Anne Ashby

Warning: Neutrality Matters — Proceed with Caution I participated in an arbitration where Anne Ashby served as the arbitrator. Based on my experience, I strongly urge others to take neutrality and disclosures seriously before agreeing to arbitration. At the beginning of the process, it was repr...esented that all conflicts had been disclosed and that there were no circumstances creating an appearance of partiality. However, as the arbitration progressed, I became aware of professional and personal relationships connected to the matter that were not clearly explained upfront. From my perspective, this raised concerns about whether neutrality could be fully evaluated at the time it mattered most. I also experienced what felt like uneven handling of evidence. Certain witnesses and testimony we believed were important were not permitted, while the opposing side appeared to face fewer limitations. The final decision closely aligned with the opposing party’s position, which added to my concerns about fairness. Arbitration depends on trust in a neutral decision-maker. When neutrality is in question, the consequences can affect both sides—leading to higher costs, longer timelines, and disputes that become more drawn out than expected. My recommendation: review all disclosures carefully, ask direct questions about potential conflicts, and make sure you are comfortable with the process before moving forward. In arbitration, neutrality is everything.