Must every legal dispute be a bare-knuckle brawl? Litigation Partner David Jones makes a case for "restorative litigation" in a new column published by Texas Lawyer. Jones' editorial is the first in an on-going series that will feature the insights, opinions, and wisdom of Akerman lawyers based in our four Texas offices.

Jones, who is based in San Antonio and is a veteran of the courtroom and mediation table, worries the modern approach to resolving business disputes is causing unnecessary stress on clients and lawyers alike. He believes business law could learn something from the "restorative justice" approach that has been applied in some civil and criminal cases in recent decades.

"Perhaps it is time for us to begin to focus on restorative litigation," Jones writes. "Such an approach would not only continue to save valuable court resources, it would reduce much of the stress trial counsel experience throughout their careers and promote the better quality of life that all lawyers seek."