A Field Guide · 2026 Edition

What is arbitration? The quiet way to win.

Two rooms. One dispute. The same evidence on both sides — and very different outcomes. Watch what changes when you walk through the right door.

Federal Court
The slow grind.
24
Months · AAA Federal Avg.
Average federal civil case from filing to disposition. Many drag years longer through motion practice and appeals.
vs.
USAC Arbitration
Decided this season.
90
Days · Typical USAC Close
A focused private hearing, a written award, done. Most consumer matters wrap before a court would hold a status conference.
Time
01 / 04
60,247
Matters Resolved
32
Countries
Contingency
$0
Out of Pocket
§ 00 — Why we exist

For the little guy. For pennies on the dollar.

At US Arbitration Corp we believe that arbitration is one of the strongest pillars of the United States’ legal system — and still, many consumers aren’t aware that this kind of dispute resolution is even available to them.

The legal process for traditional litigation is time-intensive and requires a large investment of money up front. That is overwhelming to some and exclusionary to many. Our goal is to make arbitration accessible, fair, and transparent to ALL parties involved.

US Arbitration Corp gives the little guy the ability to force resolutions to ongoing disputes — something that was traditionally only available to companies or individuals with deep pockets.

Don’t pay thousands of dollars to an attorney to file a suit that you may not win, or that may take years to resolve. Let us handle your matter more quickly, for pennies on the dollar. And the best part: if we are not successful, you pay nothing.

§ 01 — Definition

A real proceeding, stripped of ceremony.

Arbitration is private dispute resolution. Two parties agree to take their disagreement to a neutral arbitrator instead of a judge and jury. The arbitrator hears both sides, reviews the evidence, and issues a binding written decision called an award.

That award is enforceable in all 50 U.S. states under the Federal Arbitration Act of 1925, and across most of the world under the New York Convention. It isn’t mediation — nobody walks away unbound. It isn’t litigation — no crowded docket, no months of motion practice, no years of appeals.

It is the middle path: a real legal proceeding with a real binding outcome — without the cost, delay, or theatre.

§ 02 — Method

How a case actually moves.

Seven steps. No mystery. We handle every one of them on your behalf — the demand, the administrator, the arbitrator, the hearing, the collection.

Step 01

The clause is the door

Almost every consumer or employment contract you’ve signed contains an arbitration clause naming a forum — AAA, JAMS, or FINRA — and that forum’s rules.

Step 02

File the demand

We file a Demand for Arbitration with the chosen administrator, attach the contract, pay the filing fee (often capped or shifted to the company), and serve the other side.

Step 03

Select the arbitrator

The administrator sends a list of qualified arbitrators. We strike names, rank the rest, and the highest mutually acceptable name is appointed. Three-arbitrator panels for $100K+ claims.

Step 04

Preliminary hearing

A short call sets the schedule, the discovery scope, and whether the hearing is in-person, virtual, or papers-only.

Step 05

Exchange evidence

Documents and evidence are exchanged. Discovery is narrower than court — which is why arbitration is so much faster.

Step 06

The hearing

Both sides present evidence and arguments. Witnesses testify under oath. Smaller consumer claims may be decided on written submissions alone.

Step 07 · The Award

The arbitrator issues a final, binding written decision — typically within 30 to 60 days.

AAA reports an 11.6-month average case length, versus 24.2 months in U.S. District Court. Many USAC consumer matters close in 90 days or less.

§ 03 — Cost

What it costs — court vs. us.

Drag the slider to the size of your dispute. Hourly billing in court adds up fast. Our model is contingency: we get paid when you do.

Estimate the gap.

Federal Court (est.)
$21,250
USAC Arbitration
often $0 upfront
Court estimate assumes ~85% of the dispute amount in legal fees, with a $15,000 floor (industry midpoint). USAC fee: Contingency Starting at 21% — Often $0 Upfront.
§ 04 — Side by side

The same dispute, two outcomes.

Federal Court

  • 24-month average — often years
  • Public docket, searchable forever
  • Hourly attorney fees, retainers
  • Generalist judge, 400-case docket
  • Appeals can extend for years
  • Months of depositions and motions

USAC Arbitration

  • 11.6-month average · 90 days typical
  • Sealed and confidential by default
  • Contingency · $0 out of pocket
  • Domain-expert arbitrator
  • Final and binding award
  • Narrow, focused evidence exchange
§ 05 — Kinds of cases

What we take.

Consumer
Goods, services, billing, debt

Disputes between an individual and a company over warranties, billing errors, debt collection, and unfair practices.

Employment
Wages, discrimination, severance

Wage claims, discrimination, wrongful termination, and severance disputes.

Commercial
B2B contract & vendor

Business-to-business contract, partnership, vendor, and licensing disputes.

Construction
Owner / contractor / subcontractor

Industry-specific claims under standard AAA construction rules.

International
Cross-border commercial

Disputes governed by the New York Convention — often seated at the ICC, LCIA, or the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. We work in 32 countries.

§ 06 — Who we are

A specialist firm. Not a portal.

We are not a referral mill. We are not a software portal. We are a regulated dispute-resolution firm with a 14-year track record, an 80-person professional staff, and a partner-attorney network spanning 32 countries.

Our model is simple: free case review — Contingency Starting at 21% — Often $0 Upfront. We file the demand. We manage the administrator. We select the arbitrator. We present your case. We collect the award.

Our Lead Arbitrator, Brad Haskins, has personally handled more than 400 domestic and international cases — University of Michigan Law, Weil Gotshal alumnus.

§ 07 — Questions

Eight questions we get most.

Is the arbitrator’s decision really binding?
Yes. Under the Federal Arbitration Act, an award is enforceable in any U.S. court, with very narrow grounds for appeal — generally limited to fraud, arbitrator misconduct, or the arbitrator exceeding their powers.
How long does arbitration take?
AAA reports an 11.6-month average. We close many consumer arbitrations in 90 days or less.
What does it actually cost me?
With US Arbitration Corp, normally nothing out of pocket. We work on contingency — roughly 9–16% of savings or about 15–21% of an award if we prevail. No win, no fee.
Do I have to appear in person?
Usually no. Most consumer arbitrations are handled by written submissions or short virtual hearings. Total time commitment for the client is often under one hour.
Can I still go to court if I lose?
Generally no — arbitration is final. That’s a feature, not a bug: it stops the other side from dragging things out on appeal.
Is arbitration confidential?
Yes by default. You can choose to share the result publicly if you want.
What’s the difference between arbitration and mediation?
A mediator helps you negotiate a voluntary agreement. An arbitrator decides the case and issues a binding award.
Can I withdraw if I change my mind?
Yes. You can withdraw at any time with 48 hours’ notice.
Step One

Have a case in mind? Tell us about it.

Free case review. 24-hour response. No win, no fee. We’ll tell you in plain English whether arbitration is the right path — or whether it isn’t.

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