Top best L Lawyers in ZIP 70130 | 1045 available

Hugh Lambert founded The Lambert Firm (now Lambert Zainey Smith & Soso) in 1977 and has since grown the firm to one of the most prestigious and well respected firms in New Orleans, representing individuals and businesses alike in a wide range of legal matters. In addition to his legal representation, Hugh Lambert is a frequent lecturer across the United States on class actions and mass torts. He has also authored and published legal articles. He has held a broad range of leadership positions in many organizations devoted to law, civic and charitable pursuits. He is a member in good standing of numerous state and federal courts throughout the United States in which results favorable to the firm’s clients have been achieved.. ADMISSIONS. State of Louisiana US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals US Federal Claims Court. PRO HAC APPEARANCES. Alabama Arizona California Illinois Maine Maryland Michigan Mississippi New Jersey North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas West Virginia

Helping clients with their problems has always been my passion.  I wanted to be a lawyer ever since I can remember.  I am still having fun at what I do.. I am actively involved in my community and church.. I have been a  Greater New Orleans Metropolitan United Way (now known as United Way Southeast Louisiana (UWSELA) volunteer for the past 25 years. I presently sit as the volunteer legal advisor to the Community Impact Coordinating Committee (formerly Council).   I was the former Co-Chair of the Children and Families Goal Area and was responsible for funding children and family programs from 2000-2012.  I served as Chair of the Professional Section for the United Way fundraising campaign in the 1995-1996 campaign year.  My section was acknowledged for its turnaround in campaign donations from the professional community. Donations from the professional community had been declining prior to my tenure.. I was a volunteer for the Preservation Resource Center and served as a program fundraising chair in 2005.  I previously chaired rebuild teams in the Rebuild Together (formerly known elsewhere as Christmas in April)  program refurbishing homes of the elderly and the disabled around New Orleans from 1993 to 2003.

Harry Rosenberg practices in the area of commercial litigation, concentrating in the areas of business torts, trial practice, civil rights, and white collar criminal law. Mr. Rosenberg is the regional practice coordinator of the firm’s commercial litigation practice. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar in 1974, Mr. Rosenberg served as a judicial clerk to The Honorable Jack M. Gordon, Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana. He also served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana from 1990 through 1993.

Gissel is originally from Puerto Rico and is fluent in Spanish. She has been practicing law in the New Orleans metro area since 2004. After working as an Assistant District Attorney for Orleans Parish and as an Associate at a local insurance defense firm, she joined her husband, Oskar Pérez, in 2011 and founded Ferriol Pérez, LLC, a Hispanic-owned, full service law firm specializing in client-focused legal representation for the local community.. Gissel has a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Classics from the University of Arizona, and a law degree, with a Certificate in International Law, from Loyola University School of Law. She was an active member of Loyola's Moot Court Staff and graduated in the top 15% of her law school class.. Gissel is also a local author and is on the Board of the Japan Society of New Orleans.

Gillian Egan practices in the area of labor and employment. Ms. Egan has advised clients in developing employment policies and procedures, conducted training seminars for supervisors and other employees, and defended OSHA inspections and other government audits. Once a charge or suit has been filed, she assists employers in all stages of employment litigation.. Before earning her law degree, she served as a human resources manager for a foreign-owned manufacturer in North Carolina. She earned the Professional in Human Resources® certification, as well as certifications in ISO 9000:2001, OSHA and HIPAA.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Ms. Egan served as a litigation associate at a Mobile, Alabama firm defending employment-related claims in federal and state courts. She also served as an extern for The Hon. Sarah S. Vance, Chief Judge of the Eastern District of Louisiana. Ms. Egan contributed to publications for the areas of employment law, and conducts seminars and training for businesses and industry groups.

