Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that California Arbitration, Inc. (CalArb) has announced that JAMS’ Laura C. Abrahamson, Esq., FCIArb, was appointed as president of the organization for the 2024-2025 term as of Sept. 1. Additionally, both Ms. Abrahamson and Barbara A. Reeves, Esq., CEDS, will continue to serve on the board of directors for the coming year.
CalArb is an organization that collaborates with California businesses, their corporate counsel, law firms, ADR providers and universities to support international arbitration and mediation in California. It provides resources to businesses and legal practitioners around the globe to guide them on international dispute resolution in the state. CalArb also produces California International Arbitration Week, an annual week-long series of in-person and online programs celebrating international arbitration in the state, which will take place again next year on March 10 – 13 in Los Angeles.
“CalArb is a vital part of the ADR community in California, and we are proud to see two of our neutrals contribute to serve in leadership roles within the organization. Congratulations to Ms. Abrahamson for her appointment as president and reappointment to the board of directors and to Ms. Reeves for being selected for another term on the board of directors.”
Kimberly Taylor, JAMS CEO and president
Before joining JAMS in 2020, Ms. Abrahamson had established an illustrious legal career in private practice and in-house senior leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies. Ms. Abrahamson served as Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Global Head of Litigation at AECOM, an American multinational firm that provides engineering, design, consulting and construction services, where she oversaw complex, cross-border disputes. Earlier in her career, Ms. Abrahamson spent nearly 20 years in-house at Occidental Petroleum (OXY), where she led major litigation and domestic and international arbitration efforts. Prior to moving in-house, Ms. Abrahamson spent her first seven years of private practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, specializing in complex commercial litigation and arbitration.
In her role at JAMS, Ms. Abrahamson brings a unique, well-rounded and pragmatic perspective to her practice, as well as deep national and international experience in commercial disputes and the engineering, construction, oil and gas, and chemicals industries. She has been appointed as an arbitrator in more than 200 matters and has experience as an arbitrator, advocate and client in the U.S. and significant jurisdictions around the world.
Ms. Reeves has been ranked on the Chambers “Nationwide Mediators” list every year since 2016. Prior to becoming a full-time neutral, she had an extensive and varied litigation and business counseling practice, clerked with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and worked as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, in Washington, D.C., and as chief of the Los Angeles office.
At JAMS, Ms. Reeves serves nationally as a mediator and arbitrator in complex business and employment litigation. Her work includes antitrust and employment class actions; mergers and acquisitions litigation; health care industry claims, including claims arising under the False Claims Act; intellectual property disputes, including patents, copyrights and trade secrets; consumer class actions; cybersecurity and cyber breach matters; environmental coverage cases; and other commercial disputes.
About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. With a roster of over 450 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS successfully resolves and manages tens of thousands of 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.
Building on this foundation, JAMS Pathways focuses on early conflict resolution, facilitation and training.
Learn more about JAMS Pathways at jamspathways.com.
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