Arbitration was conceived as a faster, more efficient, and less costly alternative to litigation. But in my experience as an attorney, this is true only for small disputes. When used to resolve claims involving large sums and complicated proof, arbitration is a nightmare. Here are some of the reasons. Arbitration doesn't always save time and money. Scheduling a hearing for a complex case can be difficult. If the matter isn't settled during the initial hearings, it becomes almost impossible for the three arbitrators, the parties, and their witnesses all to find a date to reconvene in the near future. I have seen arbitration proceedings stretch out for years, going beyond 30 hearings. The costs of arbitration add up —
