National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

What National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals does

The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) operates an online directory and scheduling platform that connects civil and commercial litigators with vetted mediators and arbitrators in the United States. Founded in 2008 by Darren A. Lee and headquartered at 1395 Brickell Avenue, Suite 800, Miami, FL, NADN curates a roster of 1,358 Academy Members organized into 42 formal state chapters covering all 50 U.S. states; membership is by invitation only, grounded in peer nominations and due-diligence research. The platform's core technical components are a searchable Member Directory, a parameterized Neutral Search tool, and an Available Dates Calendar System that lets members publish their availability for direct booking by legal staff.

NADN generates revenue primarily from recurring membership subscriptions paid by ADR professionals for directory listing, calendar posting, and platform access, while law-firm and legal-staff users access the directory at no cost (a freemium demand-side model). The supply-side subscription terms and pricing are not publicly disclosed; individual neutral rate cards disclosed on the site range from $400-$600 per hour for mediation and flat-fee arbitration pricing in the low thousands per day. Go-to-market is dominated by two anchor channel partnerships — the Defense Research Institute (22,000+ defense attorneys via the DRI Neutral Database) and the American Association for Justice (20,000+ plaintiff attorneys promoted through TRIAL magazine and 25+ state trial bar associations) — alongside recommended-partner links to AAA, ACCTM, CCA, IAM, IMI, and AAM.

Operationally, NADN is a privately held, lean organization (1-10 employees) running on legacy ADRWeb Inc. technology infrastructure (a wholly-owned subsidiary of NADN Holdings Inc.). The platform has cumulatively scheduled 1,065,706 appointments since 2013 and currently facilitates over 100,000 case appointments annually from more than 20,000 law firms and 227,575+ legal staff users. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed and the company has no external institutional investors, PE, or venture funding.

Name

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals

Legal name

NADN Holdings Inc.

Website

https://nadn.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals operates an invitation-only online directory and scheduling platform connecting 20,000+ U.S. law firms with 1,358 vetted mediators and arbitrators across 42 state chapters, monetizing primarily through recurring membership subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ocala

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: ADR professionals purchase subscriptions to the NADN website for their individual use and one additional person with the same login password. Members gain access to the directory, calendar posting tools, and NADN's reputation network.
2. Directory Access for Law Firms: Law firms access the database at no cost to search for and schedule mediators and arbitrators. NADN facilitates over 100,000 case appointments annually through the platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NADN operates a curated, invitation-only online directory and scheduling platform that connects law firms with vetted civil and commercial mediators and arbitrators. ADR professional members pay subscriptions to be listed and to post availability calendars, while law firm staff access the searchable roster of 1,358 Academy Members across 42 state chapters and use the Available Dates Calendar System to schedule mediations and arbitrations, facilitating over 100,000 case appointments per year.

