Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center

What Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center does

Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center (SVAMC) is a California-incorporated, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit educational organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with operational presence in San Francisco, Austin, and London. The organization promotes business-practical alternative dispute resolution (ADR) for the global technology sector and serves as a convener at the intersection of technology companies, law firms, arbitrators/mediators (neutrals), academic institutions, and international arbitral institutions. It does not administer arbitration or mediation cases directly; instead, all engagements with neutrals are arranged between the parties and the neutral or administering institution.

SVAMC's two flagship offerings are the Tech List — an annually refreshed, peer-reviewed roster of the world's leading technology arbitrators and mediators (most recent edition released March 2026) — and the Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in International Arbitration, first published in April 2024 with an updated edition in development. Supporting the core content is a curriculum of educational programming: international conferences (London International Disputes Week, Paris Arbitration Week, Seoul Arbitration Festival, IBA Vienna, UNCITRAL events), webinars with institutional partners (SCC, DIS, Jus Mundi), newsletters (archived 2021–2026), a Young Professionals program for emerging practitioners, and thought-leadership content on emerging issues such as AI and quantum computing in dispute resolution.

SVAMC's revenue model is membership- and contribution-supported: annual individual and organizational membership fees (specific tiers not publicly disclosed), educational programs and event sponsorships, and tax-deductible donations under its 501(c)(3) status. The organization has no venture funding, no subsidiaries, and a staff of 1–10, operating as an affiliate of the Global Technology Dispute Resolution Council. Strategic institutional partnerships underpin go-to-market reach, including MoUs with the SCC Arbitration Institute (2026) and German Arbitration Institute DIS (2025), distribution through Jus Mundi's Jus Connect platform and AI Hub, and engagement with the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge.

Name

Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center

Legal name

Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center, Inc.

Website

https://svamc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 that promotes arbitration and mediation for the global technology sector through its peer-reviewed Tech List of technology neutrals, the Guidelines on AI in Arbitration, and international educational programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Accreditation Appeals, Arbitration & Compliance Oversight Bodies (EDADACAL)

Keywords

• Alternative dispute resolution
• Technology arbitration services
• International mediation services
• ADR educational programming
• Conflict resolution thought leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: SVAMC generates revenue through membership fees from individual practitioners, law firms, and organizations that join the organization. The membership provides access to the directory of members, SVAMC Young Professionals program, and participation in SVAMC events and programming.
2. Educational Programs and Events: SVAMC organizes and sponsors educational conferences, webinars, and programs on technology dispute resolution topics. These events are open to members and non-members and serve as a key GTM and revenue driver.
3. Donations and Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, SVAMC accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations that support its educational mission in technology dispute resolution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SVAMC is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes effective resolution of technology-related disputes through the Tech List (an annual curated roster of the world's leading technology arbitrators and mediators), the Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in International Arbitration, educational programming (webinars, conferences, expert articles), and a global membership community of practitioners, law firms, ADR institutions, and universities. The organization itself does not administer ADR cases; engagements with neutrals are made directly with the neutral or the administering ADR institution.

Product overview

SVAMC is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting the effective resolution of technology-related disputes. The organization's core offerings center on the Tech List, a curated roster of the world's leading technology arbitrators and mediators with deep expertise in AI, IP, cybersecurity, and digital disputes, and the Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration, which establish best practices for AI adoption in arbitration proceedings. These are supported by educational programming including webinars, conferences, expert articles, and newsletters that serve the global technology, legal, and ADR communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Tech List: A curated roster of accomplished arbitrators and mediators with significant technology-sector expertise, published annually as the 2026 List of the World's Leading Technology Neutrals.
• Tech List

