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Arbitration Arbitration Agreements Contract Terms

Arbitration is a widely-used method for settling disputes between parties. During arbitration, parties submit their dispute to an impartial third person or party, usually chosen by the parties. Typically, parties... more +
Arbitration is a widely-used method for settling disputes between parties. During arbitration, parties submit their dispute to an impartial third person or party, usually chosen by the parties. Typically, parties to arbitration agree in advance to be bound by the arbitrator's decision. Arbitration is an alternative to litigation, but it shares many of the familiar features of litigation. Namely, parties to arbitration hold hearings before neutral decision-makers, present evidence and argue the merits of their position. Parties often choose arbitration due to its perceived advantages over litigation. Those perceived advantages include greater efficiency and flexibility, and lower costs. less -
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

BC Court of Appeal Affirms Arbitration and Choice-of-Law Provisions in Incentive Plan

The British Columbia Court of Appeal’s decision in Aspen Technology, Inc. v. Wiederhold, 2025 BCCA 261, provides significant guidance on the enforceability of arbitration clauses embedded in employment incentive plans. ...more

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Ontario Court of Appeal Finds Stepped Dispute Clause Does Not Bar Arbitration

In J.P. Thomson Architects Ltd. v. Greater Essex County District School Board (Thomson v. Essex School Board), the Court of Appeal for Ontario found that a “stepped” dispute resolution clause did not bar recourse to...more

Meyers Nave

Timely Payment of Arbitration Fees—If You Snooze, You Lose!

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Imagine this: You have worked with your attorney on crafting the perfect arbitration agreement. You have an issue that goes to arbitration and are in the middle of arbitrating when you get notified that the arbitration is...more

Proskauer - California Employment Law

The Latest Developments in the Arbitration Wars – Implausible Sexual Harassment Claims

Since its enactment, the federal Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act has resulted in plaintiffs’ lawyers tacking on increasingly implausible sexual harassment claims to unrelated...more

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC

Second Circuit Limits Jurisdiction to Review Challenges to Arbitration Awards

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently weighed in on the proper role of American federal courts in adjudicating the validity of arbitration awards made in foreign countries. In Molecular Dynamics,...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Drafting Broad Arbitration Clauses

In the recent decision Soar.Earth Ltd v. Mahaffie, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado addressed what happens when competing forum selection and arbitration clauses in separate contracts apply to a single...more

ArentFox Schiff

Hohenshelt v. Superior Court Confirms California Arbitration Fee Law Survives FAA Preemption Challenge

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On August 11, the California Supreme Court issued a significant decision in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court addressing the interplay between the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) and California’s statutory requirements for timely...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

NFL’s Arbitration Agreement Fumbles, Allowing Coach to Pursue Discrimination Claims in Court: Employment Law Lessons for Employers

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The National Football League (NFL) is in the spotlight this season, not because of any certain game on the field, but for a legal battle off it. Last week, the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that a NFL coach...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

California Supreme Court Tackles Federal Preemption Issues in Employment and Consumer Arbitrations

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On August 11, 2025, the California Supreme Court issued a decision in the matter of Dana Hohenshelt v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles, ruling that the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”) does not preempt the California...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

California Supreme Court Rules FAA Does Not Preempt Arbitration Fee Deadline, Rejects Strict Penalties

On August 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of California ruled that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not preempt a state statute requiring employers to timely pay arbitration fees or forfeit the right to arbitration. The...more

Clark Hill PLC

California employers gain relief in arbitration fee deadline ruling

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In a highly anticipated decision, the California Supreme Court in Dana Hohenshelt v. Golden State Foods Corp. relieves some pressure for employers, holding that late payment of arbitration fees does not result in an automatic...more

Fenwick & West LLP

CA Supreme Court: Federal Arbitration Act Does Not Preempt State Law on Timely Arbitration Fee Payment

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The California Supreme Court recently held in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not preempt a California law that penalizes businesses that have consumer and employee arbitration...more

Blank Rome LLP

From Rigid to Reasonable: Supreme Court Clarifies Arbitration Fee Payment Rules in California

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The California Supreme Court’s decision in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court marks an important moment for arbitration in California, particularly in the context of consumer disputes, employment disputes, and mass arbitrations....more

Paul Hastings LLP

California Supreme Court Issues Decision Addressing Whether the FAA Preempts California's Rule Governing Late Payment of...

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The California Supreme Court issued its decision in Hohenshelt v. Superior Court, addressing whether the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) preempts California's rule governing late payment of arbitration fees, Cal. Code Civ....more

IR Global

When (and why) arbitration might be the better option

IR Global on

Clients often ask why, in some commercial contracts, their lawyers recommend that disputes are handled through the courts but, in others, they recommend arbitration. Sometimes it comes down to a question of judgement, but...more

Troutman Amin LLP

SIGNED BY SILENCE?: Court Finds Consumer Agreed to Arbitration By Failing To Respond to A Text Message– And Its A Little Odd

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Hello from the road! So contract law generally requires a party to manifest their assent to the terms of any agreement. That means while you cannot get away with saying “I didnt read the contract I signed” you generally can...more

Bennett Jones LLP

BC Court of Appeal Upholds Arbitration and Foreign Law Clauses in Employee Incentive Plan

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In Aspen Technology, Inc. v. Wiederhold, 2025 BCCA 261 (Wiederhold), the British Columbia Court of Appeal enforced an arbitration/forum selection clause in an employee incentive plan, overturning a lower court decision and...more

Proskauer - California Employment Law

Arbitration Agreement Was Unconscionable

Velarde v. Monroe Operations, LLC, 111 Cal. App. 5th 1009 (2025) - The Court noted “[t]here was extensive evidence of procedural unconscionability, with an adhesive contract, buried in a stack of 31 documents to be signed...more

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Surprise! Misleading Statements and Time Pressure May Render an Employer’s Arbitration Agreement Unenforceable

Employers have long been scrutinized for perceived unequal bargaining power when it comes to enforcement of company-drafted arbitration agreements. Indeed, both the California legislature and the courts have aimed to protect...more

Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP

Contemporaneous Onboarding Documents May Invalidate An Employer’s “Squeaky Clean” Arbitration Agreement

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., a healthcare staffing company, believed that it had a “squeaky clean” Arbitration Agreement with its employees. ...more

Mayer Brown

Germany’s Highest Court Upholds Validity of Arbitration Agreement which Excludes German T&C Law

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In an important decision this year (I ZB 48/24), the German Federal Court of Justice confirmed that parties can agree to exclude the application of German law on general terms and conditions in their arbitration agreements...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

California Employers Using Arbitration Agreements Want To Take Note of New Guidance From a Recent California Appellate Case

California employers often require their new hires and current employees to sign arbitration agreements ("agreements") as a condition of employment or continued employment. To be enforceable, these agreements require that the...more

Hudson Cook, LLP

Not All Third Parties Are Created Equal

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Motor vehicle purchase and finance transactions are rarely simple, even if they're routine from the perspective of the businesses involved. The typical motor vehicle retail installment transaction features the buyer, the...more

Hogan Lovells

New California statute raises questions for consumer arbitration provisions, but the spectre of potential federal preemption looms...

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California Senate Bill No. 940, which became effective January 1, 2025, places significant restrictions on arbitration provisions affecting California consumers. Under the law, consumers may void contractual provisions that...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

Unconscionable Employment Terms In Onboarding Documents Can Void Arbitration Agreements

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On June 13, 2025, a California Court of Appeal struck down an arbitration agreement because of unconscionable terms entered by the parties in a separate employment agreement, governing different dispute resolution fora and...more

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