The year 2020 saw an increase in the use of virtual arbitrations. To the surprise of many, participants have been satisfied with the procedural ease of these hearings. Now that in-person arbitration hearings are again an option, many attorneys and their clients want to combine some of the conveniences of virtual arbitrations with the familiar advantages of in-person arbitrations. These blended hearings are now commonly known as hybrid arbitrations. (In the past, the term “hybrid arbitration” referred to a hearing that combined a mediation with an arbitration.)

It’s easy to incorporate remote video appearances into in-person arbitrations. A single witness or many witnesses can participate remotely. Doing so can save participants time and money. However, this arrangement may introduce some procedural pitfalls, which I will address in this article.

Consider Which Rules Apply