This is our first advisory service, designed to help one or more disputants assess their conflict and recommend processes aligned with the needs and interests of all parties involved. By considering the 7 key drivers listed below, we analyze procedural needs, escalation risks, and the likelihood of settlement. Our Application Form, available via our online portal, uses multiple-choice questions to streamline this process, facilitate perspective-taking, and (if desired) help convene all disputants without disclosing confidential facts, positions, or appearing as a “requesting party.” A complimentary diagnostic tool is accessible on our website (see the button above) and is included, along with other diagnostic results, with every completed Application Form, which is free of charge. While we may be hired by a single party, we never act to the detriment of others, ensuring impartial, independent advice that benefits all parties and upholds the highest standards of fairness, maximizing the chances of a mutually acceptable, cost-effective, and timely resolution of every dispute.

Our second service helps parties identify the most suitable dispute resolution processes for their case. We guide them in distinguishing between various types of mediation, conciliation, expert evaluation, and arbitration, considering how each choice may impact the conflict’s dynamics and potential for escalation. Using a tailored “mixed-mode” approach, we explore possible combinations of processes, including 4 types of mediation, 2 types of conciliation, and various adjudicative add-on processes (if beneficial), to resolve matters more efficiently, cost-effectively, and collaboratively. Our goal is to achieve settlements within 3–6 months in all cases, typically at less than 1/3 the cost of going to trial. Recommendations are guided by diagnostic tools such as “Riskin Grid” and “Glasl Scale” analyses and are aligned with the 7 key drivers outlined below. This ensures that each process we design meets the needs of all parties — regardless of who pays our fees — maximizing satisfaction, minimizing time and expense, and fostering cooperative working relationships.

Our third service helps parties put their chosen dispute resolution process into practice. Once the parties agree on a specific process or combination of processes, we assist with implementation as a trusted, independent, and impartial advisor, regardless of who pays our fees. This includes helping to identify and select appropriate ADR neutrals for each process or component, clarifying roles (e.g., in Mixed Mode processes), and managing logistical and procedural details. Our support may involve help in determining whether an “ad-hoc” or “institutional” process is preferred, ensuring compliance with procedural rules that could impact enforceability (e.g., setting up waivers if a neutral is asked to swap hats), who should participate in meetings, and choosing between in-person or online formats (e.g., videoconferencing technologies). We also guide information exchanges based on the focus of each session, whether it involves strengthening relationships, addressing specific events, or achieving a monetary settlement.  Our proprietary online portal also helps streamline implementation by assisting with neutral selection (including multiple ADR neutrals) and offering optional financing as a separate service if needed. If institutional ADR rules are chosen, we help parties navigate their requirements and explore options if institutions cannot accommodate necessary combinations, such as converting a mediated settlement into a consent award. This service ensures a seamless transition from planning to execution, enabling efficient and effective dispute resolution that satisfies all parties.

Our fourth service sets InnovADR apart by offering to finance ADR processes ourselves, fully aligning our interests with those of the parties. We cover the fees of ADR neutrals and institutions upfront, assuming the risk if the dispute does not settle, and convening the parties at no initial cost to them. Even if initially contacted by one party, and only one party pays for our other services, we ensure that all parties agree on a joint process and its funding structure before providing this service. Unlike litigation financing, we never finance one party to the detriment of another. This unique “no settlement, no fee” model reflects our confidence in our recommendations and the processes we help to design, while ensuring a rapid, cost-effective, and optimal resolution based on the 7 key drivers outlined below. Other than a small administrative fee of USD 1,000 when a financing service is agreed to, the parties pay nothing unless and until the case is resolved. Distinct from, but highly complementary to, traditional litigation financing, this service fosters collaboration and ensures all parties act out of common accord, creating a uniquely effective path to faster, cheaper, and better dispute resolution.