California Commercial Arbitration Attorney
for High-Stakes Commercial Disputes40+ Years Representing Clients in AAA, JAMS & Private Arbitration
Dracup & Patterson is a California dispute resolution law firm representing clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings statewide. We are litigation and arbitration lawyers — advocates at the table, not neutrals. Our senior attorneys have decades of experience before every major arbitration company, including AAA, JAMS, ADR Services, and Judicate West, handling commercial disputes from $300,000 to $100 million.
Mediation & Arbitration Representation
Over 100 years of combined experience getting the best possible outcomes for our clients in Arbitrations and Mediations.
AAA Arbitration Representation
Decades of experience representing clients in American Arbitration Association proceedings. We handle complex commercial and construction arbitration matters from initial filing through final award.
JAMS Arbitration Representation
Skilled representation before JAMS arbitrators in commercial and business disputes. We navigate JAMS procedures to protect your interests and pursue favorable outcomes.
Business Dispute Mediation Representation
Strategic mediation representation for partnership disputes, contract breaches, and commercial conflicts. We negotiate aggressively while preserving business relationships when possible.
Mediation-to-Arbitration Escalation
Seamless representation when mediation fails and disputes escalate to binding arbitration. We maintain strategic continuity through both stages of the ADR process.
Arbitration Services
California Business Arbitration Services
Dracup & Patterson provides senior-attorney California business arbitration services for high-value commercial disputes. Our arbitration services cover every stage of the process — from filing and arbitrator selection through discovery, evidentiary hearings, and enforcement of the final award. We represent claimants and respondents on a hourly or deposit basis, and appear before all major arbitration providers statewide.
For a deeper look at how we handle business disputes that fall outside arbitration, see our California business litigation page.
- Contract arbitration: breach of commercial agreements, supply and vendor disputes, distribution and licensing terms.
- Partnership & shareholder arbitration: buyouts, deadlock, fiduciary claims routed to AAA or JAMS by the operating or shareholder agreement.
- Employment & executive arbitration: post-termination compensation, equity, and restrictive-covenant carve-outs for California employers and executives.
- AAA / JAMS representation: full advocacy before the American Arbitration Association and JAMS panels, plus ADR Services and Judicate West.
- International & cross-border arbitration: California-seated commercial arbitration involving out-of-state and foreign counterparties.
- Award confirmation & vacatur: petitions to confirm, correct, or vacate arbitration awards in California superior court and federal court.
ADR Attorneys
ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) Attorneys in California
Alternative Dispute Resolution — ADR — refers to any method of resolving a business dispute outside of court, including mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluation, and structured negotiation. Most California commercial contracts now include an ADR clause requiring one or more of these steps before a lawsuit can be filed.
Dracup & Patterson's ADR lawyers act as advocates for our clients throughout that process — we are not neutrals. Our senior attorneys analyze the ADR clause, choose the strongest forum, prepare the evidentiary record, and press for a favorable outcome whether the matter resolves at mediation or proceeds through binding arbitration.
For a broader view of the business-dispute ADR options available to California companies, see our alternative dispute resolution for business disputes resource.
Business Mediation
Mediation for Business Disputes in California
Mediation for business disputes in California is a confidential, non-binding session in which a neutral mediator works with both sides to reach a negotiated settlement. Nothing said in a California mediation is admissible later — Evidence Code sections 1115–1128 make the process confidential — which is why it is often the fastest way to resolve a partnership, contract, or commercial dispute without exposing your business to a public court record.
Dracup & Patterson represents companies and owners at mediation; we are advocates, not neutrals. Our senior attorneys prepare the mediation brief, value the claim and defenses realistically, control the exchange of information, and negotiate terms that hold up when the settlement agreement is enforced under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6.
When business mediation works
Ongoing commercial relationships worth preserving, contract-required mediation clauses, disputes where both sides face real litigation risk, and matters where confidentiality protects goodwill or trade secrets.
When it does not
A counterparty with no intent to pay, urgent injunctive relief, fraud requiring discovery to prove, or an opponent using mediation purely to preview your case before arbitration.
Most of our mediations arise from California business disputes and partnership conflicts. If mediation does not resolve the matter, the same senior attorney carries the strategy straight into arbitration or litigation — see litigation vs. arbitration vs. mediation in California.
Why Choose Dracup & Patterson for Mediation & Arbitration?
Get Better Outcomes
Our experienced attorneys (no attorney with less than 19 years experience) protect your best interests and achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
40+ Years of Experience
Our firm brings 40+ years of legal experience representing clients in arbitration and mediation proceedings, with deep experience in AAA, JAMS, and other commercial ADR forums.
Seamless Escalation
When mediation fails, we transition seamlessly to arbitration or litigation. Retaining us for both stages ensures strategic continuity and a significant advantage.
Working with a commercial arbitration attorney in California
A commercial arbitration attorney does more than appear at the hearing. Arbitrator selection, the scope of discovery, and how the record is built often decide the outcome before argument begins. Our senior attorneys have 40+ years of combined experience presenting commercial disputes valued from $300,000 to $100 million before AAA, JAMS, ADR Services, and Judicate West.
