Thomas J. Pryor - Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience

Mr. Pryor completed, among other training, an extended Mediation Workshop at Harvard Law School taught by Professor Frank Sander, a pioneer in the field of ADR. For several semesters he taught “Communications and Conflict Resolution” as an adjunct faculty member of Kean University.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section, a former member of the New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, and has published in the areas of mediation and other topics related to civil litigation.

Mr. Pryor has served as either an advocate or mediator in mediation involving the following case types:
  • complex construction
  • condominium transition
  • environmental
  • natural resource damages
  • defamation
  • trade secrets
  • partnership dissolution
  • employment discrimination
  • breach of contract
  • UCC sale of goods
  • insurance coverage
  • real estate related claims
He maintains an active trial practice in addition to having served as a mediator in almost 100 cases. Mr. Pryor is a passionate advocate for the creative use of ADR, both philosophically and practically, and is realistic in his expectations of how and when it is appropriate. An article he wrote which appeared in the New Jersey Law Journal entitled “The Importance of Insurance Coverage in Mediating Complex Construction Cases,” published in March 2008, captures his perspective.                

New Jersey attorneys have a responsibility under R.1:40-1 to “become familiar with CDR programs [including mediation] and inform their clients of them.”  Mr. Pryor believes that those attorneys who are most diligent in observing this rule are serving their clients at the highest level of the profession. He has experienced tremendous satisfaction which comes from helping  his clients become the architects of their own destiny by taking control of how their disputes are resolved. The empowerment they experience reflects well on counsel who give them this opportunity to resolve cases by employing pragmatic, creative techniques, tailored to each matter, and designed to maximize value to the client.

Stark & Stark’s reputation has been earned through significant jury awards in major cases. As a “new breed” law firm, we are also attuned to our clients’ needs for multi-dimensional representation. We know that litigation is not singularly the best way to achieve the desired result for every client, especially where business or personal relationships can be preserved or where we can add value to the client beyond the immediate goals apparent in the current conflict.  We are fully familiar with dispute resolution methods other than litigation to resolve disputes and are mindful of our obligation under the NJ Court Rules not only to “become familiar with CDR (Complimentary Dispute Resolution) programs” including mediation, arbitration, neutral evaluations and summary jury trials, but also to “inform” our clients of them.  

Our Alternative Dispute Resolution practice is highly evolved and includes attorneys uniquely trained and qualified in a wide array of creative methods to achieve our clients’ goals.