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The McCammon Group, Ltd. is an Alternative Dispute Resolution provider comprised of retired judges and practicing attorneys who possess a variety of subject matter backgrounds. Founded in Virginia in 1995, The McCammon Group has since expanded into Maryland and Washington, D.C. Although based in the mid-Atlantic, our Neutrals serve throughout the country.
Our Neutrals
Maryland
Washington, D.C.
Donald T. Bucklin, Esq.
Our Newest Neutrals
Hon. William N. Alexander, II (Ret.)
Hon. William N. Alexander, II (Ret.) - Rocky Mount, VA

The Honorable William Alexander, II retired recently after thirty years of distinguished judicial service. Judge Alexander served for ten years on the 22nd Judicial District Court before moving to the Circuit Court, where he served for twenty years, including two terms as Chief Judge. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was elected as the Commonwealth's Attorney for Franklin County for three terms.  He also served as Town Attorney for Rocky Mount and enjoyed a successful private law practice. A leader on the bench and in the community, Judge Alexander has served on various boards and committees, including the Judicial Council of Virginia, the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of Virginia, and the Editorial Board of the Virginia Benchbook for Judges and Lawyers.

To view Judge Alexander's full profile, please click here.
Hon. Pamela S. Baskervill (Ret.)
Hon. Pamela S. Baskervill (Ret.) - Petersburg, VA

The Honorable Pamela Baskervill retired recently after serving the Petersburg Circuit Court with distinction for thirteen years, concluding her service as the Chief Judge. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Baskervill enjoyed a successful trial practice involving a wide variety of civil litigation. Judge Baskervill is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a Former Member of the Boyd-Graves Commission. She is a Past President of the Petersburg Bar Association and of the Prince George Bar Association.

To view Judge Baskervill's full profile, click here.
Hon. Thomas B. Hoover (Ret.)
Hon. Thomas B. Hoover (Ret.) - Richmond, VA

After more than twenty years of distinguished judicial service, The Honorable Thomas Hoover has recently retired. Judge Hoover served the 9th Judicial Circuit, encompassing the counties of New Kent, Charles City, King William, and King & Queen, for eighteen years, including over four years as Chief Judge. Prior to that appointment, he served as a Judge in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court of the 9th Judicial District for three years, including two years as Chief Judge. Before his judicial service, Judge Hoover served thirteen years as Commonwealth's Attorney and enjoyed a successful career in private practice in Henrico County.

To view Judge Hoover's full profile, click here.
Hon. Richard D. Taylor, Jr. (Ret.)
Hon. Richard D. Taylor, Jr. (Ret.) - Richmond, VA

The Honorable Richard Taylor, Jr. has recently retired after more than twenty years of distinguished judicial service. His judicial career included nine years at the Juvenile and Domestic District Court and another twelve years at the Circuit Court in the City of Richmond. A judicial leader, he served terms as Chief Judge in both courts and as Chair to the Education Committee of the Judicial Conference of Virginia. Before his tenure on the bench, he enjoyed a successful private practice with a special emphasis on domestic relations. He later served as Deputy Counsel/Special Assistant for Policy to the Governor of Virginia. A community leader, he has served on numerous non-profit boards and has lectured to dozens of legal and civic organizations.

To view Judge Taylor's full profile, click here.
Article: Sometimes One is Better Than Two- The McCammon Group (TMG) Agreement to Arbitrate
By: Richard C. Huffman, Jr., Vice President, The McCammon Group

Arbitration, a process resembling an informal bench trial with limited or no discovery, has been around for decades. It generally arises in one of two ways: (1) pre-dispute agreements to arbitrate that are executed as part of a contract between parties before a dispute arises and (2) post-dispute agreements to arbitrate executed voluntarily after the dispute occurs. Envisioned as a cost-effective, expedient, confidential and conclusive process, arbitration has evolved over time to often include extensive discovery and complex procedures. Many lawyers experienced in arbitration have come to question if it has lost some of the expediency and efficiency it was designed to provide.

Arbitration is but one of many dispute resolution services offered by TMG and, in practice, it only represents about 10-15% of our work. Of the arbitrations that we do provide, 90+% involve voluntary, post-dispute agreements to arbitrate; however, TMG is prescribed as the arbitration provider in many pre-dispute agreements to arbitrate (business contracts) in the mid-Atlantic.

Historically, TMG offered two Agreements to Arbitrate: a Short Form and a Long Form. The Short Form was designed for post-dispute matters in which the parties had already agreed on the Arbitrator. It provided for a streamlined process with no discovery. The Long Form was designed to address pre-dispute agreements to arbitrate as well as post-dispute matters in which the parties were not able to agree on the Arbitrator. Importantly, the Long Form contained an arbitrator selection process as well as limited discovery and notice provisions specific to pre-dispute agreements to arbitrate. 

Over time, we questioned the wisdom of maintaining and administering two different arbitration forms. The two forms were sometimes viewed as complicating factors to many of our lawyer customers, so in November of 2014, TMG combined the two forms into a single document that would apply to all arbitrations. This new Agreement to Arbitrate includes new Rules.

The goal was to integrate the best parts of the Short and Long Forms to provide a single, straightforward form preserving the original vision of a cost-effective, expedient, confidential and conclusive process. We hope we have succeeded. To view the new Agreement to Arbitrate with its attendant Rules, please click here. And if you have any questions, please call me at (804) 433-2242. 

Richard C. Huffman, Jr. is Vice President of The McCammon Group. Rich holds a BBA from James Madison University and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has been employed at The McCammon Group since 1996.
Upcoming Sponsorships, Exhibitions & Events
2/20     VAELA UnProgram Annual Conference, Charlottesville.
3/2       Maryland Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Baltimore.
3/4       Metro Richmond Women's Bar Association Luncheon, Richmond.
3/11     VSB Construction and Contracts Section CLE, Hampton Roads.
3/20     Trial Lawyers Association of DC Seminar, DC.
3/26     Virginia Trial Lawyers Assn. Annual Convention, The Greenbrier.
4/7       Frederick County Bar Association Luncheon, Frederick.
4/16     Trial Lawyers Association of DC Dinner Meeting, DC.
4/17     Maryland Assn. for Justice Family Law Seminar, Columbia.
4/17     Montgomery County Bar Association Law Day, North Bethesda.
4/21     Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association Bench Bar Conference, Norfolk.
4/22     Henrico County Bar Association Legislative Update, Richmond.
4/29     Virginia Trial Lawyers Assn. Long Term Care Seminar, Richmond.
5/1       Maryland Assn. for Justice Medical Negligence Seminar, Columbia.
5/7       Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys Spring Meeting, Staunton.
5/7       Virginia Eminent Domain Law and Practice Seminar, Irvington.
5/19     Virginia Trial Lawyers Assn.Tort Seminar, Springfield.