With a traditionally strong background in litigation, Semmes has been in the forefront of developing alternatives to the cost and uncertainty of traditional forms of litigation. Semmes' transaction attorneys can structure contracts to incorporate dispute resolution mechanisms, while the Firm's litigation attorneys will help clients explore available resolution options after disputes arise.

The Firm is a corporate member of the American Arbitration Association and firm principal, J. Snowden Stanley, Jr. is a member of the AAA's National Panel of Arbitrators and National Panel of Mediators. Firm principals involved in ADR include trained mediators, arbitrators and litigators with experience in a wide variety of complex commercial disputes involving contracts, mergers and acquisitions, copyrights, and trade secrets, false advertising, interference with contract, securities issuance and regulation, licensing, franchising, international trade, government contracts, business regulation, maritime law and all manner of business torts. Certain of these attorneys have been approved as mediators in Maryland Circuit Courts.