2023 AAA Higginbotham Fellows Program

The AAA Higginbotham Fellows Program

Providing training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to promising diverse ADR professionals.

Applications for the 2023 program are being accepted now.

The American Arbitration Association^® created the AAA A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. Fellows Program in 2009 to provide training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to up-and-coming alternative dispute resolution professionals who historically have been excluded from meaningful participation in the field.

Judge Aloysius Leon Higginbotham Jr. was an African American civil rights advocate, presidential adviser, educator, humanitarian, and jurist dedicated to supporting diverse talent in the legal profession. The AAA Higginbotham Program offers the full breadth of AAA resources to participants who have successfully demonstrated their commitment to ADR.

The Fellowship

The fellowship is a one-year program that allows participants to immerse themselves in all aspects of ADR. The program begins with an intensive week of training, seminars, and participation in mock arbitrations and mediations facilitated by leading advocates and panelists. Fellows are provided with serious mentorship opportunities specific to their areas of interest.

After the week concludes, the AAA provides Fellows with opportunities to participate in training and networking events throughout the year.

The 2023 Program

The 2023 program will be hosted at the AAA Headquarters in New York City during the week of May 8, 2023. This year’s Fellowship program coincides with the AAA’s Annual Board Meeting, so in addition to the activities noted in the previous section, Fellows will interact with the AAA Board of Directors and Council events at special related events.

Important Dates

Applications are due by January 31, 2023.
Final decisions will be announced at the end of February 2023.

Application and More Information

For more information about the program and to view the application, please click here.

Questions? Please contact [email protected].

To Apply, Download and fill out the Application above.

Featured Panelists


Catharine Biggs Arrowood Parker Poe North Carolina United States	Hugh J. Bell, Jr. Henning Mediation & Arbitration Services, Inc. Georgia United States	Raymond G. Bender Independent Arbitrator & Mediator Washington D.C. United States	Marc Borello Independent Arbitrator & Mediator Roquefort les Pins France

Thomas Brewer Independent Arbitrator Washington United States	Gerry F. Doyle Doyle & Bachman Washington D.C. United States	John J. Fitzpatrick Independent Arbitrator California United States	Allen B. Green Dentons Washington D.C. United States

Hon. Faith S. Hochberg Judge Hochberg ADR New York United States	Kathryn J. Humphrey Dykema Michigan United States	Paul Klaas Independent Arbitrator & Mediator Minneapolis United States	Steve Koh Perkins Coie Washington United States

Sharon L. Larkin Larkin Ferrell Washington D.C. United States	Pamela Meredith Zuckert, Scoutt & Rasenberger Washington D.C. United States	Elliot Polebaum Independent Arbitrator Washington D.C. United States	Kara M. Sacilotto Wiley Rein Washington D.C. United States

Lawrence Schaner Schaner Dispute Resolution Illinois United States	Lester Schiefelbein Independent Arbitrator & Mediator California United States	Milton “Skip” Smith Sherman & Howard Colorado United States	Stephen Smith Independent Arbitrator Colorado United States

Edna Sussman Sussman ADR New York United States	Wolf von Kumberg Independent Arbitrator & Mediator London United Kingdom	Kellye L. Walker Huntington Ingalls Industries Virginia United States	Richard Ziegler Jenner & Block New York United States