JAMS announces China partnership as new international arbitration law looms

With a new state law taking effect in January to allow international arbitration, JAMS announced Wednesday that it's partnering with the Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration to tackle technology, media, entertainment and sports disputes between American and Chinese companies.

A new panel of neutrals from the U.S. and China as well as Europe will focus on Sino-American disputes in what JAMS President and CEO Chris Poole called "the perfect solution for dispute resolution between the two leading economies."

"With its internationally focused mindset and formidable market reputation, SCIA is a great partner for this new, innovative market offering," Poole said in a news release. "We look forward to working together, and their expertise will no doubt further enhance the service we can offer clients."

The partnership comes as California prepares for foreign and out-of-state attorneys to represent clients in international arbitration cases in California. SB 766 takes effect in January, and JAMS cited the new law when it previously announced plans to open international arbitration centers in New York and Los Angeles.

The new law is based on recommendations from the state Supreme Court's International Commercial Arbitration Working Group, which was to develop a response to a 20-year-old high court ruling that said a New York law firm couldn't enforce a $1 million fee from an international arbitration in California because, under state law, the firm was practicing illegally. Birbrower, Montalbano, Condon & Frank PC v. Superior Court, 17 Cal. 4th 119 (1998).

Liu Xiaochun, president of the Chinese arbitration group, said the new panel "provides mutual trust to both Chinese and American parties and builds a fair, stable, transparent and predictable business environment."

JAMS neutrals David Huebner, Barbara A. Reeves, Rebecca Westerfield, Jeffrey Benz, Richard Chernick, and Robert Davidson will be on the Sino-U.S. Joint Panel of Arbitrators, a JAMS spokesperson said.