Gary Hemphill practices in the areas of admiralty litigation. His practice involves matters in personal injury, cargo, oil and energy, finance and FD&D.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Hemphill was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

Gary Brown is the founder of Brown Weimer, LLC. He has been practicing law almost 40 years, assisting clients with a variety of legal matters. He is primarily engaged now in handling legal matters related to elder law, estates, estate planning, mental health law, and Medicaid planning for nursing homes.. In the past, Gary practiced in the large firm and corporate environment where he represented major financial institutions and corporations in commercial litigation matters. But he missed contact with people and solving their real-life problems. He missed the rewards of personally serving and getting to know his clients. So he founded this law firm to represent people, not business.. Gary has been named Super Lawyer for the past 5 years and has received numerous other awards.. He is a Certified Medicaid Planner, which recognizes him as a leader in the nursing home Medicaid planning field, providing the highest level of assistance, guidance, and advocacy for clients and families faced with nursing home financing and residency. He assists his clients in preserving their income and assets while qualifying them for Medicaid long term care benefits.. Gary and the firm are dedicated to solving your legal problems—timely, successfully, and at a reasonable cost.

From our New Orleans office, David focuses on marine insurance coverage; marine finance and vessel documentation; bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors’ rights; admiralty and maritime; and international and cross-border law. He represents clients that own, operate, charter, or employ vessels, and helps them understand and manage their risks in the United States, Gulf of Mexico, and worldwide offshore maritime oilfield and alternative-energy markets.. Originally from Bethesda, Maryland, David attended Tulane University in New Orleans, graduating in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, David worked for several years at Motorola Communications in Houston, Texas, where as a systems engineer, he helped design and implement radio systems for commercial and public safety customers in the U.S. Gulf Coast region and offshore energy markets.. In 1987, David began his law studies at George Washington University’s National Law Center in Washington, D.C. In 1990, David graduated with honors with a Juris Doctor and returned to New Orleans, where he has practiced admiralty and maritime law ever since.. David’s law practice concentrates on maritime contracts (time and bareboat charter parties, master service contracts, insurance and indemnity agreements, marine-insurance coverage, and ship sale and finance) and related commercial litigation (maritime liens, vessel arrest and attachment, and mortgage foreclosure).. David also remains involved with academia and teaches a course on towage and offshore service law at Tulane Law School, where he is an adjunct professor of law. David is a co-editor of the current West Publishing casebook, “Cases & Materials on Admiralty” (Healy, Sharpe, Sharpe & Winship – 5th Ed. 2012) and the Handbook of Maritime Laws & Forms (West 2007). David has published numerous articles, and he travels worldwide to speak and teach on issues such as offshore supply vessel contracts, vessel-construction contracts, and indemnity agreements.

Frazer focuses on commercial real estate transactions and development, estate planning, trusts, successions, corporate and commercial law, oil-and-gas law, and employment law. Frazer was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He attended Tulane University and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1969. Graduating from Tulane University Law School in 1972 with his Juris Doctor, he was admitted to the bar in 1973.. Frazer has extensive experience in the representation of major landowners, and in identifying and resolving regulatory and title issues. He also participates routinely in the drafting of wills, trusts, and other estate planning documentation, as well as the administration of substantial estates, trusts, and businesses. He has litigated contested estate and trust matters on behalf of both estate representatives and heirs or legatees. On occasion, Frazer has also served as trustee of both testamentary and intervivos trusts, when requested by clients to do so. In 2012, Frazer was included by New Orleans Magazine in its listing of the best trust and estates lawyers. He is a member of the New Orleans Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Maritime Law Association of the United States. Frazer is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Louisiana, and the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.

For most of my life I remember always wanting to help people.. After my brother died in a hospital, I focused my practice towards victims of medical malpractice.. A caring lawyer can be the greatest comfort during a time of uncertainty.. But as I looked around at my profession I saw a lack of integrity, honesty and knowledge in this complicated area of the law.. I saw people who value money above their client's best interests.  We all take an oath but many don't follow it.. So, I resolved to be different and to practice differently.. I avoided the overhead of a big firm and started a personalized practice with my clients getting all the attention from me, an actual lawyer...and not a paralegal or secretary.. If you are interested in working with an attorney who cares about both winning your case and helping you heal please contact me for a free consultation on your case.. Thank you,. Ramesh

Focusing on real estate, construction, and short-term rental law, attorney Christopher Stow-Serge, combines his 10+ years of legal experience with firsthand experience in construction management, real estate investing, and operations to navigate complex legal challenges for clients.

