Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Consolidation in Arbitration

By Abraham D. Sofaer
December 31, 2014

Consolidation is one of several ongoing battlefields in the development of arbitration in America. Consolidating arbitrations among different parties can reduce costs, enhance efficiency and avoid inconsistent decisions. In practice, however, attempts to consolidate arbitrations without the consent of affected parties has resulted in costly litigation, long delays, and legal uncertainties that undermine the benefits of arbitration. Rules do exist concerning the proper use of consolidation, but they are so complex and uncertain that the costs of forcing consolidation on unwilling parties, even where conceptually justifiable, appear to outweigh any benefits secured. When parties consent to consolidation, on the other hand, it can provide important benefits for resolving related cases and identical claims. Even limited forms of consolidation can offer concrete and meaningful benefits.

Forced Consolidation

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys Image

Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.

A defendant in a patent infringement suit may, during discovery and prior to a <i>Markman</i> hearing, compel the plaintiff to produce claim charts, claim constructions, and element-by-element infringement analyses.