One of the most critical phases of an arbitration process is selecting an arbitrator. Sometimes the parties come to the process with a mutually agreeable arbitrator. In most cases, however, the initial phases of an arbitration case are contentious and parties do not agree on much, let alone who will serve as the arbitrator.
Neutral administrative providers such as the American Arbitration Association (AAA), JAMS, and government entities are then called on to generate a limited list of arbitrators and the parties strike and rank until an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators is selected. In 2013, the AAA introduced a new online tool called Arbitrator Search Tool that could change and improve how parties select arbitrators and provide greater flexibility.
