Dr. Elizabeth Varner: Your Trusted Arbitrator for Complex Cases

Arbitration is a method of resolving disputes outside of court, where an impartial third party, known as an arbitrator, makes a binding decision. It is often faster and more cost-effective than traditional litigation, providing parties with a private and confidential process to settle their differences.

I handle a wide range of arbitration cases, including complex domestic and international disputes across a broad range of sectors, including national security and aerospace; commercial; entertainment and sport; cultural heritage; international; and science and technology. I hold over 20 years of experience in managing risk from mitigating it through audits, compliance,  good governance, policies, and processes; to dispute solutions; through award or settlement. I have heard disputes as a solo arbitrator from a few hundred thousand dollars to more than $5 million dollars issuing orders, subpoenas, and awards. I have negotiated transactions and resolved conflicts between international governments in excess of $20 billion.  I sit on multiple arbitration panels including American Arbitration Association (AAA), FINRA,  and The Hague Court of Fine Art Authentication for The Hague. My experience allows me to effectively manage cases that require nuanced understanding and strategic resolution.

To book a consultation, you can visit the ‘Book a Consultation’ section on my website. There, you can select a suitable time for our meeting, and I will guide you through the process to ensure we address your specific arbitration needs. If you have agreed to use an arbitral organization, like AAA or JAMS, please contact that administrator and have them coordinate our communications so there is no conflict going forward. Please disclose this tribunal at the beginning of any communication with me.

I am an independent arbitrator in Washington, DC, specializing in domestic and international complex public and commercial disputes.

I have served as director overseeing millions of dollars in budgets, facilities, contracts, intellectual property portfolios, and disputes for more than 15 years. I represented the United States government in tri-lateral international, inter-agency, and industry negotiations for international supply chains and defense and implementation worth billions of dollars.  I led attorneys government-wide to overcome compliance issues relating to acquisitions, contracts, cyber and technology, imports and exports, immigration, international security restrictions, and intellectual property. I led rule making and regulations. 

I have also navigated agency-wide legal issues and led solutions with 30+ Senior Executives and officials to develop compliant processes and advice for a presidential transition in a fluid environment. I provided legally-compliant advice, navigated legal restrictions, proposed solutions, and cleared extensive high-level agency and US government-wide documents, policies, rules and regulations, congressional testimony, and inter-agency direction for Secretarial authorization. I oversaw agency portfolios for acquisition, budget, cyber and AI, management, military, policy, rules and regulations, science and technology, and trafficking. I have also overseen legal and administrative issues for a $300M+ construction project including construction, contracting, cultural heritage, employment, environmental, fundraising, intellectual property, and visitor experience. I led teams of attorneys to ensure compliance and engaged in extensive interpretation and creation of rules and laws engaging with congressional representatives on legislative changes. I obtained and oversaw $100M+ budget across multiple appropriations and oversaw a $80M+ contract portfolio including claims, initiation, legal disputes, modifications, requests for equitable adjustment, and termination. 

I spent another four years facilitating oversight, policy, and negotiations of 200+ million cultural and scientific objects controlled by 3,000 foreign state, inter-agency, institutional, and private stakeholders through leading resolution of legal issues and complicated business disputes. I also advanced research and analysis, investigations, prosecution, and repatriation and restitution of property and finance crimes.

I transitioned to arbitrator work in 2018, when I joined the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority dispute resolution as an arbitrator, followed shortly thereafter by the Court of Arbitration for Fine Art Authentication, the Hague and the American Arbitration Association.

I have served in many cases inter- and intra-governmental as well as in commercial disputes across the United States as a sole arbitrator and as a member of a three-member arbitration panel. I have arbitrated and managed disputes in the 7-10 figure range. 

I have held numerous leadership positions. I served as President of the Lawyers’ Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation; Chair of the American Alliance of Museums’ Curatorial Ethics Subcommittee; member of the American Bar Association’s Art and Cultural Heritage Committee, Steering Committee; the board of the US Committee for the International Council of Museums (ICOM); and was appointed to the College Art Associations IP Committee and the Standing Legal Committee for ICOM.

I taught arbitration and advocacy for more than 10 years as Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. I have served as Faculty for an American Arbitration Association’s class and John Hopkins University Graduate Museum Program. I edited journals, wrote publications, and lectured on legal, ethical, and business issues impacting arbitration, armed conflict, business and finance, cultural heritage and science, cyber and technology, and management. I co-edited the book, Intersections in International Cultural Heritage Law, with Oxford University Press.

I have a PhD degree from University of College London, a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University Law School with a certificate in International and Comparative Law, a Master of Arts degree from the Smithsonian Institute-Corcoran College of Art+Design, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Additional information about her education and background is available in my resume. 

My approach to dispute resolution is to give the parties what they want in a fair and efficient process. ADR is a party driven process. I facilitate the process, listen to the parties, support the parties in reaching agreements, and make decisions if parties cannot reach an agreement. I am readily available to have hearings and make decisions to ensure the process moves along quickly. I ensure the process and expectations are covered up front so the path to resolution is clear.

I bring 20+ years of my legal and business background in a range of subject matters with governments, corporations, and private individuals that enhance my understanding of navigating conflicts. This means that I understand clients’ concerns as well as their lawyers; I understand the issues in dispute; and I understand the legal issues and process.

Yes, I am available for international arbitration cases and can accommodate appointments globally. My extensive experience allows me to navigate the complexities of international disputes effectively.