Certified Arbitrator Lynn Cole

Arbitration.

Usually conducted by a sole arbitrator or a panel of three arbitrators, an arbitrator listens to adversarial presentations by all sides of the dispute or case and thereafter makes a decision, usually resulting in a award to one of the disputants. Ms. Cole has served and continues to serve as an arbitrator in a number of diverse cases.

Ms. Cole serves as a neutral for the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and the National Arbitration Forum (“NAF”). The Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot is held annually in Vienna, Austria. Ms. Cole serves as an Arbitrator in this prestigious international competition attended by over 120 law schools internationally.

Lynn Cole is currently:
  • An Adjunct Professor in ADR at Stetson University College of Law
  • ADR Section, Chair, Federal Bar Association
  • A member of the American Bar Association, ADR Section
  • A member of the Florida Bar, International Law Section
  • Certified Mediator and Arbitrator, Middle District of Florida
  • A Commissioner on the Tampa Commission on Ethics, Appointed by Mayor
  • Master and Charter Member, American Inns of Court, Ferguson-White Inn (1987-present)
  • Chair of the Hillsborough County Bar Association Senior Council
She has:
  • Chaired the Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Commission, Appointed by Chief District Court Judge, M.D of FL., (Chair, 1997-98)
  • Served as Special Master, Appointed by U.S. Magistrate Judge, Middle District of Florida (2000)
  • Been federally appointed as an SEC Receiver in a $17 Million Ponzi scheme receivership. (1999 – 2004)
  • Chaired the 13th Judicial Nominations Commission, Appointed by Governor, (Chair, 1996-1997)
  • Chaired the Selection Committee for United States Magistrate, Appointed by Chief District Court Judge, M.D. Fla. (1991)
  • Was by the Florida Supreme Court to the Original State Mediation Qualifications Board, (1994-2002)
  • Was appointed to Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force by Executive Order, President Reagan (1983-84)
  • Served as the 11th Circuit Vice President, Federal Bar Association (1990-present); National Membership Chair, 1999 - 2001)
  • Served as the Tampa Bay Chapter, Federal Bar Association, President (1989-90)
  • Chaired the Trial Lawyers’ Section, Hillsborough County Bar Association (1991-92)
  • Chaired the 13th Judicial Circuit Florida Bar Grievance Committee (1987-89)
Ms. Cole not only has experience as an arbitrator, but also has served many of her clients in the arbitration process. She is served well in the arbitration process as an arbitrator by her litigation experience in:
  • Labor and Employment

    Ms. Cole and her law firm represented clients and tried federal cases on behalf of both employers and employees. Her firm’s labor and employment practice included clients from the private and the public employment sectors. Her experience extends to filing class action lawsuits and representing individual clients in class action law suits.

    As an adjunct to Ms. Cole’s experience in labor and employment, her experience extends to whistle-blowers actions, both state and federal. Because of her prior experience in both state and federal prosecutions, she is conversant with both state and federal RICO statutes. She has taught seminars on the law of qui tam relators and has experience in the Sarbannes Oxley Act.. She is conversant with civil rights laws and has been involved in numerous federal cases involving civil rights statutes.

  • Complex Commercial Litigation

    Ms. Cole has represented clients in complex commercial litigation cases, representing both private and public entities. These cases involved commercial and contractual issues and required an understanding of the complex nature of the utility, steel, public transportation (air and bus), and health care industries.

  • Construction

    Ms. Cole has represented builders and owners in construction disputes. Her experience in construction litigation extends to the representation of both private and public projects. Because of her prior experience in working on cases involving the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority and Tampa General Hospital (then known as the Hillsborough County Hospital Authority), she understands construction litigation involving public and governmental owners.

  • Other Litigation Experience

    Ms. Cole’s experience includes serving her clients in disputes involving intellectual property matters (internet ownership issues); anti-trust matters, both civil and criminal; securities; and banking matters.