Steven Skulnik

Mr. Skulnik's law practice focused on litigation and arbitration matters.  He previously was counsel at Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP and a partner at Pavia & Harcourt LLP (now Bartko Pavia LLP). Mr. Skulnik is a Senior Specialist Legal Editor at Practical Law (Thomson Reuters).

Has served in all tribunal roles: sole arbitrator, tribunal chair, and co-arbitrator, in more than 100 matters through award. Experienced in managing complex proceedings efficiently through preliminary conferences, procedural orders, bifurcation, information exchange, timely, well-reasoned awards, and where appropriate, early disposition.

Experienced in financial services, banking, securities, hedge fund, private equity, real estate, hospitality, technology, software, data licensing, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency/digital assets/fintech, franchise, licensing, distribution, trademark, fashion/luxury goods, healthcare, life sciences, energy, mining, and cross-border contract disputes.

Representative Matters

As an arbitrator:

Financial Services / Banking / Securities / Investment Disputes

• Failure to close acquisition of bank holding company.
• Investment bank/customer dispute involving Rule 144A emerging markets high-yield debt offering.
• Hedge fund disputes involving partner removal, CIO clawback obligations, and investor claims.
• Venture capital firm and crypto intermediary dispute involving default interest.
• Commodity accumulator contract dispute.
• Bank/customer dispute involving loan agreements for power plant development.
• Investment banker claim involving vested stock compensation.

Technology / Software 

• Technology consulting firm and alternative asset manager dispute over scope of work.
• Software developer and marketing enterprise dispute concerning data collection technology license.
• Educational testing service and software developer dispute involving web-based testing application and minimum guaranteed fees.
• Patent license dispute involving DVR technology.

International

• Mining concession dispute in Central America.
• Commercial real estate sale dispute in Central Europe.
• Israeli/U.S. renewable energy co-venture dispute.
• Australian fashion house/U.S. distributor dispute.
• German Commercial Code indemnity claim.
• South Caucasus mining representative dispute.

Licensing / Distribution / Franchise / Trademark

• Hotel owner and European franchisor dispute involving license and management agreements and the Minnesota Franchise Act.
• Luxury food manufacturer and multi-unit franchisee dispute under the Michigan Franchise Investment Law.
• Trademark owners in different regions dispute over termination of license agreement.
• Determination of fair market value of distribution rights under New York Alcohol Beverage Control Law.

Real Estate / Hospitality / Construction / Design

• Commercial real estate sale dispute in Central Europe.
• Property owner/designer dispute over amounts due.
• Hotel management agreement dispute involving alleged interference with sale of property.

Healthcare / Life Sciences / Pharma

• Hatch-Waxman ANDA-related arbitration.
• Medical practice and health insurance carrier dispute involving Medicare Advantage provider termination.
• Payor-provider dispute involving Medicare Part 340B.
• Biotech company and contract research organization dispute concerning Phase IIa study implementation.
• Hospital asset purchase indemnity claim.

Energy / Mining / Infrastructure

• Renewable energy biogas co-venture dispute involving drag-along rights.
• Loss of mining concession in Central America.
• Power plant development loan dispute.

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Co-editor, College of Commercial Arbitrators Guide to Best Practices in Commercial Arbitration (5th Ed., 2025)

Author, chapters on Shearson/Am. Exp. v. McMahon and Granite Rock Co. v. Int’l Bhd. of Teamsters in U.S. Supreme Court Precedents on Arbitration (Brill, 2025)

Co-author, Application of Mandatory Law in U.S. Arbitration, 78-OCT Disp. Resol. J. 225 (2024)

Author, Introductory Note to GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS, Corp. v. Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC (U.S. Sup. Ct.), 59 I.L.M. 911 (2020).

Author, Arbitrating During a Pandemic, Practical Law The Journal - Litigation (Fall 2020).

Author, Considering Video Conference Arbitration Hearings in the US: Ensuring Due Process, Dispute Resolution Lawyer (A publication of the Dispute Resolution Section of the New York State Bar Association) (Summer 2020).

Author, Separability of Arbitration Agreements in US Arbitration, Practical Law The Journal - Litigation (June/July 2019).

Co-author of Arbitration Ethics chapter in Arbitrating Commercial Disputes in the United States (PLI I ,1st and 2nd Eds.).

Co-author, Do Arbitrators Know the Law (and Should They Find it Themselves)?, Dispute Resolution Journal, Vol 73 No 1 (2018).

Author, Interim, Provisional and Conservatory Measures in U.S. Arbitration, Inside (A publication of the Corporate Counsel Section of the New York State Bar Association), Winter 2015.

