Noah Hanft

Noah J. Hanft

Commercial & International Arbitrator | Mediator | Former Mastercard General Counsel & CPR CEO

New York City | Domestic & International Dispute Resolution

Professional Overview

Noah J. Hanft is a New York City-based arbitrator, mediator, and dispute resolution advisor whose practice focuses on complex commercial, corporate, financial, employment, intellectual property, and international business disputes.

Since beginning his mediation practice in 2012, Mr. Hanft has mediated more than 275 disputes and served in over 75 domestic and international arbitrations, according to his published professional biography. His arbitration experience includes service as both panel chair and panelist in proceedings involving commercial relationships, financial interests, employment matters, and other complex disputes.

Mr. Hanft brings an unusual combination of hands-on neutral experience and senior corporate legal leadership. He previously served for 13 years as General Counsel of Mastercard Worldwide, where he oversaw significant legal and regulatory matters, managed complex commercial disputes, and helped implement early dispute resolution and case assessment procedures. He also played an important role in Mastercard's transition to a publicly traded company.

He subsequently served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), an organization dedicated to advancing alternative dispute resolution in commercial and international matters.

His experience as a litigator, transactional attorney, corporate general counsel, executive, mediator, and arbitrator provides a practical perspective on disputes involving legal exposure, financial risk, business relationships, and organizational priorities.

Commercial, Corporate & Contract Disputes

Mr. Hanft mediates and arbitrates disputes involving commercial transactions, corporate relationships, contractual obligations, and complex business arrangements.

His areas of focus include:

• Commercial and business litigation
• Contract interpretation and performance disputes
• Partnership, shareholder, and joint venture conflicts
• Corporate governance and ownership disagreements
• Mergers, acquisitions, and transactional disputes
• Business torts and related commercial claims
• Trade secrets and intellectual property disputes

His experience as Mastercard's General Counsel included oversight of significant commercial negotiations, corporate transactions, regulatory matters, and litigation strategy.

That background informs his work with businesses, executives, investors, and counsel seeking resolution of disputes involving substantial financial exposure or continuing commercial relationships.

Financial Services, Securities & Consumer Disputes

Mr. Hanft's dispute resolution experience includes matters involving financial institutions, securities, investment relationships, and consumer financial services.

His stated areas of experience include:

• Securities and investment disputes
• Financial services disagreements
• Consumer credit matters
• Banking and commercial financial conflicts
• Regulatory and compliance issues
• Insurance-related disputes

He has served on Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration and mediation panels and has experience with matters administered through established financial and commercial ADR programs.

His corporate legal background provides additional familiarity with financial risk assessment, regulatory considerations, and the business consequences of extended litigation.

Employment, Intellectual Property & Regulatory Disputes

Mr. Hanft also handles mediation and arbitration matters involving workplace relationships, executive obligations, intellectual property, and regulatory concerns.

His experience encompasses employment and workplace disputes, executive compensation, trade secrets, intellectual property, whistleblower matters, privacy and data protection, compliance issues, and related commercial conflicts.

These disputes frequently involve overlapping legal, financial, reputational, and organizational interests.

Drawing on his experience as a corporate legal executive and neutral, Mr. Hanft works with parties and counsel to identify the issues driving the conflict and evaluate potential resolutions within the broader business context.

International & Cross-Border Arbitration

Mr. Hanft has served as an arbitrator in domestic and international proceedings, including assignments as panel chair and panelist.

His international dispute resolution experience is supported by his work involving multinational business operations, global legal and regulatory matters, cross-border transactions, and international commercial relationships.

His institutional experience includes the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the international division of the American Arbitration Association.

His background is particularly relevant to disputes involving multinational companies, international contracts, cross-border business relationships, and commercial disagreements spanning multiple jurisdictions.

Additional Dispute Resolution Experience

Mr. Hanft's broader professional and neutral experience includes matters involving:

• Real estate and construction
• Bankruptcy and creditor disputes
• Insurance
• Antitrust and competition
• Defamation
• Civil rights
• Consumer disputes
• Legal malpractice
• Education-related matters

These areas complement his principal commercial, financial, employment, intellectual property, and international dispute resolution practice.

Mediation & Arbitration Approach

Mr. Hanft brings a business-oriented and pragmatic approach to dispute resolution, informed by his experience representing corporate interests, managing litigation, negotiating transactions, and serving as an independent neutral.

In mediation, he emphasizes preparation, candid communication, early identification of settlement obstacles, and careful consideration of legal, financial, commercial, and organizational risks. His objective is to help parties evaluate realistic alternatives and explore mutually acceptable resolutions.

In arbitration, he emphasizes procedural fairness, focused case management, appropriate consideration of the evidence, and efficient proceedings proportionate to the nature and complexity of the dispute.

His approach recognizes that resolving a commercial disagreement often requires attention not only to legal claims, but also to business objectives, financial consequences, and relationships that may continue after the dispute.

Corporate Leadership & ADR Experience

Mastercard Worldwide

Mr. Hanft served for 13 years as General Counsel of Mastercard Worldwide and also held the position of Chief Franchise Officer.

His responsibilities included oversight of global legal and regulatory matters, major commercial transactions, litigation strategy, and complex corporate negotiations.

He played a leadership role in Mastercard's transition to a publicly traded company and helped develop early dispute resolution and case assessment practices intended to address commercial conflicts more efficiently.

International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR)

Mr. Hanft served as President and CEO of CPR from 2014 to 2019.

In that role, he helped advance the use of mediation, arbitration, and dispute prevention strategies within the corporate and legal communities.

Independent ADR Practice

As an independent neutral and co-founder of AcumenADR, Mr. Hanft provides mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution consulting services involving commercial, financial, employment, intellectual property, and international matters.

His consulting work also includes settlement strategy, dispute prevention, and executive-level conflict management.

Professional Panels & Affiliations

Mr. Hanft's professional panel experience and affiliations include:

• CPR Panel of Distinguished Neutrals
• American Arbitration Association — Complex Commercial and Employment Panels
• International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR)
• FINRA Arbitration and Mediation Panels
• U.S. District Court Mediation Programs — Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Mediation Panel
• New York State Commercial Division Mediation Panel

Geographic Scope

Based in New York City, Mr. Hanft provides mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution consulting services involving domestic and international parties.

His practice includes matters arising from commercial relationships, financial transactions, corporate operations, and disputes involving parties across multiple jurisdictions.

Professional Credentials & Recognition