AAA Introduces Alternative Fee Arrangements for Arbitrators Option, Helping Control Arbitration Costs

NEW YORK, Aug. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) has introduced an alternative fee arrangement (AFA) option on eligible cases offering to help resolve B2B disputes through arbitration.

The AAA's AFA program for parties pursuing arbitration is the first of its kind to be offered by a national provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services. Parties can choose from the following two AFA options prior to the appointment of an arbitrator:

• Fixed Fee Arrangement, whereby an AAA arbitration panel member proposes a fixed fee for the pre-hearing, hearing, and post-hearing phases of arbitration which must be approved by all parties.
• Capped Fee Arrangement, whereby an AAA arbitration panel member proposes a fee cap for the entire arbitral process which must be approved by all parties.

For more information about the AAA-ICDRSM's alternative fee arrangements, please visit www.adr.org/afa.

"Alternative fee arrangements align with our mission to add cost savings and fee transparency and predictability to the arbitral process; the AAA and its Roster of Arbitrators  are proud to be the first arbitral institution to offer an AFA option to parties and counsel seeking to resolve their disputes through arbitration," said India Johnson, President and CEO of the AAA-ICDR.

The AAA-ICDR's AFA program is in line with industry trends, given that the popularity of AFAs continues to grow among corporate counsel. According to the  2017 Litigation Trends Annual Survey compiled by Norton Rose Fulbright, 96% of corporate counsel in the U.S. and other countries were satisfied with the quality of work provided under AFAs—and more than a third of the 318 survey participants stated they expect to increase their use of AFAs in 2018.

About the American Arbitration Association

The not-for-profit American Arbitration Association® (AAA®) has administered approximately 4.1 million alternative dispute resolution (ADR) cases since its founding. With 26 offices in the United States, in addition to Mexico, Singapore, and Bahrain, the AAA provides organizations of all sizes in virtually every industry with ADR services and products. For more information, visit  www.adr.org.

About the International Centre for Dispute Resolution

As the international division of the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (ICDR®) is one of the world's largest providers of arbitral and dispute resolution service. Established in 1996, the ICDR serves parties in more than 90 counties, with a staff fluent in over a dozen languages. Through more than 725 independent arbitrators and mediators, the ICDR provides a flexible, party-centered process over a broad range of industries and geopolitical issue. Its recently revised Rules have once again set a standard for arbitration case management. For more information, visit  www.icdr.org.

SOURCE American Arbitration Association

Related Links

http://www.adr.org