Products and services

• The Tech List A curated peer-reviewed annual roster of accomplished arbitrators and mediators with significant technology-sector expertise from around the world. The Tech List serves parties seeking qualified neutrals for complex technology disputes including AI, IP, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure matters.
• Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration Comprehensive guidelines establishing best practices for the responsible, transparent, and effective use of artificial intelligence in international arbitration proceedings. SVAMC is developing an updated edition to address emerging issues and evolving best practices.
• SVAMC Membership Program Annual membership available to individuals and organizations, providing access to the SVAMC member directory, the Tech List, the Young Professionals program, and participation in SVAMC events and programming. Membership is sold on a subscription/annual billing basis.
• SVAMC Clause A standardized arbitration clause template offered by SVAMC for parties seeking to include tech-focused dispute resolution provisions in their contracts.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Tech List provides technology companies with confidence that neutrals have deep familiarity with technology industries and can handle complex tech disputes competently.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SCC Arbitration Institute (Stockholm Chamber of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2026SVAMC announced a partnership with the SCC Arbitration Institute to explore AI's growing role in arbitrator selection. The partnership included a joint virtual program 'AI and Arbitrator Selection: Who Chooses, Human or Machine?' held on May 22, 2026, exploring how AI-driven tools are beginning to influence arbitrator appointments and implications for transparency, bias, and due process. SVAMC is also developing an updated edition of its Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration as part of this collaboration.
• German Arbitration Institute (DIS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2025SVAMC and the German Arbitration Institute (DIS) announced a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership reflects shared commitment to advancing dispute resolution services and educational programming between the organizations.
• Jus Mundi AI HubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 November 2025SVAMC is featured in the newly launched Jus Mundi AI Hub — a comprehensive, expertly curated collection of leading global resources on artificial intelligence in dispute resolution.
• Equal Representation in Arbitration PledgeminorOthers · 19 November 2025SVAMC supports diversity in arbitration and is a signatory/supporter of the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge, committing to increasing the representation of women and other underrepresented groups in arbitrator appointments.
• Jus MundicoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 March 2025SVAMC and Jus Mundi partnered to boost SVAMC members' profiles and the Tech List roster via Jus Connect. This collaboration is dedicated to expanding global opportunities for dispute resolution practitioners specializing in tech disputes. SVAMC is also featured in the Jus Mundi AI Hub.
• UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2025SVAMC contributed to the UNCITRAL Colloquium on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Dispute Resolution and Remote Hearings in Arbitration, participating in discussions on AI's role in dispute resolution at the international regulatory level.
• Mayer BrownminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2021SVAMC co-sponsored a program with ArbitralWomen and Mayer Brown featuring a panel of leading women in international arbitration discussing the evolving role of ADR in technology agreements and disputes.
• Global Technology Dispute Resolution Council (GTDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVAMC is an affiliate of the Global Technology Dispute Resolution Council, a related organization focused on global technology dispute resolution. Les Schiefelbein serves as CEO of GTDRC.
• Pinsent MasonsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSVAMC held its 2026 Board of Directors meeting at Pinsent Masons' London offices during London International Disputes Week 2026. David McIlwaine, a partner at Pinsent Masons, was appointed SVAMC Membership Chair to lead global membership expansion.
• ArbitralWomenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSVAMC co-sponsored programs with ArbitralWomen, an organization promoting women in arbitration, to discuss ADR in technology disputes.
• Unified Patent Court Patent Mediation and Arbitration Center (PMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSVAMC engaged with the newly established Unified Patent Court Patent Mediation and Arbitration Center (PMAC) in Slovenia as part of its international programming initiatives.
• International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSVAMC co-sponsored its first Law Firm Roundtable with CPR at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, gathering senior lawyers from Silicon Valley firms to discuss tech ADR topics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Arbitration Association / ICDR: The AAA/ICDR is the dominant U.S. arbitration institution administering commercial disputes including technology matters. SVAMC explicitly partners with AAA/ICDR and references the AAA's Large Complex Case Panel for Tech List appointees, but SVAMC's niche tech-focus is narrower than AAA's full-service institutional scope.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: ICC is the world's largest international arbitration institution administering cross-border commercial disputes including technology matters. ICC competes for institutional arbitration share of tech disputes and has resources to publish its own thought leadership that could overlap with SVAMC's mission.
• JAMS: JAMS is a major U.S. ADR provider administering mediation and arbitration across commercial sectors including technology. Like SVAMC, JAMS curates panels of neutrals with domain expertise, but operates at substantially larger scale with a much wider practice scope.
• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA): LCIA is one of the world's oldest international arbitration institutions administering commercial disputes out of London. SVAMC held its 2026 board meeting in London during LIDW and is deepening UK presence; LCIA represents both a potential partner and a competitor for institutional arbitration mindshare.
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb): CIArb is a global membership organization credentialing arbitrators and mediators across sectors. Both CIArb and SVAMC operate membership-based models that credential neutrals, though CIArb's scope is broader across industries and geographies.

Direct peers

• International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR): CPR is a nonprofit organization advancing commercial dispute resolution through education, neutrals panels, and thought leadership. SVAMC co-sponsors its first Law Firm Roundtable with CPR at Wilson Sonsini, and both organizations operate as nonprofit ADR membership communities — closest structural peer.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): HKIAC is an international arbitration institution administering tech-related disputes and a recurring institutional partner in SVAMC's programming. Both organizations serve cross-border technology disputes and are listed by SVAMC among its international arbitration hub partners.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): SIAC is a leading Asian-seated international arbitration institution handling technology and cross-border commercial disputes. SIAC overlaps with SVAMC's mission of advancing international arbitration and serves comparable cross-border technology clients.
• World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center: WIPO administers ADR for IP and technology disputes globally and is referenced as a partner arbitral institution in SVAMC's ecosystem. WIPO's tech-and-IP mediation/arbitration mandate overlaps directly with SVAMC's focus on technology-sector disputes.
• Global Technology Dispute Resolution Council (GTDRC): GTDRC is SVAMC's affiliated organization focused on global technology dispute resolution, chaired by Les Schiefelbein. It is the closest peer in mission and is structurally linked to SVAMC rather than independent, making it a direct comparison for tech-ADR community positioning.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SVAMCorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/svamc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center