Hon. Billie Colombaro

Judge Billie Colombaro

Former Appellate Judge | Commercial Mediator & AAA Arbitrator | Complex Business, Construction, Insurance & International Disputes

New York City • Connecticut • Serving Parties Nationwide and Internationally
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Overview

Judge Billie Colombaro is a former Louisiana Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge and highly experienced commercial mediator and arbitrator with more than 40 years of legal, judicial, arbitration, and dispute resolution experience.

Throughout her career, she has served as counsel, judge, mediator, arbitrator, educator, and dispute resolution professional, helping businesses, insurers, executives, professionals, and organizations resolve complex commercial conflicts efficiently and effectively.

Judge Colombaro is frequently selected to mediate and arbitrate sophisticated disputes involving commercial contracts, business relationships, partnerships, construction projects, insurance coverage, financial matters, healthcare issues, employment conflicts, and multi-party litigation.

Her extensive judicial experience, combined with decades of arbitration and mediation practice, allows her to provide parties and counsel with informed case evaluation, practical risk assessment, effective process management, and resolution-focused guidance.
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Mediation & Arbitration Approach

Judge Colombaro is known for a structured, analytical, and evaluative approach to dispute resolution.

Drawing upon decades of experience presiding over appeals, evaluating evidence, and resolving complex legal issues, she helps parties realistically assess legal exposure, litigation risk, business considerations, and settlement opportunities.

Her approach emphasizes:
• Early identification of key issues
• Strategic legal and business risk assessment
• Efficient case management
• Practical negotiation guidance
• Clear communication with counsel and decision-makers
• Thoughtful evaluation of strengths and weaknesses
• Durable and sustainable resolution strategies

She works closely with attorneys, corporate representatives, insurers, executives, business owners, and institutional parties to move disputes toward resolution in a professional, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
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Arbitration Practice

In addition to her mediation practice, Judge Colombaro serves as an experienced arbitrator in complex commercial matters.

She is available to serve as:
• Sole Arbitrator
• Panel Arbitrator
• Chair Arbitrator
• Arbitration Discovery Neutral
• Arbitration-Related Mediator

Her arbitration practice includes:
• Commercial contracts
• Business disputes
• Construction matters
• Insurance coverage
• Financial services
• Employment disputes
• Healthcare matters
• Professional liability
• International commercial conflicts

Her extensive experience with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), combined with her fellowship in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), provides parties with confidence that complex disputes will be managed efficiently and decided thoughtfully.
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Why Attorneys and Businesses Select Judge Colombaro

Attorneys and business leaders select Judge Colombaro because she combines the perspective of a former appellate judge with decades of experience evaluating complex commercial disputes.

Her judicial background enables her to:
• Quickly identify controlling legal issues
• Evaluate litigation exposure
• Assess business and financial risk
• Manage multi-party negotiations
• Bridge settlement impasses
• Assist parties in making informed business decisions
• Facilitate efficient, durable resolutions

She is particularly effective in matters involving sophisticated legal issues, significant financial stakes, and multiple stakeholders.
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Thought Leadership

Judge Colombaro is the creator of The Power of Presence®, a science-based communication, persuasion, and influence program that has been presented to:
• Harvard Law School students
• Attorneys
• Judges
• Arbitrators
• Fortune 500 executives
• Business leaders
• Negotiation professionals
• Dispute resolution practitioners throughout the United States and internationally

Her programs draw upon decades of judicial service, appellate decision-making, negotiation strategy, psychology, communication science, and conflict resolution experience to help professionals improve advocacy, leadership, negotiation, and decision-making.
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Areas of Mediation & Arbitration Focus