Product overview

The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) operates a web-based platform that serves as America's foremost professional directory and scheduling system for experienced mediators and arbitrators in civil and commercial dispute resolution. The platform consists of the Member Directory (providing access to 1,358 vetted Academy Members across 42 state chapters), the Neutral Search tool (enabling law firms to filter neutrals by expertise, case type, and qualifications), and the Available Dates Calendar System (facilitating online appointment scheduling for over 100,000 cases annually from 20,000+ law firms). Membership is by invitation only, based on peer nominations and due diligence research, with NADN collaborating with national defense bar (DRI) and trial bar (AAJ) associations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NADN Member Directory Platform Web-based, searchable directory of 1,358 vetted Academy Members (distinguished civil/commercial mediators and arbitrators) organized into 42 formal State Chapters across all 50 U.S. states. Available free of charge to legal staff at law firms via NADN.org.
• Neutral Search Detailed search functionality allowing law firms to filter and find mediators or arbitrators with particular case or industry expertise or qualifications.
• Available Dates Calendar System Online calendar system enabling Academy Members to post availability, allowing more than 20,000 law firms annually to schedule over 100,000 mediation and arbitration case appointments.
• DRI Neutral Database Integration Integration of NADN member bios and calendars into the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Neutral Database, providing 22,000+ DRI defense attorney members with direct access to NADN-approved mediators and arbitrators.
• AAJ Roster Promotion Service Roster promotion service distributed via AAJ's monthly TRIAL magazine and through 25+ AAJ-affiliated state trial bar associations to reach 20,000+ plaintiff trial attorney members.
• NADN State Chapters Program Program of 42 formal state-level chapters with local rosters and vetting committees that nominate, vet, and admit mediators and arbitrators for membership based on peer nominations and due diligence research.
• NADN Membership Subscription Recurring subscription membership purchased by ADR professionals for individual use and one additional person with the same login, granting access to the NADN directory listing, calendar posting tools, and reputation network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 case appointments scheduled annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Association for Justice (AAJ)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2013NADN worked with AAJ in 2013/14 completing extensive surveys and research of litigators, enabling NADN to expand its roster into every U.S. State. The Academy promotes its member roster via AAJ's monthly TRIAL magazine and partners with 25+ AAJ-affiliated state trial bar associations via local sponsorships and advertising.
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNADN partnered with DRI in creating the DRI Neutral Database, providing DRI's 22,000+ members with access to bios and calendars of all NADN-approved mediators and arbitrators. NADN also works with DRI and its state affiliates to conduct a biennial Neutral Survey to identify neutrals most widely acceptable to litigators in each state.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA)minorOthersRecommended ADR Association partner - America's largest and longest established not-for-profit ADR organization, providing administrative services for dispute resolution cases.
• American College of Civil Trial Mediators (ACCTM)minorOthersRecommended ADR Association partner - non-profit organization of approximately 120 active professionals distinguished by experience, skill, ethical standards, and professional commitment to mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
• College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA)minorOthersRecommended ADR Association partner - association of over 200 prominent, experienced commercial arbitrators formed to promote the profession and develop best practices and provide peer training.
• International Academy of Mediators (IAM)minorOthersRecommended ADR Association partner - recognizes over 150 of the best established commercial mediators in the USA, Canada, Europe and New Zealand.
• International Mediation Institute (IMI)minorOthersRecommended ADR Association partner - non-profit Foundation established in 2007 as a global public service initiative to drive transparency and high competency standards into mediation practice worldwide, based in The Hague, Netherlands.
• Association of Attorney-Mediators (AAM)minorOthersRecommended ADR Association partner - nonprofit trade association of qualified, independent attorney-mediators offering mediation services, based out of Texas.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mediate.com: Mediate.com operates the largest online directory of mediators in the U.S. and publishes ADR thought leadership content. Comparable as a mediator-directory platform serving law firms and parties searching for dispute resolution professionals.
• JAMS: JAMS is the largest private ADR provider in the U.S., offering a directory of retired judges and neutrals and scheduling services for mediation and arbitration. Closely comparable to NADN in neutral-directory business model and customer base (litigation law firms), though JAMS also administers cases directly.
• American Arbitration Association: AAA is the oldest and largest U.S. non-profit ADR organization, administering arbitration and mediation panels across industries. Comparable to NADN as a referral channel connecting litigants with vetted neutrals; NADN itself lists AAA as a recommended ADR partner.
• National Arbitration and Mediation: NAM is a private ADR provider with a national panel of mediators and arbitrators serving law firms and corporate counsel. Directly comparable to NADN in offering an online neutral directory and scheduling tools for civil and commercial disputes.
• American College of Civil Trial Mediators: ACCTM is a non-profit organization of approximately 120 distinguished civil trial mediators, vetted for experience and ethics. NADN lists ACCTM as a recommended ADR partner; both organizations curate invitation-quality mediator rosters.
• International Mediation Institute: IMI is a Hague-based non-profit foundation setting global competency standards for mediators and certifying professionals. Comparable to NADN as a vetting/certification body, with overlap in mediator credentialing and international reach.
• International Academy of Mediators: IAM recognizes over 150 of the most established commercial mediators in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and New Zealand. Listed as a NADN partner and directly comparable as an invitation-only academy of distinguished mediators.
• College of Commercial Arbitrators: CCA is an association of 200+ prominent commercial arbitrators promoting best practices and peer training. A listed NADN partner and direct peer in curating an elite roster of commercial arbitrators for the legal market.

Broad incumbents

• Avvo: Avvo operates an online legal directory and Q&A platform covering attorneys across practice areas. Comparable as a digital lawyer-discovery service used by consumers and firms, though broader and consumer-facing rather than focused on ADR neutrals.
• Martindale-Hubbell: Martindale-Hubbell is the legacy U.S. legal directory owned by Internet Brands/Leaf Group, providing lawyer ratings and peer review. Comparable as a directory-driven information service for law-firm decision-making, but broader in scope than ADR-specific directories like NADN.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nadn_org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-academy-of-distinguished-neutrals

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals