Christopher Smith

Neutral Information
Rates and Fees

Overview

Christopher “Smitty” Smith focuses his mediation practice on complex business disputes, construction law, and catastrophic personal injury. As the former leader of his firm’s Transportation Group, Smitty has extensive experience in logistics, trucking, and maritime law.

Before becoming a full – time mediator, Smitty tried numerous cases across the country and was nominated to the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2012. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and has been named one of Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite as well as a top attorney by Savannah Magazine. Smitty is a graduate of Leadership Georgia, Leadership Southeast Georgia, Leadership Savannah, and the State Bar of Georgia’s Leadership Academy. With 25 years of litigation experience, Smitty has mediated hundreds of cases and has been a registered neutral with the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution since 2012.

Active in the community, Smitty has served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club, the Next Generation Advisory Board of Memorial Hospital, the Business Board of Employability, the Board of Leadership Savannah, as vice president of the Live Oak Public Libraries Foundation, and as president of the Young Lawyers Division of the Savannah Bar Association. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary (B.S. 1995) and the University of Georgia School of Law (J.D. 1999). He also received his teaching certificate from Savannah State University in 2021 and currently volunteers as a teacher at Bethesda Academy.

To learn more about Christopher, read his spotlight.

Rates and Fees

Rates - Christopher Smith

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

Savannah Rates 4hr Min.
2 Party Case: $300 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $275 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $250 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request
Arbitration Hourly Rate: $350

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation /Arbitration Admin Fees
Savannah Mediation Admin Fee - $250 per party
Arbitration Commencement And Administration Fee: $1500 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days of the mediation will be charged a cancellation fee of $1000. However, mediations cancelled, rescheduled or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the Neutral's hourly rate . Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.

ARBITRATION FEE PAYMENT POLICY

Arbitration Commencement and Administrative Fee is $1500.00 per party, per arbitrator. At the commencement of arbitration, each party will be invoiced $1500.00. This fee is refundable minus $500.00 per party until the initial case management order has been issued. All arbitration related invoices are due upon receipt.

ARBITRATION CANCELLATION POLICY

If a single-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 15 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate. However, if the single-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 2 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator’s hourly rate.

If a multi-day Arbitration Hearing scheduled on the merits of the case cancels or reschedules within 28 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 4 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing. However, if the multi-day Arbitration Hearing cancels or reschedules within 7 business days of the hearing, the parties will be charged 8 hours of the Arbitrator's hourly rate for each day reserved for the hearing.

Issuance of the Final Arbitration Order/Award

Arbitration Awards/Orders will not be issued to either party until Miles has received full payment for all fees and expenses associated with the arbitration.