Arbitration

I am asked by attorneys and clients to serve as an Arbitrator in cases where the parties have not been able to resolve all of the issues by agreement. The majority of my Arbitration cases have been related to divorce and family law; however I also arbitrate disputes on behalf of the Connecticut Bar Association in situations where there are unresolved disputes regarding legal fees. Those cases sometimes involve fee disputes between lawyers and clients and sometimes disputes between two or more law firms after settlement of a case where a client has changed firms and a fee is collected by the firm that has taken over the case from the prior firm.

In divorce cases, Connecticut law has recently changed to allow for binding Arbitration of all issues including: child custody and parenting; division of property; alimony; child support and any other related issues. Many lawyers and clients choose Arbitration because the process is usually more efficient and less formal than contested Judicial litigation. In consultation with the attorneys, I carefully tailor the process to meet the needs and demands of each situation. I am flexible when scheduling hearing dates and the process is designed to accommodate the specific needs and demands of each situation.

From the moment the attorneys and clients sign a written agreement to Arbitrate, I work closely with the attorneys to ensure that the process moves forward toward a final, binding decision in a timely and expeditious manner. Upon request, remote hearings are routinely scheduled via Zoom in accordance with protocols that are written and agreed upon at the outset of the case.

My years of experience initially conducting numerous custody studies and written Evaluations as a Family Relations Counselor, my work as an Appellate Court Law Clerk, and the many years of experience as a trial lawyer provide a solid foundation for my work as an Arbitrator.