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Protocols For Expeditious, Cost‐Effective Commercial Arbitration: Key Action Steps For Business Users, Counsel, Arbitrators & Arbitration Provider Institutions, Thomas J. Stipanowich

Thomas J. Stipanowich

Despite meaningful efforts to promote better practices and ensure quality among arbitrators and advocates, criticism of American commercial arbitration is at a crescendo. Much of this criticism stems from the fact that business‐to‐business arbitration has taken on the trappings of litigation—extensive discovery and motion practice, highly contentious advocacy, long cycle time and high cost. While many business users still prefer arbitration to court trial because of other procedural advantages, the great majority of complaints being voiced by arbitration users are the same: commercial arbitration now costs just as much, and takes just as long, as litigation. Clients and counsel often …