Jeana Goosmann
CEO, Founding and Practicing Attorney
Resolve Conflict Without Losing Control
Not every dispute belongs in a courtroom.
Some conflicts are better resolved through a private, focused process that saves time, protects relationships, manages cost, and keeps the parties in control of the path forward. Goosmann Law Firm helps clients resolve disputes through alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration.
ADR can be especially valuable when the parties want confidentiality, need a faster process, want to preserve a business or family relationship, or are required by contract to resolve the dispute outside of court.
Our attorneys help clients prepare for mediation, participate in arbitration, negotiate settlement terms, evaluate risk, and make strategic decisions about when to resolve a dispute and when to keep fighting.
Hire a Goosmann Attorney to Serve as a Mediator or Arbitrator
In some matters, the parties need a neutral who understands the law, the business issues, the people involved, and the practical pressure points that drive resolution. Goosmann Law Firm has attorneys available to serve as mediators and arbitrators in appropriate matters.
Our firm includes former judges, experienced litigators, trained mediators, and attorneys who serve as active members of American Arbitration Association panels. Goosmann attorneys serve as arbitrators on multiple AAA panels, including complex commercial, construction, employment, and consumer panels.
Parties, lawyers, businesses, families, and referring counsel may consider a Goosmann attorney when they need a mediator or arbitrator who can manage a difficult process, understand complex facts, and help move the matter toward a fair, efficient, and practical resolution.
Whether you need a private mediator, a private arbitrator, or an arbitrator selected through the American Arbitration Association, our team brings the judgment, preparation, and professionalism serious disputes require.
Mediation vs. Arbitration: What Is the Difference?
Mediation and arbitration are both forms of alternative dispute resolution, but they work very differently.
- Mediation is a facilitated negotiation. A neutral mediator helps the parties communicate, identify the real issues, evaluate risk, and work toward a voluntary settlement. The mediator does not decide the case. The parties stay in control of the outcome. Mediation is often used in business disputes, contract disputes, probate and trust disputes, divorce and family law matters, employment disputes, real estate disputes, construction disputes, and high-conflict matters where privacy and practical solutions matter.
- Arbitration is a private decision-making process. An arbitrator hears evidence, reviews documents, considers witness testimony and legal arguments, and issues a decision. Arbitration may be binding or non-binding, depending on the agreement and applicable rules. Many arbitrations are required because the parties agreed to an arbitration clause in a contract. In other situations, the parties agree to arbitration after a dispute arises because they want a more private, efficient, or specialized decision-maker than a traditional court process may provide.
When Is Arbitration Required?
Arbitration is often required because the parties agreed to it in a contract before any dispute occurred. These arbitration clauses are common in business contracts, construction agreements, employment agreements, consumer agreements, vendor agreements, operating agreements, partnership agreements, franchise agreements, and service contracts.
In other matters, the parties may agree to arbitration after the dispute arises. They may choose arbitration because they want a private process, a faster timeline, a decision-maker with specific experience, or a more streamlined way to resolve the conflict.
Before entering arbitration, it is important to understand the rules that apply, who selects the arbitrator, what discovery is allowed, whether the decision will be binding, how costs will be handled, and whether the award may be confirmed or challenged in court.
ADR Counsel and Representation
Goosmann Law Firm represents clients before, during, and after mediation and arbitration. We help clients prepare their position, organize evidence, evaluate legal and business risk, negotiate settlement terms, and make clear decisions under pressure.
Our ADR work includes mediation strategy, arbitration strategy, AAA arbitration, private arbitration, settlement conferences, early dispute resolution, demand letters, position statements, pre-hearing briefs, witness preparation, evidence presentation, settlement agreements, arbitration awards, and post-award enforcement or challenges when appropriate.