Commercial mediator California parties can work with — and why counsel still matters
A commercial mediator in California is a neutral, not an advocate. We are not neutrals; we represent one side at the table. That distinction matters in valuation, in framing the opening position, and in knowing when a proposed number reflects the real litigation risk rather than mediation fatigue.
Mediation for business disputes California companies want resolved privately
Mediation for business disputes in California keeps confidential terms, customer relationships, and internal financials out of a public docket. We prepare mediation briefs and settlement structures with the alternative clearly costed, so a client can decide on the number in front of them rather than on pressure in the room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about mediation and arbitration representation in California
What is an arbitration company, and which arbitration companies do you appear before?
An arbitration company (also called an arbitration provider or forum) administers private dispute resolution proceedings — appointing the arbitrator, managing scheduling, and enforcing procedural rules. Our California arbitration attorneys regularly appear before the leading arbitration companies, including the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, ADR Services, and Judicate West, as well as ad hoc private arbitrations agreed to by contract.
What is a dispute resolution law firm, and is Dracup & Patterson one?
A dispute resolution law firm represents clients across the full range of methods used to resolve business conflicts — negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Dracup & Patterson is a California dispute resolution law firm focused on high-value commercial matters. We represent clients as advocates at mediation and in arbitration; we are not neutrals or arbitrators ourselves.
Do I need an arbitrator lawyer or arbitration attorney in California?
Legal representation is not legally required in arbitration, but for any substantial commercial dispute it is strongly advisable. Arbitration follows complex procedural rules, discovery is limited, and awards are binding and extremely difficult to appeal. An experienced California arbitrator lawyer — meaning an attorney who regularly appears before arbitrators — protects your evidence, cross-examines effectively, and preserves the record you'll need if any appeal is available.
Are litigation and arbitration lawyers the same thing?
They overlap but are not identical. Litigation lawyers try cases in court; arbitration lawyers try cases in private arbitration forums such as AAA and JAMS. The best commercial disputes attorneys handle both, because contracts increasingly send disputes to arbitration and cases often move between the two. Dracup & Patterson's attorneys are experienced California litigation and arbitration lawyers — we handle the entire lifecycle from pre-suit demand through trial or final award.
What is the difference between mediation and arbitration?
Mediation is a voluntary negotiation process where a neutral mediator helps parties reach a settlement — neither side is bound unless they agree. Arbitration is a more formal proceeding where an arbitrator hears evidence and arguments, then issues a binding decision similar to a court judgment. Many California commercial contracts require mediation before arbitration.
What happens when mediation fails and goes to arbitration?
If mediation doesn't resolve your dispute, the case typically proceeds to binding arbitration per your contract terms. Our attorneys represent clients through both stages, maintaining strategic continuity. Evidence and positions developed during mediation inform our arbitration strategy, giving clients who retain us for both stages a significant advantage.
How does mediation for business disputes work in California?
In California, business mediation is a confidential settlement conference led by a neutral mediator. The parties exchange briefs, meet in joint session and private caucuses, and negotiate terms the same day. Everything said is confidential under Evidence Code sections 1115–1128 and inadmissible in later proceedings. If the parties settle, the agreement is reduced to writing and can be enforced under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. Most commercial contracts require mediation before arbitration or suit.
Should I use mediation or arbitration for a California business dispute?
Use mediation first when the relationship or confidentiality matters, when both sides face genuine litigation risk, or when your contract requires it — it is faster and far cheaper, and nothing is binding unless you agree. Choose arbitration (or court) when you need a binding, enforceable decision, when the other side will not negotiate in good faith, or when you need discovery to prove fraud. We represent clients in both, so strategy developed at mediation carries directly into arbitration if the dispute does not settle.
How much does an arbitration attorney cost in California?
Fees for arbitration attorneys vary based on case complexity, dispute value, and the forum (AAA, JAMS, or private arbitration). For high-stakes matters valued at $300K–$100M, senior attorneys with decades of experience provide the expertise these cases demand. We offer complimentary 20-minute consultations to discuss your case and fee arrangements.
Our Mediation & Arbitration Team
Senior attorneys with extensive experience representing clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings throughout California
Client Success Stories
Hear from satisfied clients who trusted us with their high-stakes legal matters and achieved exceptional results.
"Dracup & Patterson resolved our $1.2M partnership dispute efficiently and effectively. Their strategic counsel and aggressive litigation approach was worth every penny."
Tech Company CEO
San Diego
Ready to Discuss Your Case?
If your California commercial or business dispute exceeds $300,000, request a confidential case review with our senior legal team. Representation is offered on an hourly or retainer basis by attorneys with at least 20 years' experience.
Call 24/7
(833) 221-2990
Serving
All 58 California Counties
Response Time
Immediately during business hours
After hours: still pretty quickly.
Is Your Matter a Fit?
We represent businesses, owners, and high-net-worth clients on an hourly or retainer basis in California commercial and business disputes. Senior attorneys will review your matter in a confidential 20-minute case review.
Case Requirements:
- • Dispute value of $300,000 or more
- • Dispute based in California
Case reviews are confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.
California disputes only