Evaluated by his peers as possessing the highest level of skill and exemplifying the highest ethical standards, you will find no lawyer more qualified and more committed to helping his clients. With 22 years experience practicing in Louisiana and other jurisdictions, Mr. Browne has successfully represented clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 500 Companies in numerous trials, appeals, personal injury suits, medical malpractice actions, insurance coverage disputes, oil & gas disputes, commercial litigation suits, and other matters. Mr. Browne's years of experience in representing major corporations provides him with a unique and useful perspective in representing individuals against such companies.. Mr. Browne received his B.A., Cum Laude, with a major in French, from Louisiana State University in 1988, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. Mr. Browne received his J.D., Magna Cum Laude, From Tulane Law School in 1991. While attending Tulane Law School, Mr. Browne was a member of the Order of the Coif and was an Editor of the Tulane Law Review. Mr. Browne was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in 1991 and has also been admitted to practice before all federal courts in Louisiana, including the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and The United States Supreme Court.. In 1998, Mr. Browne was invited to join the adjunct faculty at Tulane Law School, where he currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Trial Advocacy.

Ellen Rains practices in the area of insurance and reinsurance. Ms. Rains also has experience representing clients in complex commercial litigation, insurance litigation, receivership, and bankruptcy and creditors’ rights matters.. Before joining Phelps Dunbar, Ms. Rains worked as an associate with a Birmingham, Alabama law firm. She also completed an externship with The Honorable Helen “Ginger” Berrigan of U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana.

Elia focuses on several insurance coverage practice areas including third-party insurance coverage, general liability, and environmental and toxic tort liability coverage. Elia also focuses on property insurance coverage and bad faith claims litigation. She has served as defense counsel for insurers in commercial and residential property insurance cases resulting from hurricanes, hailstorms, and other first-party claims.. Elia is a shareholder in the firm, and her primary areas of practice are industrial employment/long-latency lung disease litigation, insurance defense and coverage, environmental law, and commercial litigation. In the last eighteen years, Elia has successfully defended thousands of occupational exposure claims, including exposure to asbestos and silica-containing products. Elia focuses her practice on insurance coverage litigation and counseling, and has significant experience representing insurers as direct action defendants in litigation in Louisiana. Elia’s extensive experience defending mass tort claims enables her to provide clients with an early strategic plan, vigorous defense, and efficient litigation.. Elia‘s professional credentials include being nominated as an AV-rated attorney, an honor bestowed on less than 5% of women lawyers. As an AV-rated attorney, Elia was selected for the inaugural edition of the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers™ – an organization created exclusively for women attorneys who have received the highest possible peer rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.. In addition, Elia actively promotes diversity and the inclusion of women and Hispanics in the legal professions through various professional organizations. She is president of the Hispanic Lawyers of Louisiana. Elia is also a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), where she currently is one of fifty members selected nationally to participate in the HNBA/Associate of Corporate Counsel Executive Leadership Program. Elia also monitors legal trends and proposed laws that directly impact or affect the local Hispanic community. Her professional engagements include presenting a seminar on effectively communicating with corporate counsel, diversity seminars at the 2012 ABA mid-year meeting and 2011 HNBA National Corporate Conference, leading round-table discussions at several in-house corporate meetings, serving as a diversity facilitator for the Louisiana State Bar Association, participating in the Louisiana State Bar Association’s diversity and inclusion video, and presenting continuing legal education throughout the state.. Elia also serves on the Board of Directors of the ASI Federal Credit Union, which facilitates loans of all sizes for transportation, home ownership, business development, and education as well as international microloans in partnership with Kiva, a non-profit connecting individual investors with microfinance institutions.. In addition to her professional pursuits, Elia also volunteers and participates in a number of social and community programs including elementary school reading programs and various habitat/environmental groups, including Habitat for Humanity. She is a founding member of Candy Girls/Life Savers of New Orleans, a non-profit group that supports and provides services to families in need as well as a local orphanage.

