The College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA), established in 2001, celebrates and advocates excellence in the field of commercial arbitration – in the US and internationally.
As the world’s most prestigious alternative dispute resolution professional organization, the CCA both defines and promotes the highest standards of arbitrator ethics, standards of conduct, and best practices in alternative dispute resolution.
The CCA is an invitation-only organization that provides a meaningful contribution to the profession, the public, the legal sector, and to the businesses that implement commercial arbitration as a means of dispute resolution. CCA Fellows are the elite within the profession. They have the professional training, judgment, and years of experience to undertake the most complex and difficult commercial arbitration assignments, whether in the domestic or international realm.
Mission of the CCA
The founding members of the Board of the CCA held the view that a national organization of commercial arbitrators would provide a meaningful contribution to the profession, the public, and the businesses and lawyers who depend on commercial arbitration as a primary means of alternative dispute resolution.
Fellowship in the CCA is by invitation of the Board. Membership criteria include substantial experience as a commercial arbitrator, high ethical standards, and high regard in the field among academics, other neutrals, and counsel. Current Fellows nominate and propose Fellows. We strive to achieve a diverse, highly selective membership, primarily of full-time commercial arbitrators and academics.
The CCA Fellows meet and communicate regularly with a view toward sharing professional experiences and ideas about commercial arbitration. The CCA is committed to creating and maintaining an environment and atmosphere to allow its members to communicate with each other in an intellectually safe, nurturing, civil, and respectful manner. The CCA is also committed to assisting in the education of the public and non-member arbitrators about recommended practices and procedures intended to support and expand the use of alternative dispute resolution to resolve business and commercial disputes.
The intellectual and service-oriented atmosphere created by the Founding Group is inviting and infectious. It remains attractive to this day. Accordingly, the CCA strives to maintain a collegial, non-confrontational, and rich intellectual environment. See more on the history of the CCA below.
Guiding Principles
- Identify those individuals whose knowledge, professional training and experience qualify them to undertake the most complex and difficult arbitration assignments.
- Promote professionalism and the highest ethical practices in commercial arbitration.
- Adopt and maintain the highest standards of conduct.
- Develop “best practices” materials.
- Provide peer training and professional development.
- Provide opportunities for interaction among peers.
- Promote diversity within commercial arbitration.
- Encourage Fellows to help educate the public, business users, and non-member arbitrators about commercial arbitration
Industry Sector Expertise
CCA Fellows have experience in disputes concerning all types of business and industries. Below are some important examples. (Please review the resumes of individual CCA Fellows for additional information.)