Acta Universitatis Danubius. Juridica, Vol 2, No 1 (2006)

Abstract

In Europe, the development of alternative dispute resolution is related to many circumstances. ADR techniques are being used more and more, as parties and lawyers and courts realize that these techniques can often help them resolve legal disputes faster and cheaper and more privately than can conventional litigation. More- over, many people prefer ADR approaches because they see these methods as being more creative and more focused on problem solving than litigation, which has always been based on an adversarial model. Although certain ADR techniques are well established and frequently used — for example, mediation and arbitration — alternative dispute resolution has no fixed definition. The definition of alternative dispute resolution is constantly expanding to include new techniques.