COVID-19 related restrictions on travel and personal interactions have caused a surge of interest in the form of Alternative Dispute Resolution generally referred to as ODR, or online dispute resolution. As the pandemic has brought about expanded uses of online technology in areas such as medicine and distance learning , so too has ODR received unprecedented interest and attention.

ODR in its broadest definition refers to the coupling of technology with ADR. It has been a growing force in the ADR movement for several decades—a fast-coming phenomenon of the future. In 2000, the cover of the ABA’s Dispute Resolution Magazine was emblazoned with the words “Internet Blazes New Path For Dispute Resolution” and contained a very thoughtful article by Ethan Katsh titled “ The New Frontier: Online ADR becoming a global priority”