Leah Albert
Ms. Albert possesses over thirty-four years of experience as a highly skilled arbitrator with deep experience in large and complex cases.
Ms. Albert’s career was launched in the 1980’s when, while Assistant General Counsel for a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the CEO of that company nominated her to serve on the New York Stock Exchange’s arbitration roster. Since then, her ADR career has flourished, and she has been asked to join and currently serves on many United States based and international arbitration tribunals.
Ms. Albert’s areas of expertise include:
Commercial Arbitration: Experience arbitrating commercial disputes in: accounting, advertising, agency, mergers and acquisitions, construction, new home construction, franchising, government contracting, licensing, breach of contracts, cosmetics, cosmetology, insurance and reinsurance, hospitality, professional liability, telecommunications, technology, technology services, data and privacy.
Employment Arbitration: executive compensation, hostile work environment, discrimination, retaliation, harassment, reverse discrimination, breach of non-solicitation provision, applicability of non-compete provisions and breach of an employment agreement. Ms. Albert has heard many cases of employment matters involving breach of the duty of loyalty, failure to promote and constructive discharge.
Banking and Financial Services Arbitration: Ms. Albert has over 34 years of experience arbitrating breach of fiduciary duty disputes. Such breaches have been alleged to have occurred by: family offices, trust companies, individual trustees, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors and insurance brokers. Typical causes of action include: improper investments, unsuitable investments, conflict of interests, churning, inadequate diversification, concentrated positions and inadequate supervision, oversight and compliance. Other disputes have included improper access to accounts and theft. Ms. Albert was the arbitrator in the nationally recognized decision Rachal v. Reitz, No. 11-0708,WL 1859249, recognizing and enforcing an arbitration provision contained in a trust document.
Ms. Albert has years of experience arbitrating complex financial disputes, including options strategies and commodities transactions. Ms. Albert also has deep expertise and experience with the Uniform Trust Code and the Prudent Investor Rule.
Mergers and Acquisitions and Shareholder Disputes: experience arbitrating disputes between franchisors and franchisees, licensors and licensees, shareholder disputes; post-merger disputes; disputes over the right to exercise options and disputes over employee ownership in a company being sold.
Consumer and B-to-B Disputes: Experience arbitrating consumer and business disputes involving exotic automobiles; luxury cars, race cars, warranty providers, time shares, allegations of improper theft of personal data, bait and switch, breach of contract, breach of warranty, breach of the Magnuson-Moss Act, breach of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.
Education
- Emory University, B.A. 1981
- Washington University in St. Louis, J.D. 1984 (Associate Editor Washington University Law Quarterly)
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training:
Managing and Deescalating Workplace Conflict, St. Louis Center for Conflict Resolution, June, 2022; ACE 22 – Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators, 2022; ACE21 Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are? 2021; ACE20 Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility, 2020; AAA ACE19 Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, 2019; ADS 02 Pro Se – Managing Cases with Self-Represented Parties, 2018; Arbitrator Performance and Demeanor ~ Meeting Participant Expectations, 2018; AAA Arbitrator Subpoenas: Are They Worth the Paper They’re Printed On?, 2017; AAA eDiscovery – Arbitration in a Digital World ACE12, 2016; AAA Managing Arbitrations Following the Preliminary Hearing ACE07, 2015; AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards ACE01, 2015; AAA Managing the Arbitration Process for Efficiency & Economy Following the Preliminary Hearing, 2012; AAA Dealing With Delay Tactics in Arbitration ACE04, 2007; AAA Pro Se: Managing Cases Involving Self-Represented Parties (ACE002), 2006; AAA Commercial Arbitrator II: Advanced Case Management Issues, 2005; Arbitrator Update 2003; SquareTrade, Mediation Training, 2003; AAA Arbitrator I Training-Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process, 2002; Oregon Mediation.com, Mediation Training, 1995; various other ADR training
Experience as a Trainer:
Ms. Albert has years of experience delivering anti-harassment, EEOC compliance training, as well as training in deescalating workplace conflict and Diversity Equity and Inclusion.
Publications:
The Case for Arbitration of Trust and Estate Disputes, June 2023
You’re Not in Court: Practical Advice for a Successful Arbitration, February 2023
Practical Advice for Ensuring a Smooth Trip Through the Arbitration Process, August 2022