Common Procedural and Evidentiary Issues During the Preliminary Hearing

This session, led by CalArb mentors Dana Welch, Katie Connolly, and Tuyana Molokhoeva, focuses on procedural and evidentiary issues during preliminary hearings in arbitration. The panelists provide practical guidance on topics such as establishing a clear procedural roadmap, ensuring neutrality and fairness, and preparing effectively for hearings. They emphasize the importance of collaboration between counsel to minimize adversarial conflicts, maintaining civility, and aligning strategies with the client’s best interests. The discussion also covers the arbitrator's role in setting a tone of authority and neutrality, managing procedural disputes efficiently, and tailoring the arbitration process to suit the needs of the case. Engaging Q&A exchanges provide deeper insights into maintaining procedural integrity and adapting advocacy styles to diverse arbitration contexts. The session concludes with a reminder of the next event, which focuses on expectations during evidentiary hearings.