Webinar—Mass Arbitration: Plaintiffs’ Latest Tactics, Defense Strategies, and Judicial Developments

Webinar

Panelists:
John H. Beisner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Meredith C. Slawe, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Michael W. McTigue Jr., Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

About:
After years of opposing arbitration as a way to resolve disputes, some plaintiffs’ lawyers have flipped the script to deploy arbitration demands on a mass scale. This tactic utilizes existing litigation tools, such as client solicitation, lead generation, consumer class actions, and litigation funding. Mass-arbitration requests trigger substantial private arbitration fees which plaintiffs use as settlement leverage. Our panelists will draw upon decades of tort-law and arbitration experience to discuss current mass-arbitration models, defense responses and risk mitigation, and recent developments in federal courts and arbitration providers.

Speakers' Biographies

John H. Beisner

John is Of Counsel with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in the firm's Washington, DC office. He leads the firm's Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation Group. Over the past 35 years, he has defended major U.S. and international corporations in more than 600 purported class actions filed in federal courts and in 40 state courts at both the trial and appellate levels. For his integral role in crafting the Class Action Fairness Act, John was recognized with the 2011 Research and Policy Award by The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform.

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Meredith C. Slawe

Meredith is a partner with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in the firm's New York, NY office. She practices in Skadden's Complex Litigation and Trials and Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation groups. She represents clients across a range of industries in class actions nationwide and mass arbitrations. Meredith often secures early victories to help clients avoid protracted litigation, including by developing strategies that prompt plaintiffs to dismiss their claims, compelling arbitration, defeating class certification and obtaining dismissals at summary judgment.

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Michael W. McTigue Jr.

Mike is a partner with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in the firm's New York, NY office. He practices in Skadden's Complex Litigation and Trials and Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation groups. Mike has counseled clients in international arbitration proceedings in the United States and in international forums. Additionally, he has substantial experience representing companies in the financial services, retail, telecommunications, technology, pharmaceutical and life sciences, education, hospitality and insurance industries.

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