The Arbitrator Survey: Practices, Preferences and Changes on the Horizon

The American Review of International Arbitration, 2015/Vol. 26, No. 4

24 Pages Posted: 17 Aug 2016

Date Written: December 16, 2015

Abstract

Arbitration counsel want to win. Understanding how arbitrators think, what they favor, how they make decisions, and how they work together can guide counsel in devising their strategy and developing their presentations. For their part, arbitrators want to provide a fair hearing that meets the parties’ needs. Knowing how other arbitrators handle various procedural aspects, what influences their thinking, and what they prefer can inform arbitrators in conducting their own arbitrations most effectively. Several excellent works have been published in recent years which approach the subject of arbitrator decision-making from the perspective and mindset of many notable arbitration practitioners. However, empirical data based on a pool of arbitrator responses is scarce. In order to inform the arbitration community and advance the knowledge base on arbitrator preferences and decision-making, I conducted a survey. The survey was distributed through various listservs both in the U.S. and to colleagues around the world and drew 401 responses. This article reports and comments on the survey responses, grouped into six sections: the constitution of the tribunal, fundamentals, narrowing the issues and preliminary views, deliberations, the award, and mediation. It is hoped that the discussion will aid counsel and arbitrators in the conduct of arbitrations and provoke consideration of ways to improve the process in the never-ending search for excellence in arbitration.

Keywords: arbitration, arbitrators, survey, procedures, deliberations, preliminary views, award, med-arb, arbitrator preferences, evidence, burden of proof, dissents, practices

JEL Classification: K12, K19, K39, K40, K41, K49

Suggested Citation

Sussman, Edna, The Arbitrator Survey: Practices, Preferences and Changes on the Horizon (December 16, 2015). The American Review of International Arbitration, 2015/Vol. 26, No. 4, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2824441

Edna Sussman (Contact Author)

SussmanADR LLC ( email )

20 Oak Lane
Scarsdale, NY 10583
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.hnrklaw.com

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
406
Abstract Views
1,605
Rank
132,306
PlumX Metrics