Richard F. Ziegler

Richard F. Ziegler is an experienced arbitrator in international and domestic matters and an accredited mediator, including for international matters. As a former general counsel of a major multi-national company (3M Company, 2003-2007) and a former outside litigation counsel (Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, 1984-2002, and Jenner & Block, 2007-2019) with extensive experience over four decades in financial, technology-intensive and regulatory matters, Mr. Ziegler is well  equipped to manage and fairly arbitrate or mediate complex disputes.

In recent years Mr. Ziegler has served as arbitrator in more than 50 proceedings. His assignments have been roughly evenly divided between international and domestic matters. He has served as chair, sole arbitrator and co-arbitrator in cases administered by the ICC, ICDR, HKIAC, CPR and AAA and in ad hoc panels.

Mr. Ziegler’s proficiency and comfort with the use of technology in dispute resolution proceedings is illustrated by his work as Chair of the Task Force on Remote Video Arbitration Proceedings convened by the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (“CPR”) in April, 2020 to respond to the increased need for remote proceedings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. CPR published the Task Force’s “Annotated Model procedural Order for Remote Video Arbitration Proceedings” on April 21, 2020 and updated it on August 26, 2021. During the pandemic Mr. Ziegler has participated in weeks of merits hearings conducted remotely in more than ten domestic and international cases, with participants in one such hearing logging-in from China, Australia, Hong Kong and Austria.

Mr. Ziegler is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the College of Commercial Arbitrators. He is a member of the panels of arbitrators maintained by the International Centre for Dispute Resolution ("ICDR"), the American Arbitration Association (Large Complex Case Panel and Aerospace, Aviation and National Security Panel) and CPR (General Counsel Panel; Technology (patent) Panel; Financial Services Panel; Cross-Border Panel).

Mr. Ziegler is ranked in Chambers Global (Band 1) and Chambers USA (Band 2) for international arbitrators based in the United States.

The commercial disputes Mr. Ziegler has handled span numerous industries, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotech, oil & gas, chemicals, manufacturing, software, professional services and alcoholic beverages. The amounts at issue have ranged from the low millions to more than $1.5 billion. The controversies have arisen from supply contracts, joint venture agreements, merger & acquisition agreements, collaboration agreements, manufacturing agreements, financial instruments, investment management contracts, research & development and marketing agreements, distributorship agreements, recruiting and employment agreements, intellectual property licenses and restrictive covenants. In addition to breach of contract, he has adjudicated claims for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, fraud, unfair competition, IP infringement, tortious interference with contract, other business torts and assorted statutory violations.

Mr. Ziegler is committed to helping achieve arbitration’s potential for prompt, cost-efficient and fair dispute resolution. In two recent matters in which the parties jointly sought expedited proceedings, he succeeded in conducting evidentiary hearings and issuing final, reasoned awards within 90 days of his appointment.

Mr. Ziegler also acts as mediator in complex business disputes. He is certified as a mediator in international matters by London’s Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution. His recent experience as mediator includes successful outcomes in mediating a fee dispute between lawyer and client; a “business divorce” between co-owners of an investment firm; a claim for misappropriation of trade secrets in the context of a terminating joint venture; a dispute between a law firm and a former partner and the unwinding of a joint manufacturing venture between businesses located in Asia and the United States.

• Harvard Law School , J.D., 1975, magna cum laude, Member, Board of Editors, Harvard Law Review
• Yale University , B.A., 1971, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

• Chair, Education Committee, New York Branch
• Co-Director, “Accelerated Route to Fellowship Program” (“ARF”), New York Branch, 2018-19; Tutor, ARF, 2017-2018
• Co-Director, “Comprehensive Course in International Arbitration,” sponsored jointly by CIArb and Columbia Law School, 2019 - present

Member, Board of Directors, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (“CPR”), 2016 – present

• Chair, CPR Task Force on Remote Video Arbitration Proceedings, 2020
• Member, CPR Arbitration Committee
• Previously, member of CPR Executive Advisory Committee

Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators

Member of roster of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association (Large Complex Case Panel; Aerospace, Aviation and National Security Panel)

Member of roster of arbitrators of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution

Member of CPR’s panels of Distinguished Neutrals (General Counsel, Financial Services,Technology, and Cross-Border Panels)

Member, International Arbitration Club of New York

Member, New York International Arbitration Center

Member, USCIB/ICC USA Task Force on Disability Inclusion in International Arbitration

Member, Arbitration Committee, United States Council on International Business

Chair, Task Force on BQE Project, Brooklyn Heights Association, 2018-19

Emeritus member, Association of General Counsel Member, Executive Committee, 2006

Member, Board of Trustees, William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline College of Law), St. Paul, MN, 2005-08

•  Chair, Audit & Finance Committee, 2006-07

Lecturer-in-Law, Columbia Law School, 1997-2000 (taught seminar “Ethics and Complex
Litigation”)

Chair, Committee on Professional Ethics, New York State Bar Association, 1995-98

Member, Board of Directors, Legal Aid Society (New York), 1993-95

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