Arbitration and mediation are alternate means of resolving disputes and are being used more and more in the judicial system as an alternative or supplement to litigation. In addition, many disputes are required by law to be resolved through administrative proceedings as opposed to the court system. The litigation department maintains its ability to represent clients in these administrative proceedings as well as arbitration and mediation, commonly called ADR. John D. Hawkins, who heads the firm’s trial practice department, is a certified civil and family law mediator, who has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court since 1997 and has handled hundreds of mediations as either the mediator or as an attorney representing one of the parties.