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.

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.