Private Construction Arbitration with Allison Law Mediation & Arbitration

Your contract probably has an arbitration clause. That means if this dispute goes any further, a private arbitrator — not a courtroom judge — will hear both sides and issue a binding decision. Who that arbitrator is matters enormously.

Allison Law Mediation & Arbitration brings decades of experience inside construction disputes — in litigation, contract drafting, and as an Administrative Law Judge presiding over more than 250 construction-related hearings. We know how these cases are built, where they fall apart, and what a fair, well-reasoned decision actually looks like.

What Is Arbitration?

Arbitration is a private alternative to going to court. Instead of waiting months or years for a trial date, both parties present their case to a neutral arbitrator — an independent expert who listens to the evidence and issues a final, binding decision.

In the construction industry, arbitration is common because most contracts require it. Before either party can file a lawsuit, they must first go through arbitration. That requirement exists for good reason: construction disputes involve technical details that most courtroom judges and juries simply aren’t equipped to evaluate.

With arbitration, you get someone who actually understands the issues.

Why Private Arbitration Beats Going to Court

If your dispute ends up in a courtroom, here’s what you’re likely facing:

A judge who doesn’t specialize in construction. Most civil court judges come from backgrounds in criminal defense, family law, or general civil litigation. Your dispute over scheduling, defective workmanship, or contested change orders will land on a docket alongside car accidents and contract disputes — handled by someone learning your industry on the fly.

A jury that’s even less prepared. If either party requests a jury trial, you’re asking a group of people with no construction knowledge to weigh technical evidence, competing expert testimony, and complex contract language. The outcome becomes nearly impossible to predict — regardless of how strong your case is.

A timeline that works against you. Court cases move slowly. Months of pre-trial motions, scheduling delays, and procedural requirements can stretch a dispute that should take weeks into something that consumes years. Meanwhile, you’re paying attorneys, carrying unresolved liability, and unable to move forward.

Private arbitration changes all of that. You get an experienced decision-maker who understands construction, a process that moves on your schedule, and a final answer you can plan around.

What to Expect When You Work with Us

1. Initial Engagement Once retained, Allison Law connects with both parties’ representatives — typically their attorneys — on a joint call. Each side briefly outlines their position. This isn’t the hearing; it’s an orientation that sets the tone and establishes ground rules.

2. Briefing Both sides submit written briefs laying out their facts, arguments, and supporting evidence. Everything is reviewed thoroughly before the hearing date. We arrive prepared — not catching up.

3. The Hearing Hearings are conducted at our Henderson office or at a location agreed upon by the parties. Virtual hearings are available. The format is structured but not a formal courtroom — there’s no jury, no rigid adherence to rules of evidence, and no theatrics. We run an efficient, focused proceeding.

Expect direct questions — often and early. If testimony drifts into irrelevant territory, we’ll say so and redirect. If a witness’s credibility is in question, they should be present and available for examination. If a matter can be established through documents alone, written submissions are accepted.

4. The Decision Allison Law issues a reasoned, binding award based on the facts and the applicable law. We don’t divide the dispute in half to save feelings. The award reflects what the evidence actually supports — and it’s one you can take to court to enforce if needed.

Our Approach

We listen to every side of a dispute fully and without judgment — because everyone comes in seeing things from their own perspective, and that story deserves to be heard. But once the briefs are read and both sides have been heard, expect candor. We’ll address the strengths and weaknesses in each position, and we won’t shy away from telling a party when the facts or the law don’t support their position.

The goal isn’t to make everyone happy. It’s to reach a decision that holds up — one grounded in the facts and the law.

Ready to Move Forward?

If your contract requires arbitration — or if both parties are willing to agree to it — the next step is a brief consultation to confirm there are no conflicts and discuss the process.

Submitting a request does not establish a client relationship or require any commitment. We will review your submission and reach out to discuss next steps.