Karl Bayer's Disputing Blog

Sony Updates its Terms of Service Adding Class Arbitration Waiver

By Victoria VanBuren - October 5, 2011

As reported by WIRED, Sony recently revised its online Terms of Service and User Agreement. The move was prompted by the multiple security breaches of earlier this year in which hackers stole data from nearly 75 million Sony PlayStation customers. Section 15 of the revised agreement includes an arbitration clause with a class action waiver provision. Sony, however, provides for a right to op-out of the binding arbitration and class action waiver

JAMS Launches International Branch

By Victoria VanBuren - September 30, 2011

JAMS, the U.S. arbitration and mediation provider, has launched its international arm and unveiled a panel of more than 40 arbitrators and mediators to handle cross-border disputes. JAMS International is headquartered in London, with additional hearing locations in Amsterdam, Milan, New York, and Rome. For more information, visit the JAMS International website. The press release is here. Technorati Tags: law, ADR, arbitration

ICC Unveils International Centre for ADR

By Victoria VanBuren - September 28, 2011

The International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) announced recently the creation of the ICC International Centre for ADR. Based in Paris, members of the Centre actively participate in a variety of consultancy bodies, including a World Bank advisory group, the International Bar Association task force for investor-state mediation rules, and the Board and Independent Standards Commission of the International Mediation Institute. Read the pr

SCOTUSblog: Symposium on Arbitration

By Victoria VanBuren - September 27, 2011

We invite you to check out SCOTUSblog Symposium on Arbitration. The blog has featured the following guest-posts: AT&T Mobility and the end of consumer class action through Commerce Clause jurisprudence: Not so fast, Terry Moritz A second, more circumstantial separability doctrine, Thomas Carbonneau Is the Supreme Court demanding enough as it provides incentives for the private funding of a federal small claims court?, Nancy Welsh The third ar

ICC Releases Its New Arbitration Rules

By Victoria VanBuren - September 20, 2011

The International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) released its new Arbitration and ADR Rules on September 12, 2011, in Paris. The Rules, effective on January 1, 2012, address developing issues in international arbitration, such as multiparty contracts and causes of delay and excessive costs. Read the ICC press release here. The Rules may be downloaded here. Technorati Tags: arbitration, ADR, law

Disputing Welcomes the Blog ‘Annotations’

By Victoria VanBuren - September 16, 2011

We would like to welcome Annotations to the blogosphere. Annotations is a Jones McClure Publishing blog and provides news and commentary about legal developments, with particular focus on Texas and California. Check out TX: Reviewing Arbitration Awards in Texas—Departure from Federal Law (thanks for the cite!). The Disputing Team, Karl Bayer, Alyson Chaky and Victoria VanBuren

Federal Court Orders Arbitration of Claims in BP Oil Spill Case

By Victoria VanBuren - September 12, 2011

As readers may already know, litigation surrounding the “Deep Water Horizon” oil spill is well underway. In a later twist, a federal trial court in Louisiana granted a motion to stay litigation between Anadarko and BP and ordered the parties to arbitrate pursuant to an arbitration clause found in their Joint Operating Agreement. See In RE: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig. BP had filed a motion to compel arbitration, however, Anadarko respond

International Arbitration | Lord Dyson to Speak at Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Conference Gala Dinner

By Victoria VanBuren - September 9, 2011

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) has announced that the Rt Hon Lord Dyson, Justice of the Supreme Court of the UK and formerly a leading practitioner in international commercial arbitration, will be the after dinner speaker at CIArb’s annual Gala Dinner in London on Tuesday 27 September, 2011. The dinner will celebrate the end of the first day of CIArb’s Costs of International Arbitration conference, where experts from the field wil

Symposium | Border Skirmishes: The Intersection Between Litigation and International Commercial Arbitration | Oct. 21, 2011

By Victoria VanBuren - September 6, 2011

On October 21, 2011, keynote speaker Gary Born leads an international group of experts in a frank discussion of issues that can arise when parties combine litigation tactics with international commercial arbitration. The symposium, entitled “Border Skirmishes: The Intersection Between Litigation and International Commercial Arbitration,” will be held at the award-winning Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution at the University of Missouri Sch

Wall Street Journal: Banks Steer Customers to Arbitration and Away From Court After Concepcion

By Victoria VanBuren - August 25, 2011

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reports that some banks are embracing mandatory arbitration in consumer contracts on the wake of AT&T v. Concepcion. The WSJ says that now nearly three-quarters of 265 accounts offered by the 10 largest U.S. banks included mandatory arbitration provisions. Read the story here. Related Posts: ABA Journal: After Supreme Court Win Forcing Customers to Arbitrate, AT&T Now Sues to Stop the Arbitration, Disputing,