Why choose arbitration over a trial in court?
“With arbitration, the parties are looking for a fully informed, well-respected, objective and competent adjudicator. Someone who brings to the hearing a knowledge of the subject-matter forming the basis of the dispute. Someone who gives both sides the confidence that the outcome will be fair, balanced and correct, based upon the facts. With my combination of years of trial experience, breadth of cases handled, and academic scholarship, I have the tools to achieve that balance”
Richard
IN ARBITRATION, THERE’S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR EXPERIENCE.
An arbitrator is a judge in almost every sense of the word. Since lawsuits can take years and become very costly, many parties are turning to Arbitration. But the complexities involved in a major case are daunting to someone lacking direct subject-matter expertise and significant trial experience.
Richard Shekter evolved into his role as Arbitrator after a career spent litigating more than 2000 cases in almost all major practice areas. His experience as a general litigator, across a broad spectrum of cases, saw him fighting on both sides – for both plaintiffs and defendants, for the prosecution and defence.
That’s given Richard a unique insight and practical perspective into not only the rules of evidence, trial procedure, and how to conduct a trial, but also an unusual degree of ‘subject-matter’ expertise - a knowledge of the ‘science’ of almost any kind of case. He combines that with an encyclopedic knowledge of the law – steeped as he is in legal scholarship.
This is the precisely the kind of background that litigants look for when selecting an arbitrator – someone whom the parties respect, and in whom they have confidence that any decision reached will be informed, reasonable, objective and fair.
To find the fairest resolution, you need an Arbitrator with impeccable credentials and a rigorous approach to the law.
Richard was known as one of Canada’s most formidable trial lawyers. That knowledge and experience informs his work as an Arbitrator.
You also need someone who can synthesize the technical data, understand the legal issues involved, and who has the ability to write clearly and effectively. That’s Richard’s background. That’s what he’s always done. And that’s the difference Richard Shekter brings to his role as Arbitrator.
“Over the course of a storied career as a superlative trial lawyer, what set Richard apart was not only his legal scholarship and his courtroom prowess, but also his extraordinary preparation and dedication to excellence. He brings those attributes to his mediation and arbitration practice. Richard has that unique ability to draw intransigent parties together to work out their differences – all in a collegial and personable way. I would not hesitate to recommend Richard. He’s simply that good.”
E. Eva Frank, former Justice of the Superior Court of Ontario