERISA, Wage & Hour Division/FLSA, Harassment, Retaliation, and Discrimination based on Disabilities/ADA, Race, Religion, National Origin, Gender/Sex), Environmental, Family Law, Healthcare, Insurance Intellectual Property (Copyright, Patent, Trademark, and Trade Secret), Landlord/Tenant, Professional Liability/Malpractice (Accounting, Architectural, Dental, Directors & Officers/D&O, Legal and Medical), Mass Tort, Partnership Disputes, Personal Injury, Product Liability, Real Estate, Toxic Tort and Trusts & Estates.
JAMS and ADR Center in Italy announced an agreement to form JAMS International and provide mediation and international arbitration of cross-border disputes and ADR services worldwide. JAMS International is headquartered in London with additional locations in the EU plus a network of partners, including JAMS in the United States, ADR Center in Italy and Result ADR in the Netherlands.
In the interest of promoting the use of ADR to resolve disputes, JAMS panelists conduct complimentary Continuing Legal Education programs for attorneys at law firms, bar associations, legal and business organizations.
JAMS established the JAMS Foundation to offer financial assistance for conflict resolution initiatives with national or international impact and to share its dispute resolution experience and expertise for the benefit of the public interest. Funded entirely by contributions from JAMS neutrals and staff, the JAMS Foundation has provided nearly $3 million in grants for conflict resolution initiatives. The JAMS Foundation also established the Weinstein International Fellowship Program to provide opportunities for individuals from outside the United States to visit the U.S. and learn more about dispute resolution processes and practices and to pursue a project of their own to advance dispute resolution in their home countries. The Foundation, through the Warren Knight Award, has awarded $25,000 grants to programs dedicated to resolving conflict both in the US and around the world.