The ADR Section’s Third Arbitration Institute was held on March 18, 2026.

It is currently available in our catalog for viewing.

The AAI was a one-day workshop for attorney-arbitrators/advocates designed to answer the question: “How Can I Improve My Arbitration Advocacy Skills?”  The Arbitration Advocacy Institute brought together established arbitrators, trainers, advocates, and practitioners to impart knowledge based on their arbitration experiences, share best practices, and other tips to assist attorney-arbitrators with understanding the arbitration process.   The Arbitration Advocacy Institute was also designed to sharpen participants’ skills to become more effective and efficient arbitration advocates.

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM
Welcome and Introductions
Natalie Paskiewicz, ADR Section Chair 2025-2026, and Chardean M. Hill, ADR Section Arbitration Committee Co-Chair

9:05 AM – 10:35 AM
Part I: Ethics in Arbitration
Patricia Thompson and Kelly Overstreet Johnson

• Jurisdiction Issues
• Dealing with Pro Se Parties
• Dealing with Aggressive, Bad, or Mad Advocates
• Using AI in Arbitration

10:35 AM – 10:40 AM
Break

10:40 AM – 12:10 PM
Part II: Single Arbitrator – Mock Pre-Hearing Conference
Meah Tell, Leonore Greller, Karen Orlin, and Donna Solomon

• Role play of a single arbitrator handling a pre-hearing conference
• Critique
• Shared tips and best practices

12:10 PM – 12:45 PM
Lunch Break

12:45 PM – 2:15 PM
Three Panel Arbitration – Role Play Status Conference; Procedures and Protocols for Final Hearing
Deborah Mastin, Brian Bennett, and Jennifer Bailey

• Calling Witnesses
• Presenting Evidence
• Other Protocols (audio-video conferencing)
• Post-hearing submissions – Damages, Pre-award Interest, Case Law
• Attorney’s fees

2:15 PM – 2:20 PM
Break

2:20 PM – 3:50 PM
Panel Discussion – Hot Topics in Arbitration
Meah Tell, Deborah Mastin, Patricia Thompson, Kelly Overstreet Johnson, Leonore Greller, Brian Bennett, Jennifer Bailey, Angela Romero-Veledon, and Sean Dillon
Moderated by Chardean M. Hill, ADR Section Arbitration Committee Co-Chair

• Mastering non-administered arbitrations/ Ad Hoc arbitrations
• Motions
• Challenges in complex arbitration cases
• Hybrid mediation/arbitration
• Rule/Statute Updates
• Conducting virtual aribitration hearings

3:50 PM – 4:00 PM
Q&A; Closing Comments

• Moderated by Chardean M. Hill, ADR Section Arbitration Committee Co-Chair
• Reminder to Complete Survey
• Final Comments by Co-Chairs Deborah Mastin and Meah Tell