Your team spent weeks—maybe months—negotiating an important transaction. Someone, possibly not the deal lawyers, chose arbitration over the courts as a last-minute clause before signing. Now a dispute has arisen, arbitration is looming, it may last more than a year at significant cost, and you must select an arbitrator. Outside counsel will present candidates, and your instinct may be to defer to them—but don’t. Selecting an arbitrator isn’t a legal formality. It’s the equivalent of hiring …
industry expertise
What Arbitrators Actually Think About Your Expert
Republished with permission from JAMS. What is and is not effective expert testimony Unlike a jury, an arbitrator is rarely seeing anything for the first time. That changes everything. Experienced arbitrators have heard hundreds of experts — they recognize the theater, they spot the evasions, and they dislike witnesses who sacrifice credibility for advocacy. The qualities that make an expert effective before an arbitrator are not always the same qualities that resonate with a jury. Over …
College of Commercial Arbitrators Files Amicus Brief in D.C. Circuit on Rule of Law Issues
On April 3, 2026, the College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA) filed an amicus curiae brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, addressing issues central to the rule of law and the independence of legal representation. The brief was submitted in connection with ongoing litigation involving several major law firms and executive orders affecting their ability to represent certain clients. In its filing, the College emphasizes a foundational principle of …
CCA Webinar – Building for Production: Enabling Meaningful AI Integration in Practice
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 …
CCA Webinar – Law GPT: Generative AI’s Transformation of Legal Practice, the Business of Law and ADR
Ep. 2 CAS, Doping Scandals & Shocking Cases!
Are you familiar with the use of tainted burrito and kissing defenses to potentially disqualifying doping charges? Or the shattering of an Olympic athlete’s dreams by a paperwork error? In this episode, CAS arbitrators Jim Carter and Kristen Thorsness and dive deep into real cases they have heard, decided, and followed over the years—some that made headlines, and others that were no less heart breaking that remained in the shadows. Whether arising on site at thethe …
Ep. 1 Demystifying the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Welcome to CCA Arbitration Talk – the podcast of the College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA), the pre-eminent professional organization in the field of commercial arbitration. This podcast series explores the world of commercial arbitration, including its advantages, challenges, and impact upon today's legal landscape. What happens when a high-stakes dispute arises in international athletic events? Enter the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)—the ultimate decision-maker in global …
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 …