Donald L. Rose, III, Esq. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.  In 1985, his family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas.   He graduated from Catholic High School for Boys in 1994.  In 1998 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Hendrix College.   Thereafter, Mr. Rose returned to New Orleans to attend Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.  He graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 2004.  During law school, Mr. Rose was a member of the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Moot Court Team.  He was admitted to the Louisiana Bar in October 2004.  Thereafter, he worked as an Associate Attorney with Attorney Morris Bart where he centralized his practice around personal injury and automobile accidents.  Subsequently, he worked as an Associate Attorney with the Chouest Law Firm until 2006.  In 2006, he founded Arnona Rose, LLC with Mr. Vincent R. Arnona.  His area of practice is criminal law, personal injury law, family law, wills and estates, real estate law, and contract law.

Dick Chopin is a Member of The Chopin Law Firm and licensed to practice in Louisiana and Texas.  Dick Chopin is one of the pre-eminent attorneys in the entire Gulf South. He has represented his clients in the smallest courthouses in southern Louisiana as effectively and professionally as he has in England and Belgium. Quite simply, there are few better lawyers out there.. Dick has tried over 125 civil jury trials and so many bench trials that he does not even bother to keep count. A fearless and powerful advocate, Dick is the warrior clients need on their side when everything is on the line, whether insignificant personal injury litigation, a domestic matter, or a large casualty case.. Dick was admitted to the Bar in Louisiana in 1973 and Texas in 1997. Dick has extensive experience in virtually all types of litigation and is recognized locally and nationally as one of the best trial lawyers. He is well respected for his skills, ethics and professionalism and has consistently been selected for the highest possible ratings in all areas by his peers.. Contact Richard:

Developing a profound reputation in the Gulf Coast area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Jeffrey P. Berniard is an established and proven litigation entity. In working to defend the rights of hundreds of Louisiana and Texas residents against the unfair and illegitimate efforts of insurance companies, the Berniard Law Firm has been highly successful at getting clients the payments and claims they are entitled to. Employing a variety of tools and judicial approaches such as arbitration and expert testimony, we take every angle we can to guarantee that our clients receive the legal support that they deserve.. Established by Jeffrey Berniard, a native son to the Gulf Coast, the Berniard Law features employees from all across the United States that each bring a different expertise and experience to our litigation. Educated at McNeese State University and Loyola Law in New Orleans, Mr. Berniard is able to handle federal and state cases in courts across the South. For far-reaching jurisdictions, Mr. Berniard has highly qualified colleagues that are also capable of meeting your legal needs. As such, our firm is able to come to clients to bring them the legal assistance they need to keep insurance companies at bay with their low payouts and denied claims.. With a focus on storm damage and insurance litigation, the Berniard Law Firm also takes cases relating to serious injuries, medical malpractice and other disputes with insurance companies. Any Texas resident that feels they need legal support for a variety of reasons is encouraged to contact the Berniard Law Firm to speak with an attorney regarding what we can do for you.

David Saltaformaggio practices in the area of marine, energy, transportation and insurance law. His practice consists of defending vessel owners and operators from claims arising from personal injury and contract disputes. He has experience conducting shipboard investigations. Mr. Saltaformaggio also practices in the area of transportation litigation, with a focus on employee personal injury and death (F.E.L.A.). In addition, Mr. Saltaformaggio has experience in insurance coverage litigation across multiple lines of insurance, both marine insurance and commercial property and casualty insurance.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, Mr. Saltaformaggio worked in the marine insurance and commercial insurance industry. As a Claims Manager for a Marine insurance underwriting service, he managed offshore marine hull and machinery and protection and indemnity claims, including both personal injury and property claims.