Moderator, Charting the course: a deep dive into Procedural Order No. 1, New York Arbitration Week, Nov 2025

Presenter,  Case Update: How Would You Decide? CCA Annual Meeting Oct 2025

Panelist, From Policy to Literally: The Supreme Court and the FAA, CCA Summit II, June 2025

Panelist,  Interim Orders and Awards, AAA/NYLS, April 2025

Panelist, Preliminary Conference – Lecture & Simulation, Columbia Law School - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Comprehensive Course on International Arbitration, Sept 2024

Panelist, Arbitral and Institutional Immunity,  AAA/NYLS, April 2024

Panelist, Interim Measures in Institutional and Ad Hoc Arbitration, Stanford University Law School's International Arbitration Association, March 2024

Co-moderator, What’s New? 2023 Annual Arbitration Update, CCA Annual Meeting, October 2023

Panelist, Cutting Edge Issues in Arbitration, AAA/NYLS, April 2023

Panelist, Arbitration Law Developments, ABA Arbitration Training Institute, March 2023

Panelist, Cutting Edge Ethical Issues in Dispute Resolution, NYSBA DR Section Ethics Committee, March 2023

Panelist, Tough Calls and Recurrent Issues in Arbitration: Solutions from Experts, NYSBA, Dec 2022.

Panelist, Cutting Edge Issues in Arbitration: Award Writing, AAA/NYLS, April 2022.

Panelist, What Judges and Arbitrators are Looking for in your Real Estate Case, NYSBA Dispute Resolution Section Annual Meeting, Jan 2022.

Panelist, Best Practices: Roundtable On Different Approaches To Arbitration, New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), Sept 2021.

Panelist at the 2019, 2020, and 2021 NYSBA Annual Commercial Arbitrator Training Seminars, addressing Arbitration Law.

Panelist, Cutting Edge Issues in Arbitration: Civility Among Members of a Tribunal, AAA/NYLS, April 2021.

Panelist Hot Topics in Dispute Resolution from the NYSBA Resolution Roundtable Blog, Feb 2021.

Panelist, Successfully Deploying Arbitration after Litigation, NYSBA, Sept 2020.

Panelist, Recent Developments in International Arbitration, International Arbitration 2020, PLI, June 2020.

Moderator, Transparency in Commercial Arbitration, CPR Annual Meeting, Feb 2020.

Co-presenter, Ethics in Arbitration, PLI Webinar, Feb 2020.

Panelist at the June 2019 New York State Bar Association Annual Commercial Arbitrator Training Seminar, addressing Arbitration Law.

Moderator and Presenter, Are You Ready for the Case to Begin? Critical Issues Arising at the Start of an Arbitration, Webinar presented by Thomson Reuters with Skadden Arps, May 2019.

Moderator, NYIAC Talks: Assessing Judicial Support of International Commercial Arbitration, Oct 2018.

Moderator, A View from the Trenches: When Dispute Resolution Clauses Blow Up, Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Annual Meeting, October 2018.

Presenter,  Independent Legal Research by an Arbitrator, AAA, Apr 2018.

Moderator, Ethics Issues in Mediation, Practical Law with CPR and Jenner & Block, Feb 2018.

Moderator, Arbitration at Work: The Supreme Court's Visit to the Office, New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), Dec 2017.

Presenter, Death by E-Discovery: Is It Eroding the Efficiency of Arbitration?, AAA, March 2017; Moderator, Electronic Discovery—The Current State of Play as to the Scope of Electronic Discovery in the Courts and in Arbitration: What the Rules Say and What is Actually Happening, Joint Program of Commercial and Federal Litigation and Dispute Resolution Sections of the NYSBA, March 2017.

Panelist, The Importance of Culture in Conflict Resolution: Scenarios in International and Domestic Arbitration and Mediation, Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Meeting, Sept 2016.

Panelist, Effective Use of Experts in Mediation and Arbitration, ACR-GNY - Annual Conference, June 2011.

