Bob Baum’s Philosophy: Try to Avoid Litigation. But Use It When Necessary

Mr. Baum’s goal is to help you resolve your dispute in the fastest, most cost-efficient way. Although Mr. Baum is a skilled litigation lawyer, he’d prefer to help you resolve your conflict before it gets to the courthouse. Before you head into litigation or need the services of a litigation trial attorney, he suggests that you first consider using an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process.

Mr. Baum believes that most disputes can and should be resolved without the expense and emotional wear and tear of a courtroom battle. His preferred method of resolving disputes is through "Alternative Dispute Resolution," sometimes referred to as "Appropriate Dispute Resolution." (ADR). It is a less contentious way of settling cases without the cost and bitterness of a courtroom trial.

His preferred methods of ADR are mediation, arbitration and collaborative law, although he will also do neutral fact-finding, neutral case evaluation and med-arb (a combination of mediation and arbitration) if requested.

Mr. Baum’s goal is to help you end the dispute through whatever process works. Through ADR, it is the parties and not a judge who control the process. He can assist you through your dispute resolution either by serving as the neutral in the ADR process (e.g. serving as the mediator or arbitrator), or by counseling you through the ADR effort (i.e. being your attorney while someone else mediates/arbitrates).

However, there are cases where alternative dispute resolution either does not work or is inappropriate. For example, if the other side is unwilling to be reasonable, or has abused you, then litigation may be the only option. In that case, Mr. Baum will represent you aggressively and personally, giving you the full benefit of his 24 years of litigation experience.

If you retain Mr. Baum, he will be your personal lawyer. He will not meet with you the first time and then shuffle you off to be handled by younger attorneys. You hire him personally as your litigation attorney and not a law firm with unfamiliar lawyers. Yet because he is "of-counsel" to a prominent Rockville, Maryland law firm, Bromberg Rosenthal LLP, he has access to all of the resources of a major law firm when necessary.

Because Mr. Baum’s office is in suburban Maryland rather than Washington, D.C., his rates are significantly lower than his peers in Washington, D.C.

Whether you choose the ADR or litigation route, he is there to help you, including on many evenings and weekends.