Maintaining Momentum and Managing Risk: Ensuring Business Continuity with your Dispute Resolution Toolbox

Abbey Hawthorne, Deputy Director, Arbitration & ADR, North America, International Chamber of Commerce, USA

In the contemporary business world, disputes are a common and sometimes inevitable reality, ranging from minor distractions to major obstacles. Each dispute has the potential to disrupt the smooth operation of a business. Drawing on the International Chamber of Commerce’s century of expertise in resolving business disputes, this article offers a detailed exploration of various alternative dispute resolution tools, including arbitration, mediation, and dispute boards. Each of these tools is designed to keep business moving when conflicts arise. This article highlights the versatility of these tools in handling different types and sizes of business disputes and emphasizes the vital role of dispute resolution tools in promoting and maintaining business momentum. Aimed at in-house counsel and business leaders, this article guides the reader in evaluating these tools, providing insight into determining the right dispute resolution mechanism to fit their company’s specific needs and future vision. The goal of this article is to help these decision-makers more effectively manage both short-term risks and long-term strategic business objectives.

Abbey Hawthorne is Deputy Director of Arbitration & ADR for North America at the ICC International Court of Arbitration (SICANA, Inc.) in New York. She has been in this role since 2022. Abbey oversees educational services for in-house counsel teams, law firms, and arbitrators utilizing ICC dispute resolution services throughout the United States and Canada. Abbey has authored several internal and external pieces including "Ten Tips on How to Make an Arbitration Award Work." Prior to her role as Deputy Director, Abbey was an adjunct professor at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law where she taught U.S. Law & Legal Analysis and worked at firms specializing in business immigration law and litigation in Arizona. Abbey holds a J.D. focused on international commercial arbitration & alternative dispute resolution from Arizona State University, where she also earned dual bachelor’s degrees and was a three-time U.S. Department of State Title VIII Fellow.

Founded in 1919, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 170 countries. ICC’s core mission is to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere. Through a unique mix of advocacy, business solutions, and standard setting, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct, and a global approach to regulation, in addition to providing market-leading dispute resolution services.