5 things you should know about litigation vs. arbitration | Lexology.com

The London Court of International Arbitration
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When deciding whether to agree to arbitration in your next automation contract, keep in mind the following differences between resolving disputes via the traditional litigation process versus arbitration:

  • Arbitration can be cheaper and faster. The general rule is that arbitration is a faster and more streamlined process, making it cheaper than the typical litigation process in most, but not all, cases.
  • Possibility of knowledgeable arbitrator. Because of the way an arbitrator is chosen, the parties can agree to an arbitrator who has specialized knowledge, which can be an advantage when technical issues are involved.
  • Very limited appeal rights in arbitration. The parties generally have to abide by an arbitrator’s decision, even if it is wrong. Cases that are litigated can be appealed and reversed.
  • Limited consolidation in arbitration. In a typical court case, all parties who may be involved in or contributed to a dispute can be compelled to join one lawsuit. In arbitration, parties cannot be made to join in someone else’s arbitration process unless they agree.
  • No jury in arbitration. There is no right to a jury trial in arbitration. Instead, disputes decided in arbitration will often be decided by one arbitrator

via Lexology – 5 things you should know about litigation vs. arbitration.

A Litigation Boutique Grows in Manhattan

Regular readers of our Churn feature know there was no shortage of big firm litigators hanging out their own shingles last year. Our colleague Nate Raymond at sibling publication the New York Law Journal checked in with a group of five former Clifford Chance litigators who joined the boutique boom by setting up their own shop to handle international arbitration, reinsurance, and commercial litigation in Manhattan. Here's his profile of the boutique Chaffetz Lindsey.

Writes Raymond, “A recession may not seem like the perfect environment for starting a new law business, but with clients under pressure to manage costs and large firms favoring institutional clients in potential conflicts, dozens of boutiques have popped up offering sophisticated legal expertise at reasonable costs to clients large and small.”

via A Litigation Boutique Grows in Manhattan.

Law.com – Baker Hostetler Hangs Out Its Shingle in Chicago

Baker Hostetler, which was founded in Cleveland almost a century ago, landed in Chicago this week. The firm’s new office opens with four lawyers, including three that it nabbed from Lovells and McDermott Will & Emery.

Baker Hostetler is leasing a floor of office space from Drinker Biddle & Reath that can accommodate 24 lawyers, with an option to expand the space to add 10 more lawyers later. Ultimately, the firm expects to have 100 attorneys in the city, said Steven Kestner, Baker’s national executive partner.

“We’re not going to be in a rush to do this,” Kestner said. “It might happen quickly. It might be a number of years.”

The firm, which now has about 600 lawyers nationwide in 11 offices, already has major clients in the city, including Hyatt Corp. and Boeing Co. While the two new partners hired for the office have expertise in corporate finance and commercial litigation, Kestner expects that the firm will bring its other strengths in tax and intellectual property to Chicago as well.

The office will be led by Ronald Okada, a Baker Hostetler partner who moved from Cleveland. Okada, who is the firm’s hiring partner and manages its diversity initiatives, said he will focus on building up the Chicago presence.

via Law.com – Baker Hostetler Hangs Out Its Shingle in Chicago.