Mass Arbitrations at the NetDiligence CyberRisk Summit: Challenges, Opportunities, and What Comes Next

At the recent NetDiligence CyberRisk Summit in San Diego, Elizabeth Carter, Senior Vice President of Operations at JAMS, joined a panel of legal and insurance experts for a timely and nuanced discussion titled "The Rise of Collective Claims via Mass Arbitrations: Powerful Tool or Contentious Development?" This forward-looking session explored the mechanics, motivations, and challenges behind the mass arbitration trend that is reshaping the litigation and dispute resolution landscape.

Carter brought to the discussion her deep operational insight from JAMS, one of the nation’s largest private providers of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services. Reflecting on the rapid evolution of mass arbitrations, she highlighted the duality of this procedural development: “You can have efficiencies, you can have organization. But there’s also some unpredictability.” Her remarks addressed the balancing act institutions face between procedural coordination and managing high volumes of similar claims.

Carter emphasized the need for fairness and adaptability as arbitration providers respond to the shifting landscape:

“This is evolving, and it’s evolving as we speak. And we want to support all parties and all counsel in a way that’s fair and makes sense.”

She also stressed the importance of clarity and openness in high-volume processes: “We’ve got to be transparent about roles, what we’re doing, and how we’re moving things forward.”

As the session concluded, Carter reinforced that the procedures and expectations around mass arbitrations are still taking shape and will benefit from broad-based dialogue. “There is no playbook yet, but we’re building one together.”

The discussion captured both the promise and complexity of mass arbitration as a dispute resolution tool in the digital age. It was clear from Carter’s participation that JAMS is engaged in navigating these shifts and helping to shape constructive conversations about the future.

Watch the full panel discussion below to learn more about the impact and future of collective claims in arbitration.