30 Years of Results: A Conversation with Marc Becker, President of ADR Systems - ADR Systems

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On our 30th Anniversary, Marc Becker, president of ADR Systems, sits down for an interview and explains the rapid growth of ADR Systems, revealing two key qualities leading to the company’s success.

You started ADR Systems back in 1994, and the company has grown significantly since then. Can you tell us about the origins of ADR Systems?

“Back in the early 1990s, attorneys and even judges had little knowledge of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). I started ADR Systems with a single retired judge as my first mediator and arbitrator. I made thousands of phone calls to spread the word about the lower costs, time savings and flexibility of this new form of dispute resolution. Although ADR had been introduced on the east and west coasts, I believed that it would one day be an integral part of the legal landscape in the Midwest, and that’s what happened.  In time, I added more employees and more neutrals, and the rest is history. It’s been thrilling and humbling to watch our growth. It’s exceeded my expectations.”

Besides the increased popularity of ADR, how do you explain that unprecedented growth?

“First and foremost, without incredibly talented, intelligent and tenacious neutrals, none of this would have been possible. Equally important has been my dedicated staff of employees. They put their hearts into this business, and I could never have done this without them. But to answer your question regarding the business generally, I would say there are two major areas in which ADR Systems has excelled over the years and that have helped lead to our success: our adaptability and consistency.”

Let’s explore each of those areas. How has adaptability accelerated your growth as a company?

  • “Each case is unique. That is why we have case managers who work closely with our clients and support them from the moment we get that case. We adapt to the unique needs of each client and case. Sometimes, that requires starting a mediation at 7am, continuing a mediation well into the evening or moving an arbitration hearing to a weekend. Whatever must be done to allow the parties to come together and facilitate the resolution process, we do it and we adapt as necessary.
  • Our collegial environment fosters collaboration among our mediators and arbitrators, enabling them to effectively adapt to the unique challenges that may arise during the dispute resolution process. Recognizing that each case presents its own complexities, our neutrals can, while keeping case information confidential, ask their colleagues for guidance when faced with unfamiliar situations or when seeking strategies to help parties overcome negotiation impasses or move away from positional bargaining. While our neutrals cannot anticipate all potential hidden case issues, they can confidently navigate emerging challenges, supported by the valuable insights and expertise of their peers at ADR Systems.
  • Certainly, the greatest test of our adaptability came during the Covid-19 pandemic. I was very proud of how our neutrals and staff quickly pulled together to switch our delivery method from fully in-person sessions to fully remote ones; we completely changed how we provided mediation, arbitration and other dispute resolution services. Almost overnight, we all had to adapt to serve the needs of our clients. It required a highly focused effort, but in the end, we came through it as a better company. We made many improvements to our services and processes, and we added several new custom programs.”

You also mentioned consistency as a second reason for your growth and success as a company. How has consistency contributed to it?

  • “I must start my discussion of consistency with reference to our neutrals. They are always prepared for every mediation and arbitration – that’s the standard at ADR Systems. It’s why they settle cases successfully in mediation and conduct such efficient arbitrations. Clients know that our neutrals will be prepared for their case; no matter if it’s a large, complex matter with many parties or a smaller, two-party case, they will come prepared. They will have read all submissions, highlighted or tabbed their notes and will be ready with the facts and the law applicable to the case.
  • Our neutrals consistently work toward settlement, and they want each case to settle and each arbitration to run fairly and expeditiously. Across the board, our neutrals will work on a case until it is resolved. Sometimes, this means working with the parties for many hours – our longest mediation to date lasted 17 hours – or following up with them for months to get a resolution. Their steady work ethic is why our clients keep coming back.
  • And finally, as a company, we have consistently provided unmatched client service. Our clients know that the service they received on their first case with us will be the same as the service they will receive on their 10th or 100th case with us. We want our clients and their clients to know that we will treat them with the utmost respect and attend to their needs and comfort while they are with us. That’s our goal. We’ve done a good job with this over the years because once a client comes to us, they almost always come back with another case. Consistent, superior client service is the hallmark of ADR Systems, and I’m well pleased with that. It’s been a great 30 years!”

ADR Systems, It’s Settled.®

I was quite pleased with the facilities of ADR Systems and the pre-session service.  Expect me back.

Robert Slobig, Esq.Senior Partner, Torshen, Slobig, Genden, Dragutinovich & Axel, Ltd.
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