Alternative dispute resolution adr or external dispute resolution edr typically denotes a wide range of dispute resolution processes and techniques that act as a means for disagreeing parties to come to an agreement short of litigation a collective term for the ways that parties can settle disputes with the help of a third party however adr is also increasingly being adopted as a . Alternative dispute resolution or adr is a process in which a neutral third party a mediator or arbitrator helps parties who are embroiled in a dispute come to an agreement mediation and arbitration see also arbitration vs mediation and the conflict resolution process in alternative dispute resolution adr are types of alternative . Alternative dispute resolution adr refers to any means of settling disputes outside of the courtroom adr typically includes early neutral evaluation negotiation conciliation mediation and arbitration as burgeoning court queues rising costs of litigation and time delays continue to plague litigants more states have begun . Alternative dispute resolution adr schemes are processes that enable you to resolve a dispute youre having with a company without having to go to court we explain how they work what are the common types of adr the two most common types of adr are mediation and arbitration mediation is where