David Patrón serves as the Deputy Practice Coordinator of the firm’s New Orleans Litigation Group where he manages one of the firm’s largest practice groups. With over twenty years of legal experience, David Patrón has established a solid reputation as a talented litigator who successfully represents businesses at all phases of litigation in state and federal courts throughout the Gulf South and beyond. Whether winning at trial or negotiating favorable settlements, he is a results-oriented lawyer whose legal successes have been recognized in several media outlets. For more than a decade, Mr. Patrón also has taught negotiation and advocacy as a law school adjunct faculty professor to more than a thousand law students, and he applies this experience in both courtrooms and boardrooms. With a strong background in commercial litigation and deep experience in the energy sector, Mr. Patrón provides counsel to clients on a wide variety of complex legal issues, including antitrust and trade regulation, intellectual property, and employment law. Whether defending a breach of contract or prosecuting a breach of fiduciary duty, Mr. Patrón focuses on finding real world business solutions for his clients. Mr. Patrón regularly counsels and represents clients in the energy sector, including publicly traded exploration and production companies with domestic and international operations. For more than a decade, he has acted as the primary counsel for an oil and gas company that consistently ranks as a top producer in the State of Louisiana. Mr. Patrón also actively represents several oilfield services companies specializing in drilling, pressure control, snubbing, nitrogen and fluid pumping, wireline, barge and towing services, offshore catering, hydraulic fracturing, and well control. He handles a variety of litigation matters affecting the energy sector, including disputes with lessors, royalty owners, contractors, operators, and regulators. His experience includes a host of government and regulatory issues affecting the oil and gas industry, including coastal use permitting, environmental regulations, severance taxes, oilfield legacy litigation, royalty disputes, criminal investigations, and lease disputes. He represents energy clients before the Department of Revenue, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Environmental Quality, State Mineral Board, Environmental Protection Agency, and Department of Justice. Mr. Patrón also represents corporate clients on a variety of intellectual property and technology issues including trade secrets, copyright and trademark law, software rights and licensing, confidentiality and non-competition agreements, e-commerce and internet use, cybersquatting, and unfair trade practices. Mr. Patrón litigates intellectual property cases on a regular basis and frequently works with the Patent and Trademark Office to secure various registrations for emerging companies. He represents clients in the sale of intellectual property and the use of trademarks and copyrighted materials on websites. He reviews, drafts, negotiates, and litigates software licensing agreements and counsels clients regarding business systems designed to protect trade secrets. Mr. Patrón is the former chairman of the Intellectual Property Law Committee of the Louisiana State Bar Association and remains active in the IP committees of New Orleans and Louisiana Bar Associations. He is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of intellectual property topics, and the media regularly seeks his legal analysis regarding intellectual property issues. Mr. Patrón has substantial experience in antitrust and trade regulation. At Stanford Law School, he studied antitrust and trade regulation under the former United States Attorney General of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. Since then, he has defended and prosecuted antitrust claims on behalf of clients at the trial and appellate levels, has prepared amicus briefs on antitrust issues, and has monitored antitrust litigation, legislation, and guidelines on behalf of interested clients. Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Patrón has defended clients being investigated by federal antitrust regulators, has designed an Antitrust Compliance Manual for businesses, and has published articles on antitrust law developments. He has also counseled trade associations and practice groups on various antitrust issues, including information sharing, price-fixing, and state-action immunity. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Patrón serves on the firm’s E-Discovery Team and helps guide the firm’s efforts to ensure that our lawyers are on the cutting edge of the evolving legislative and jurisprudential rules which govern electronic discovery and have the best tools available to efficiently collect, review and produce electronic data for the firm’s clients. The E-Discovery Team also works with clients to develop strategies for electronic data organization, retention and collection – both before and during litigation – so that they are prepared to actively avoid, pursue or defend disputes in the most efficient way possible. Mr. Patrón has published several articles concerning developments in antitrust, trade regulation, intellectual property, and commercial litigation. He has drafted several papers and moderated a series of American Bar Association roundtable discussions on a variety of legal topics and has appeared as a legal commentator on WDSU-TV, WGNO-TV, and WVUE-TV to discuss various government and court actions.

