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.
Over 100 years of combined experience getting the best possible outcomes for our clients in Arbitrations and Mediations.
Decades of experience representing clients in American Arbitration Association proceedings. We handle complex commercial and construction arbitration matters from initial filing through final award.
Skilled representation before JAMS arbitrators in commercial and business disputes. We navigate JAMS procedures to protect your interests and pursue favorable outcomes.
Strategic mediation representation for partnership disputes, contract breaches, and commercial conflicts. We negotiate aggressively while preserving business relationships when possible.
Seamless representation when mediation fails and disputes escalate to binding arbitration. We maintain strategic continuity through both stages of the ADR process.
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 our commercial arbitration practice, see our California commercial arbitration attorneys page.
ADR Attorneys
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.
Our experienced attorneys (no attorney with less than 19 years experience) protect your best interests and achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
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.
When mediation fails, we transition seamlessly to arbitration or litigation. Retaining us for both stages ensures strategic continuity and a significant advantage.
Common questions about mediation and arbitration representation in California
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Senior attorneys with extensive experience representing clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings throughout California
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
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.
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:
Case reviews are confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.
California disputes only