Originally from Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation

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With Francis McGovern’s passing on Feb. 14, the mediation and dispute resolution world lost one of its greatest pioneers, scholars, and practitioners.

From the beginning of the modern U.S.— indeed, international—ADR movement in the last third of the previous century, Prof. McGovern led the way with innovative ideas, creative yet rigorous scholarship, and practical development of real world solutions and models. He shares with the authors and the late Harvard University Law School Profs. Frank Sander and Roger Fisher a deserved place in the first rank of the dispute resolution firmament of founding fathers.

Recollecting Francis’ influence on the ADR world, I remember when just about 40 years ago, Francis arrived from Alabama at Boston University School of Law as a visiting professor and walked across the hall into my office. I will confess to some initial apprehension—here was a Virginia aristocrat as different from me as different could be—but it was clear immediately that Francis would be the best of professional colleagues, and friends.