ADR training:  ACE 22 - Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators, 2022; ACE21 Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are? 2021; ICDR International Symposia in Advanced Case Management Issues, 2019; ACE 20 - Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility, 2019; AAA/ICDR/AAA Mediation.org Panel Conference, 2019; AAA-ICDR/ICC/ICSID 35th Annual Joint Colloquium on International Arbitration, 2018; Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor ~ Meeting Participant Expectations, 2018; AAA-ICDR/ICC/ICSID 34th Annual Joint Colloquium on International Arbitration, 2017; AAA Developments in Arbitration Law: Practice Focused Cases, 2017; AAA-ICDR Council and Columbia Law School Conference: The Future of Arbitration, 2017; Motion Practice Under AAA Rules – What You Need to Know, 2017; Out of Sight, Out of Mind:  What You Need to Know about Preventing and Arbitrating Business-to-Business (“B2B”) Data Breaches, 2017; AAA Exploring Critical Issues in Arbitration, 2016; AAA/ICDR Neutrals Conference, 2016; CPR Annual Meeting, The Dispute Resolution Divide: Harmonizing Global Approaches, 2016; AAA, Get a Grip! Wrangling the Mediation Process to Improve Your Chances of Success in Multi-Party Disputes 2015; AAA, Society, Commerce and Dispute Resolution:Goals for Justice and Trade 2015; AAA Webinar, Show Me the Money: The Effective Presentation of Damages in Arbitration Versus Litigation, 2015; AAA/ICDR Webinar, ICDR Awards and Commentaries: Just How Different Is International Arbitration Than Domestic Arbitration?, 2015; AAA/ICDR Seminar, What Makes  International Arbitration Different?, 2014; AAA Webinar, Making the Most of Mediation, 2014; Arbitral 999/911: Emergency Relief for Problems That Will Not Wait, 2013; AAA Webinar, Managing the Costs of Exchanging ESI, 2013; AAA Webinar, What's a Respondent Like You Doing in a Place Like This? Confronting Arbitrability and Jurisdiction Issues in Arbitration, 2013; AAA Advanced Mediator Training Series: The Extent (or Limit) of Mediator Influence to Effect Settlement, 2012; AAA Webinar, How to Become a More Innovative Neutral or Advocate: Applying Cutting Edge Innovation Management Techniques to Your ADR Practice, 2012; AAA Maximizing Efficiency & Economy in Arbitration: Challenges at the Preliminary Hearing, 2011; AAA Webinar, Arbitrator Boundaries: What are the Limits of Arbitrator Authority?, 2011; AAA Webinar, How International Arbitration Techniques Can Benefit Domestic Arbitration, 2010; AAA Webinar, Electronic Discovery in Arbitration: What You Need to Know, 2010; CPR Annual Meeting, Global ADR: The New Reality, 2010; Practicing Law Institute, Choosing the Place of Arbitration: Geneva, London, New York, Paris, Zurich & Mock Session: Section 1782 and International Arbitration, 2009; AAA Ask & Answer: Arbitration, 2008; Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution's 10th Annual Symposium: Whither Arbitration, 2008; AAA Pro Se: Managing Cases Involving Self-Represented Parties (ACE002), 2007; AAA Dealing With Delay Tactics in Arbitration (ACE004), 2006; ICDR, The Common Law-Civil Law Gap: The Issues and How International Arbitrators May Resolve Them, 2006; AAA Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics (ACE005), 2005; New York Commercial Division Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, Mediation Workshop, 2005; AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure (ACE003), 2004; AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards (ACE001), 2003; AAA Arbitrator Update, 2002; AAA Commercial Arbitrator II Training: Advanced Case Management Issues, 2001; AAA Commercial Arbitrator Training, 2000.

Arbitrator Disclosure

Interested parties should not rely on this website as a complete or updated source of disclosure information about Steven Skulnik. He has no access to the database of his prior law firms. In addition, he is a member of numerous organizations and attends many conferences and events; he does not maintain records of fellow members, speakers or participants. Tangential connections in such contexts should not be considered to be relationships that might affect impartiality or independence in the eyes of a reasonable third party (Canon II, Code of Ethics for Arbitrators in Commercial Disputes, American Bar Association (2004); General Standard 2, International Bar Association Guidelines for Conflicts of Interest in Commercial Arbitration (2014)).

Mr. Skulnik requests any party in an arbitration for which he is proposed as arbitrator to disclose promptly any facts or circumstances considered relevant to his impartiality or independence as soon as that information is reasonably available and, for that purpose, to undertake a reasonable continuing search of publicly available information promptly after learning of his prospective appointment as arbitrator.

• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (JD-1983)
• Brandeis University (BA, Economics-1980)
• Bronx High School of Science (Diploma 1976)

New York City Bar Association (International Commercial Disputes Committee and Arbitration Committee (Chair, 2018-21)). New York State Bar Association (Dispute Resolution Section, Arbitration Committee Co-chair 2016-18). Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA). Member of Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center, International Arbitration Club of New York, and New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC).

Selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers®  2012-2026.

Panels

International, Commercial, and Large Complex Case Panels of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association / International Centre for Dispute Resolution

Panel of Arbitrators of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR)

Panel of Arbitrators of Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)

Panel of Arbitrators of Federal Arbitration (FedArb)

Panel of Mediators of the American Arbitration Association (mediation.org)

For more information, see https://www.skulnikarbitration.com/.

$850 per hour for: • Arbitration hearing • Study time.  $1200 per hour for: • Mediation session. • Study time.

No charge for travel time. Request reimbursement for out of town travel expenses. No travel expenses charged for New York and Denver metro areas.