Inside ADR: A Practical Playbook for In-House Counsel on Arbitration & Mediation

When a business dispute hits, in-house teams are expected to control cost, protect confidentiality, and keep momentum—often while preserving a relationship that still matters. That’s why more companies are leaning on arbitration and mediation as a strategic tool, not a last resort. But ADR only delivers on speed and efficiency when it’s structured thoughtfully and managed with clear business outcomes in mind.

Join us on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 5:30 PM CT in Chicago (In Person Only) as Randall Lehner (Independent Arbitrator), Kyle R. Olson (Senior Counsel, Boeing), and Michael Booden (Senior Technology Counsel, HUB International) share an inside look at how organizations are using ADR to resolve disputes faster and more predictably. This CLE panel will focus on practical, in-the-trenches guidance—how to choose the right process and neutral, prepare efficiently, and run proceedings in a way that supports business priorities.

Key Takeaways:

• How to decide arbitration vs. mediation vs. litigation based on risk, leverage, confidentiality, and business goals
• What actually drives (or destroys) time and cost savings in ADR—from discovery scope to scheduling to motion practice
• A practical framework for selecting arbitrators/mediators, including what to screen for and questions to ask
• How to prepare your business teams and outside counsel to present a tight, persuasive case without over-lawyering
• Tactics to manage ADR efficiently: process design, pre-hearing planning, and hearing strategy
• How to use ADR to protect key relationships and reach outcomes the business can live with

Who Should Attend: This session is designed for in-house legal professionals who manage disputes, oversee outside counsel, negotiate dispute-resolution clauses, or advise business stakeholders on escalation strategy and risk. It will be especially relevant for counsel supporting complex commercial relationships, technology and services agreements, or matters where confidentiality, speed, and cost predictability are critical to business continuity.