David Lawton practices in the area of admiralty and tort. He has extensive trial and appellate experience in various aspects of maritime law, including personal injury/death, maritime pollution, contract disputes, offshore rigs and vessels, and major casualties.. Prior to joining Phelps Dunbar, he was with the Terriberry, Carroll, & Yancey, L.L.P. law firm in New Orleans.

David Korn practices in the area of labor and employment. He represents private employers, insurance companies and governmental entities in all facets of labor and employment law throughout the Gulf South, with particular emphasis in Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Korn serves as lead trial counsel in cases brought under federal and state employment law statutes. He has handled issues brought under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act as well as discrimination claims and tort-based breach of contract claims asserted under state laws. He has also resolved over 100 claims through alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. At the administrative level, Mr. Korn has represented employers who are faced with charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program, the National Labor Relations Board, the Texas Commission on Human Rights, the Louisiana Commission on Human Rights and the Department of Labor. He regularly gives training seminars and presentations on how employers can prevent charges from being filed and how to defend against them when they are received. Mr. Korn is also an active speaker on a wide range of employment law topics, has served as an adjunct professor to Tulane University Law School and the University of New Orleans and been honored to serve as a guest lecturer through the Fulbright Program teaching students in an international forum about how cases are litigated in the United States.

Dan Pancamo is counsel in the business group in the New Orleans office. He has an electric public utility regulatory practice, representing clients in matters primarily before the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Mr. Pancamo also has a business and commercial transactional practice, representing clients in: (i) commercial real estate matters, including property development, finance, leasing, and acquisitions and sales for a range of projects, including office, retail, commercial and industrial properties and hospital and healthcare facilities; (ii) construction matters, including drafting and negotiating owner-contractor agreements (including EPC agreements and design-build agreements), agreements for architectural, engineering and other professional services, and construction finance documents (including construction loan agreements) for a range of projects, including power plant construction, hospital and healthcare facility construction, and hotel and apartment complex construction; and (iii) commercial contract matters, including procurement contracts and natural gas supply and transportation agreements.

Dan Foley has been crafting winning Maritime and Offshore Accident cases for over 40 years. His meticulous preparation and thorough knowledge of the maritime industry make him an attorney that few opponents wish to tangle with. Other law firms regularly refer some of their toughest maritime cases to him for litigation.. Dan regularly sees the devastating physical and mental consequences to accident victims brought about by an industry that sees injured workers as little more than broken parts to be replaced as quickly and cheaply as possible. The severe pain, helplessness and depression suffered by seriously injured workers can tear families apart, even as employers routinely second guess their actions in order to win lawsuits.. Dan provides a high level of contact with his clients, regularly giving them clear updates on the progress of their case in this highly demanding and technical area of litigation. He builds winning cases designed to provide not only medical treatment and financial security for injured workers and their families, but also the vindication that his clients need in order to resume a normal life.. If you or a loved one has suffered injury because of the negligence of others, contact Dan now for a Free Case Evaluation.

Construction projects can be complex, expensive and stressful, so I lend my knowledge to many insurance companies, corporations and self-insured companies in areas including:. While my role is primarily in construction, I also maintain a diverse practice, which includes workers' compensation litigation, redhibition, commercial litigation, general civil litigation, premises liability, unfair trade practices and products liability.

Complex Commercial and Corporate Litigation, including Construction, Breach of Contract, & Insurance DefenseI am an attorney with dual licensure in Arkansas and Louisiana. I have experience conducting pre-trial hearings, settlement conferences, and hearings before state and federal courts. For those clients interested in alternative dispute resolution, I routinely participate in mediation to assist my clients in resolving disputes without the need for trial or incurring excessive legal costs.