PRACTICE AREA ·
5
OF 06
AT A GLANCE
Who it's for
Anyone whose contract has an arbitration clause
Courts
AAA, ICDR and JAMS; S.D.N.Y. to confirm or vacate
Typical length
6 to 15 months from first call to resolution
First step
A free 30-minute call, then a written assessment within 48 hours.
Fees from
$3,500 fixed assessment
Signs it’s time to call
If any of these sound familiar, a 30-minute call now usually costs far less than fixing it later.
01
Your contract has an arbitration clause
Know what it covers before filing anywhere.
02
You've received a demand for arbitration
Deadlines to respond are short and strict.
03
You need to pick an arbitrator
The choice shapes the outcome more than most expect.
04
You won an award
And the other side hasn't paid.
05
You lost an award
Court review is narrow, so the grounds need to be right.
06
You're drafting a new agreement
Choose the rules, seat and panel size before a dispute starts.
Most cases resolve before trial. I prepare every one as if it won’t, and you get a document at each stage.
01
First call
Thirty minutes, no charge. You tell me what happened and I tell you honestly whether it's worth pursuing.
Note of first call · Week 1
02
Case assessment
Your strongest claims, the defences they'll run, and a realistic range of outcomes, in writing.
· Within 48 hours
03
Pleadings & early motions
The complaint or answer, and any motion that could end the case early or narrow it.
· Months 1–2
04
Discovery
Documents, depositions and experts. It's where most cases are won, and where most budgets go.
· Months 2–9
05
Resolution
Mediation, settlement or trial. I give you my view of every offer, and the number I'd take.
· Months 9–18
What it costs
Fixed prices where the work is predictable, monthly caps where it isn’t. You approve the budget before I start, and it only changes if you say so.
Case assessment
Written, within 48 hours
$3,500 fixed
Pleadings & motions
Complaint or answer, first motions
$18k–26k
Discovery
Monthly, never above the cap
$12k / mo cap
Mediation
Preparation and a full day
$9,500 fixed
Trial
Quoted in writing after discovery
From $60k
Estimated to resolution
Most commercial cases, without trial
$64k–92k
Prices for 2026. Court filing fees and expert costs are billed at cost, and I tell you before they’re incurred.
IN A CLIENT’S WORDS
Fast, private and no surprises on the bill. Exactly what she said it would be.
Helen Park
General Counsel, logistics company · arbitration
Questions about commercial cases
The ones I hear most on first calls. If yours isn’t here, ask me directly.
Is arbitration really faster than court?
Do you take cases on contingency?
Can I appeal an arbitration award?
What should I have ready for the first call?
Who chooses the arbitrator?
Is everything kept confidential?
Other practice areas
FREE 30-MINUTE CALL
Tell me what happened.
I read every enquiry myself and reply within one business day, usually sooner. If a court deadline is close, call instead of writing.
Contacting me does not create an attorney–client relationship.