Anne Ashby

Proceed with Caution – Serious Concerns About Disclosure and Neutrality I participated in an arbitration where Anne Ashby served as the arbitrator, and my experience raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness in the process. At the outset, the arbitrator certified that all conflict...s had been disclosed and that there were no circumstances creating an appearance of partiality. However, during and after the proceedings, information came to light indicating longstanding professional and personal relationships with individuals connected to the dispute that were not fully explained at the beginning. From my perspective, this lack of complete disclosure made it difficult to evaluate neutrality at the time it mattered most—before the arbitration proceeded. Additionally, I felt that evidentiary decisions during the hearing were uneven. Certain testimony and witnesses we believed were important were not permitted, while the opposing side appeared to face fewer limitations. The final outcome closely mirrored the opposing party’s position, which further contributed to my concerns. Arbitration depends heavily on trust in the decision-maker. Based on my experience, I would strongly encourage others to carefully review disclosures and fully understand the arbitration process before proceeding.