Types of Disputes Appropriate for ADR
Alternative dispute resolution may be appropriate in many types of civil, business, family, estate, employment, and construction disputes, including:
- Business disputes
- Contract disputes and breach of contract claims
- Shareholder, member, partner, and business divorce disputes
- Family business disputes
- Employment disputes and workplace claims
- Non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and trade secret disputes
- Construction disputes, payment disputes, mechanic’s lien matters, and project delay claims
- Real estate disputes, lease disputes, land use conflicts, and property disagreements
- Probate, trust, estate, fiduciary, and will contest disputes
- Divorce mediation, parenting plan disputes, property division issues, and family law matters
- Banking, lending, creditor, workout, and collection disputes
- Insurance coverage disputes
- Consumer arbitration matters
- Professional services disputes
- Vendor, supplier, customer, and service agreement disputes
- Mediation of active lawsuits before trial
- Arbitration required by contract or agreed to by the parties after a dispute arises
Mediation Services
Mediation gives parties the opportunity to resolve a dispute without putting the final decision in the hands of a judge, jury, or arbitrator. The mediator helps the parties focus on the issues that matter, identify risk, test assumptions, and move toward a workable agreement.
A good mediation process is not just about compromise. It is about clarity. What are the real issues? What are the costs of continuing the fight? What risks exist if the matter does not settle? What business, family, or financial interests need to be protected?
Goosmann mediators can assist with business mediation, probate mediation, trust and estate mediation, divorce mediation, family law mediation, employment mediation, construction mediation, real estate mediation, and other civil dispute resolution matters.
Arbitration Services
Arbitration can provide a private forum for resolving disputes outside of traditional court. Depending on the contract, arbitration agreement, and rules that apply, the process may include pleadings, document exchange, witness testimony, expert testimony, legal briefing, evidentiary hearings, and a written award.
Goosmann attorneys represent clients in arbitration proceedings and also serve as arbitrators in appropriate matters. Our attorneys have experience with American Arbitration Association procedures and private arbitration processes, including complex commercial arbitration, construction arbitration, employment arbitration, and consumer arbitration.
For clients, arbitration requires careful preparation. The process may be more streamlined than court, but it still requires a clear theory of the case, organized evidence, prepared witnesses, and a strategy tied to the client’s business or personal goals.
When It Is Time to Resolve the Dispute
Conflict consumes time, money, leadership attention, and emotional energy. The right ADR strategy can help you protect what matters, reduce uncertainty, and move forward with a better plan.
Whether you need counsel for mediation, representation in arbitration, or a Goosmann attorney to serve as a neutral mediator or arbitrator, our team is ready to help you evaluate the path forward.
Meet Our Team
Kelly Henry Turner
Partner
Wendy Kloeppner
Partner
Matt M. Munderloh
Partner
Patrick Borchers
Of Counsel
Paul D. Lundberg
Of Counsel
Jamie Bell
Associate
William J. Hale
Sioux City Managing Partner
Steven C. Henricks
Partner
Jaeyeon Park
Associate
Contact
Connect with us today to speak with our Alternative Dispute Resolution legal team.
Alternative Dispute Resolution FAQ
What’s the difference between mediation and arbitration?
Mediation is a voluntary process where a neutral mediator helps parties reach an agreement. Arbitration is more formal and binding — the arbitrator makes a final decision after hearing evidence and arguments.
When is alternative dispute resolution a good choice?
ADR is often ideal for resolving disputes quickly, privately, and at a lower cost. It’s particularly effective for business disagreements, family law matters, and probate or estate disputes.
How many cases are solved before going to trial?
Around 90% of criminal cases and 95% of civil cases never make it to a courtroom — so you want to make sure you have a team in your corner who knows how to negotiate the best results possible.
Related Services
Appeals and Appellate Practice
Whether you need to defend a judgment, challenge an adverse ruling, protect an issue after trial, or bring in appellate counsel to strengthen the strategy, our team helps clients move forward with clarity, precision, and purpose.
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Litigation and Trial Law
Strategic and tactical representation in complex disputes, both in and out of the courtroom.