Alternative Dispute Resolution

Published November 30, 2016 by Virginia Business

The Hon. F. Bradford Stillman

The McCammon Group
Norfolk

 Other legal specialties:  Prior to becoming a federal judge, I practiced as a general civil litigator. I developed a maritime practice after I represented the salvors of RMS Titanic.
 Birthplace:  Norfolk
 Education:  Bachelor’s and law degrees, University of Virginia.
 Spouse:  Suzanne, my bride for 48 years.
 Children:  Two sons and two daughters — David; Nora and her husband, Paul, (who have given us two wonderful grandsons); Daniel and his wife, Vanessa; Emma.
 Hobbies or pastimes:  Beach combing on Hatteras Island; travel; reading.
 First job as a lawyer:  I practiced with Gilmer & Dezio, a small firm in Charlottesville, and served as a part-time assistant commonwealth’s attorney before I became an associate at McGuireWoods (back then, the firm was known as McGuire, Woods & Battle) in Charlottesville.
 Fan of:  University of Virginia sports.
 Favorite vacation spot:  Paris
 Recently read book:  “SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome” by Mary Beard.
 Career mentor s: I have been  fortunate over the years to have benefited from the advice, guidance and the good ethical example of many older and wiser lawyers and judges, far too many to name. Those of us who have the great fortune of practicing law here in Virginia know that mentoring is always available from older, more experienced lawyers.

How did you become involved in ADR?
Practicing as a litigator for many years, I was always involved in settling cases. However, my first formal experience with ADR came after I was appointed as a magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Our court emphasized ADR through the use of settlement conferences handled by the magistrate judges. When I retired, I began my ADR practice with The McCammon Group.

How does experience as a U.S. magistrate judge influence your work in ADR?
In the Eastern District of Virginia, where the celebrated “rocket docket” emphasizes efficiency and expedition, settlement conferences were a prominently featured case resolution tool. I had the opportunity to work closely with counsel to resolve a wide variety of cases, and I learned that ADR is an invaluable way to put an end to litigation, especially because it helps the parties reduce risk, avoid cost and achieve finality.