Among the requirement alternatives for certification under Option (c) of the Arbitration Experience/Knowledge Component is attendance at one or two educational seminars other than a conference or intensive workshop. Also, renewal of arbitrator certification in the future requires attendance every two years at one of these sessions. For more information about these requirements and their timing, please see the Arbitrator and Umpire Certification Procedures page (including FAQs).

In support of these requirements, the Education Committee has planned the next seminar, which will take place on the afternoon of May 7, 2010 immediately after adjournment of the 2010 Spring Conference.

Location and Schedule

The seminar will be held at the Hotel del Coronado, just over the bridge from the San Diego International Airport. The event will begin with a light buffet lunch at 12:30 in the Windsor Complex. The seminar will begin at 1:15 in the Continental and Crystal rooms. There will be a short mid-afternoon break. The program will conclude at 5:30 p.m.

The Program

The topic for this session will be "Case Development and Preparing for the Arbitration Hearing." This session will focus on consolidation, interim motions and awards, managing the scope and duration of the arbitration and preparing for the arbitration hearing. Experienced counsel and arbitrators will provide an overview of the law and practical advice on how to approach issues arising after the organizational meeting, but before the final arbitration hearing.

This event has been combined with the 2010 Spring Conference to facilitate attendance by ARIAS members who will be attending that event. With one trip, a member can complete both requirements.

The basic schedule for the seminar is as follows:

12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.   Lunch
1:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.   Welcome and Introduction
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.   Consolidation and Pre-Hearing Security
3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.   Refreshment Break
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.   Summary Judgment and Choice of Law
4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.   Panel Discussion: Requests to Change the Scope and Schedule of the Arbitration and Hearing Preparation

Topics covered during the panel discussion will include:

• Hearing preparation, including management of hearing exhibits and expert witnesses
• How to handle stays and continuances
• Dealing with changes in the scope of the hearing
• Scheduling issues relating to summary judgment

Confirmed faculty to-date for these sessions consists of the following members.

The Spring Seminar Co-Chairs are Reka Koerner, Swiss Reinsurance America Corporation and Bill O'Neill, Crowell & Moring, LLP.

The faculty panelists are Clive A. R. Becker-Jones, Gleneagle Management Inc., Jack B. Gordon, Baach, Robinson & Lewis, PLLC, Steven C. Schwartz, Locke, Lord, Bissell & Liddell, LLP, Raymond L. Prosser, Transamerica Reinsurance, and Elizabeth M. Thompson, ARIAS·U.S. Certified Arbitrator and Umpire.

Registration

Registration requests will be accepted only through the website, using a credit card, beginning at 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, March 18, 2010 and ending one week later at 11:00 a.m. on March 25.

Although you will receive an immediate acknowledgement of your registration request, final confirmations will only be sent after membership status has been verified. This event is for ARIAS members only. Non-member requests will be removed, the requester will be notified, and will not be charged.

The fee of $361 includes lunch, the refreshment break, and the facility and equipment for the afternoon of training. The 3% credit card processing fee is also included in that cost.

If you are not able to come here to register during this period, please ask someone to register for you, using your name, address, and credit card. The security code (3 or 4 digits located on the card) will be required.

Hotel Reservations

If you already have a hotel room for the conference, you may not need a reservation. However, if you plan to stay overnight Friday and wish to make a reservation, the conference group rates will be available.

Room reservations for The Del may be made now online through the "Welcome ARIAS·U.S." page of the hotel's online reservation system by clicking here. Dark boxes show dates of ARIAS-blocked rooms, however two days before and three days after may be reserved at group rates, if available.

Guest rooms are available at the following special ARIAS·U.S. group rates.

• $270 Victorian Queen
• $307 Resort King
• $307 Resort Queen Queen
• $349 Run of Ocean View

A resort charge of $22 per day is additional, providing Internet access, newspaper, in-room coffee and tea, fitness center access and classes, and local, 800 and credit card phone calls, etc. If you prefer to make reservations by telephone, the number is 1-800-468-3533. Be sure to mention ARIAS to receive the group rate.

Please note: To receive the group rates, hotel reservations must be made no later than April 10, 2010. All accommodations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Local taxes are not included. Complete information about the Hotel del Coronado is at www.hoteldel.com. To hold your reservation, a one-night deposit is required. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m., so if you are arriving on the 7th for the noon start, you will have to store bags upon arrival, unless your room is ready early.

If you have questions, contact Bill Yankus at director@arias-us.org, or call 914-966-3180, ext. 116.

Antitrust Statement: This training will be conducted in accordance with the ARIAS·U.S. Policy Statement and Guidelines Concerning Antitrust Compliance, which is available in the About ARIAS section of the website.

NYS CLE Credit: ARIAS·U.S. is an accredited provider of New York State Continuing Legal Education training. Four hours of Continuing Legal Education credits are available to those who attend this workshop. The credits are for Skills training. This program is structured for both newly-admitted attorneys and experienced attorneys.

Financial Hardship Policy Statement: As required by the NYS Continuing Legal Education Board, if a member of the bar of New York would like to attend an ARIAS·U.S. seminar, but finds that he or she would incur a financial hardship by doing so, an application for waiver of the attendance fee may be made to the Board of Directors of ARIAS·U.S. at PO Box 9001, Mt. Vernon, NY 10552. Such application would be held in strict confidence.