Understanding and Mastering the Arbitration Process from Start to Finish

A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of the July 2025 webcast, Understanding and Mastering the Arbitration Process from Start to Finish.

Arbitral forums are reporting rising caseloads of consumer, commercial (business to business), and employment disputes. Attorneys must be knowledgeable about arbitration and develop practices to protect and better advocate for clients.

This seminar is designed for both new and experienced attorneys and provides attorney-advocates with a detailed understanding of the arbitration process. The program is co-presented by an experienced arbitrator-neutral and an attorney-advocate, both of whom have extensive experience in consumer and commercial disputes in multiple arbitral forums. Join us as they explain the ins and outs of navigating arbitration from inception to post-award.

• The decision to arbitrate
• The arbitration agreement
• Selection of the arbitrator or panel
• Commencing the arbitration
• Applicable rules and laws
• Expedited arbitration/document submission procedures
• What happens at a preliminary hearing
• Exchange of information/discovery
• Pre-arbitration submissions
• The evidentiary hearing and proof
• Final submissions
• Different types of arbitral awards
• Post-award actions to confirm or challenge the award
• Any appeal rights

Michael E. Lacy, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP / Richmond, VA

Michael E. Lacy is a first-chair trial attorney who handles complex business disputes, consumer class actions, and high-exposure cases. He focuses his practice on consumer financial services, corporate, and real estate litigation. Mr. Lacy has handled trial, appeals, and arbitrations throughout the U.S. 

Mary C. Zinsner, Troutman Pepper Locke LLP / Washington, DC

Mary C. Zinsner is a skilled financial services litigator who represents banks in litigation and arbitration matters nationwide, including lender liability, bank operation, consumer finance class action, fiduciary, and creditor’s rights disputes. She regularly represents clients in defense of litigation involving allegations of identity theft, cybersecurity, privacy, and data breach issues. Ms. Zinsner serves as a neutral on the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Arbitrators in consumer, commercial, and large complex case panels. She practices extensively in the federal and state courts in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia and has handled many appellate matters before the Supreme Court of Virginia, DC, and Maryland appellate courts, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Having clerked for the Honorable Claude M. Hilton, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, she is very familiar with local federal court practices and frequently lectures on litigation practices in the “Rocket Docket.” She is a former member of both the Board of Directors of the Virginia Law Foundation and the Board of Governors of the Virginia Bar Association.