Several months ago, the American Arbitration Association gave its panelists free access to ClearBrief, an AI tool specifically designed for lawyers and arbitrators. It's a closed system. Thus, there's no danger that documents fed into it ever become part of the worldwide web that is then scraped for use in open AI tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity. I signed up for ClearBrief and have used it in my practice. Here's a summary of my experience. Training ClearBrief has offered …
Best practices
The College of Commercial Arbitrators Welcomes 13 New Fellows and Announces 2025–2026 Executive Committee
AUSTIN, TX – October 28, 2025 – The College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA), a professional organization that promotes the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and best practices in commercial arbitration, is pleased to announce the induction of 13 new Fellows and the appointment of its 2025–2026 Executive Committee. CCA Fellows Class of 2025 • Jay Alexander – Alexander Arbitration, LLC, Dillon, CO• Tom Cunningham – Tom Alan Cunningham PLLC, Houston, TX• Renee Gerstman – Renee …
Ep. 8 More of This, Less of That (Part 2): Best Practices for Arbitration Case Management
In Part 2, host Rich Silberberg once again welcomes Jeff Zaino, Vice President of the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Division, and Virginia Corvey, Director of Operations at JAMS, to dive deeper into user feedback regarding arbitrator performance and its impact upon best practices in commercial arbitration. Building on the discussion in Part 1, this episode explores user feedback about arbitrators’ handling of specific case management issues and lessons learned, …
Ep. 7 More of This, Less of That: What Arbitration Users Really Think About Arbitrator Performance
In this episode of CCA Arbitration Talk, host Rich Silberberg sits down with Jeff Zaino, Vice President of the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Division, and Virginia Corvey, Director of Operations at JAMS, for a candid conversation about what arbitration users truly value—and what they don’t—regarding arbitrator performance. Drawing on decades of experience and direct client feedback, Jeff and Virginia share insights on: Whether you’re an arbitrator, advocate, or …
Ep. 5 Best Practices for Drafting Reasoned Arbitration Awards: A Conversation with John Burritt McArthur
In this episode of CCA Arbitration Talk, recorded live at the American Arbitration Association’s Biannual Neutrals Conference in Dallas, host Rich Silberberg is joined by CCA Fellow John Burritt (“Mac”) McArthur — experienced commercial arbitrator and author of The Reasoned Arbitration Award in the United States: Its Purposes, Preparation, Problems, and Preservation (Juris, 2022). Mr. McArthur shares insights from his extensive career as both advocate and arbitrator, discussing …
Litigators: What You Don’t Know about Commercial Arbitration Practice and Procedure Can and Will Hurt You
Litigators who approach commercial arbitration as they would a courtroom trial often find themselves at a disadvantage. Arbitration operates under different rules, and failing to adapt can weaken your case. The three areas that most litigators fail to understand before commencement is the writing of a narrative demand, the pre-hearing conference collaboration, and the importance of outlining all damages precisely. Mastering these elements is essential to succeed in arbitration. 1. Drafting an …
The Transformative Impact of the CCA Associates Mentorship Program on My Arbitration Practice
The College of Commercial Arbitrators Associates Mentorship Program has been a cornerstone of my commercial arbitrator development. From the outset, the program provided me with an unparalleled platform to deepen my understanding of arbitration practices and refine my skills. Its structured approach and access to a wealth of resources have significantly accelerated my growth and success as an arbitrator. A defining feature of the Associates Program is the mentorship it offers. I am blessed …
College of Commercial Arbitrators Launches ‘CCA Arbitration Talk’ Podcast with Three Inaugural Episodes
Austin, TX – The College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA) is proud to announce the launch of its highly anticipated podcast, CCA Arbitration Talk. This new series aims to demystify the world of commercial arbitration and explore its advantages, challenges, and profound impact on today’s legal landscape. The CCA Arbitration Talk podcast series is geared to a wide audience of listeners, including individuals and businesses currently using or contemplating the use of commercial arbitration to …
Guiding the Way Through A.I. in Arbitration
Artificial intelligence (“A.I.”) is the hot topic of the day. A.I. holds the potential to dramatically change our lives - for better or worse - as it rapidly develops and is implemented in new ways. A.I. is already used by parties, counsel, experts and Arbitrators for tasks ranging from selecting arbitrators, to analyzing documents, to researching the law, to [oh no!] drafting briefs, orders and awards. Sometimes the generated results are painfully wrong, producing so-called hallucinations, …
Select Your Decision Maker! (Part II)
The Aardvark* commented in the initial installment of its “Select Your Decision Maker” post that the principal advantage of commercial arbitration is party autonomy and self-determination, as best illustrated by the disputants’ ability to select the person who will hear and decide their dispute. As part of its continuing “debunkery” mission to set the record straight about the advantages that commercial arbitration offers over litigation, the Aardvark asks and answers the following two …