Lawrence R. Mills | Arbitrator · Mediator

Principal/Shareholder, Mills Meyers Swartling, 1992-present; Partner/Shareholder, Mills & Cogan, 1981-1992; Attorney, Private Practice, 1978-1981; Associate, Davis Wright Todd Riese & Jones, 1975-1978
 

Over 30 years of experience in business law and commercial litigation. Substantial experience in general representation of business organizations, including a variety of wholesale and retail businesses, banks, real estate firms, contractors, and numerous professionals including physicians, accountants, dentists, architects, engineers and attorneys. Practice also includes substantial experience in commercial litigation, including partnership and shareholder disputes, construction claims, employment issues, securities matters, estate planning and probate. Experience in formation and reorganization of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies; purchases and sales of businesses; and commercial and residential real estate transactions. Member of the American Arbitration Association's Commercial, Construction, International, Large Complex Case, and Mediation Panels.

Over 20 years of experience in dispute resolution in a wide variety of contexts, including commercial, contracts, real estate, construction, employment, intellectual property, and estates and trusts. Arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, NASD Dispute Resolution, and King County Superior Court Mandatory Arbitration Program.

Over 24 years experience as a mediator. Extensive mediation experience in commercial cases including contract disputes, construction claims, partnership and shareholder disputes, employment issues, securities matters, real estate development and commercial leasing transactions, sales and purchases of businesses, software development, and intellectual property. Mediated numerous disputes involving multiple parties with multiple layers of insurance coverage in which the disputes generally arise in the context of construction claims, indemnification for catastrophic losses in product liability cases, and in multi-party quasi class actions involving breach of warranties regarding real and personal property. Mediated hundreds of cases involving diverse subject matters throughout the country, although the bulk of mediation practice is on the west coast including Alaska. Mediator for the American Arbitration Association, CPR Institute, and the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington.

ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Conference, 2001-2009; College of Commercial Arbitrators Annual Meeting, 2008; Washington State Bar Association, Emerging Trends in Dispute Resolution, 2007; ADR Roundtable, Mediators Roundtable Training, 2006; AAA Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics (ACE005), 2005; AAA Dealing With Delay Tactics in Arbitration (ACE004), 2005; NASD Arbitrator Training, 2004; AAA Arbitrator Update, 2001; AAA Commercial Arbitrator II Training: Advanced Case Management Issues, 200I; Washington State Bar Association, Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference, 2001; AAA Mediator Conference Workshop, 2000; AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training, 1998; AAA Mediator Training, 1998; AAA Mediator Training, 1992; AAA Arbitrator Training, 1992; Western District of Washington Mediator Training Seminar, 1992; various other ADR trainings. 

Admitted to the Bar: Alaska, 1974; Washington, 1975; U.S. District Court; District of Alaska, 1974; Western District of Washington, 1975; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1982; U.S. Supreme Court, 1982.

College of Commercial Arbitrators (Fellow); International Academy of Mediators (Distinguished Fellow); American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution (Past Chair and Council Member); Washington State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section (Past Chair); 2003 Northwest Dispute Resolution Conference (Past Co-Chair); King County Bar Association ADR Section (Past Chair); Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington (Approved Mediator and Arbitrator; ADR Committee); ADR Roundtable.

Bainbridge Community Foundation, formerly known as the Bainbridge Island Community Endowment (Past President); One Call for All (Past President); Bainbridge Public Schools Trust (Past Board Member).

Princeton University (BSE-1969); University of Michigan (MPP-1973; JD-1974; Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Law Reform).

Citizen of the Year Award for Bainbridge Island, Washington, 2001; Award of Merit for work with YWCA of Kitsap County Domestic Violence Program, 1999; ALI-ABA Harrison Tweed Award for Special Merit in CLE, 1990.