Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce it has created Mass Arbitration Procedures and Guidelines, effective immediately. These procedures are intended to facilitate the fair, expeditious and efficient resolution of mass arbitrations.
Within these procedures, mass arbitration is defined as 75 or more similar demands for arbitration filed against the same party or related parties by individual claimants represented by either the same law firm or law firms acting in coordination.
JAMS is committed to developing policies, procedures and guidelines that support the clients we serve throughout each step of the arbitration process. We believe that these procedures will support the mass arbitration process and help promote the fair, efficient resolution of cases.
- Chris Poole, JAMS CEO
A key feature of the procedures is the designation of a process administrator from the JAMS panel of neutrals. Because the filing of dozens, hundreds or even thousands of claims may create delays and involve significant fees, the process administrator can work with the parties and serve in a variety of key functions, including hearing and determining preliminary and administrative matters in a mass arbitration, resolving disputes about the interpretation and applicability of the procedures, and determining whether threshold jurisdictional and arbitrability disputes are arbitrable.
The introduction of our Mass Arbitration Procedures is another way we are refining our services to meet the evolving needs of our clients. JAMS has taken a thoughtful and measured approach in the development of these procedures, and we are confident that they will serve as an essential resource.
- Liz Carter, JAMS senior vice president of operations
The procedures were developed to be consistent with the core arbitration values of efficiency and fairness. Unlike other providers, JAMS does not include either mandatory mediation or test cases in these procedures. While mediation is always encouraged, the impetus for these procedures is to enable the Process Administrator to work with the parties to design a reasonable process to support the efficient resolution of the case.
The JAMS Mass Arbitration Procedures and Guidelines can be found here.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.
With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings.
More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.
