Arbitration Speaker Series: U.S. Commercial Arbitration at a Crossroads

Recent court decisions, the pending Arbitration Fairness Act of 2009, and new "protocols" adopted by leading arbitration institutions have created a new landscape for business-to-business arbitration. In recent years, there has been a "judicialization" of arbitration, with more discovery and more motion practice, which in turn has made commercial arbitrations lengthier and costlier. As a result, in-house counsel no longer automatically insert mandatory arbitration clauses in their commercial agreements, but instead, engage in a thoughtful weighing of the relative benefits of arbitration versus litigation before including such clauses.

In this program, we will discuss:

All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the Rutter Group’s California Practice Guide: Alternative Dispute Resolution (updates not included).

This invitation is open to all clients and friends of Morrison & Foerster LLP. There is no charge to attend this seminar.

Speakers:

• Cedric Chao, Partner and Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Group, Morrison & Foerster LLP (Moderator)
   
• Richard Chernick, Arbitrator and Mediator, and Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Arbitration Practice, JAMS
   
• Dwight James, Vice President, American Arbitration Association

• Michelle Leetham, Vice President, Principal Counsel, and Manager of Litigation, Bechtel Corporation
   
• James Schurz, Partner, Morrison & Foerster LLP, and Adjunct Professor, U.C. Hastings College of the Law, International Commercial Arbitration

Morrison & Foerster LLP (Provider #2183) certifies that this activity has been approved for MCLE credit by the State Bar of California in the amount of 2.0 hours.