Hon. Billie Colombaro

Judge Billie Colombaro

Commercial Mediator & Arbitrator | AAA Neutral | Complex Contract, Business & International Disputes | Former Appellate Judge

New York City | Connecticut | Serving Parties Nationwide
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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 Experience

In addition to her mediation practice, Judge Colombaro serves as an arbitrator in complex commercial and business disputes.

She has substantial experience handling matters involving:
• Commercial contracts
• Partnership and shareholder disputes
• Construction and development claims
• Insurance coverage disputes
• Financial services conflicts
• Healthcare-related disputes
• Employment and executive compensation matters
• Professional services disputes
• Multi-party business litigation
• International and cross-border commercial conflicts

Her arbitration background is strengthened by service with the American Arbitration Association (AAA), fellowship status with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), and decades of experience evaluating complex factual and legal issues.

Judge Colombaro is available to serve as:
• Sole Arbitrator
• Panel Arbitrator
• Chair Arbitrator
• Arbitration Discovery Neutral
• Arbitration-Related Mediator
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Thought Leadership & Training

Judge Colombaro is the creator of “The Power of Presence,” a science-based communication, persuasion, and influence program taught to:

• Harvard Law School students
• Attorneys and arbitrators
• Fortune 500 executives
• Business leaders
• Negotiation and dispute resolution professionals worldwide

Her teaching and training draw upon decades of judicial service, arbitration experience, advocacy evaluation, negotiation strategy, and conflict resolution practice.

She is frequently recognized for helping professionals improve communication effectiveness, decision-making, negotiation outcomes, and dispute resolution performance.
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Areas of Mediation & Arbitration Focus