Albert Rizzo is a skilled arbitrator and mediator with a 35-year legal career of extensive experience litigating and resolving complex business and employment disputes. He began his alternative dispute resolution practice in 2011. As an arbitrator, he brings a judicial temperament to each proceeding, making certain that all parties are heard and have a fair opportunity to present their cases.
As a trained and certified mediator and arbitrator, Al brings an impressive wealth of experience as an arbitrator and mediator, and is an active member of the New York State and New York City Bar Associations, as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and an Adjunct Professor at New York University’s Graduate School of Professional Studies. He is also the author of several published articles and maintains a Blog, called “The Legal Firewall,” on business and employment law issues.
Al enhances his skills and qualifications through his active participation in various Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) committees and subcommittees of the New York State and City Bar Associations, and his involvement with the American Arbitration Association and the New York International Arbitration Center.
Al has served as an arbitrator Chair, sole arbitrator, and as a member of three-arbitrator panels. Since 2014, he has been an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and a private arbitrator for various administering organizations, including ADR Systems, Inc. and Dispute Resolution and Mediation Services, which he founded in 2012. He also serves on the roster ofmediators for the American Arbitration Association, and the arbitrator roster for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, and the New York State Court’s Attorney Fee Dispute Resolution Program.
Areas of Focus
- Contract Disputes
- Partnership Disputes
- Business Disputes
- Employment Disputes
- Real Estate Disputes
Affiliations and ADR Rosters
- Arbitrator and Qualified Chair for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association
- Arbitrator, NYS Courts Attorney Fee Dispute Resolution
- Arbitrator and Distinguished Neutral, International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution
- Member, New York State Bar Association Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Member, New York City Bar Association Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Member, New York International Arbitration Center
- New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Division, Mediation Panel for the five counties of NYC, Westchester and Nassau
- New York State Surrogate’s Court, Bronx County, Mediation Panel
- American Arbitration Association, Mediator Panel
- Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts MediateArt Program, Mediator
Education
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D.
- Fordham University, B.A.
Admissions
- State Courts of New York
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States District Courts of New York
Professional Associations:
- New York City Bar Association, Committee on the State Courts, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Committee on Dispute Resolution, Member
- New York City Bar Association, Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution, Member
- New York City Bar Association, Qualified Legal Referral Panel, Member, for:
- Employment Law
- Commercial Law
- Real Estate Law
- Mediator for the New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Divisions, Qualified Mediator Panels
- Arbitrator, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
- Arbitrator, New York State Courts, Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program
Faculty Positions:
- New York University, Graduate School of Professional Studies, Adjunct Professor, 2011 – Present