Professor Amy Schmitz joined the University of Missouri School of Law and the Center for Dispute Resolution as the Elwood L. Thomas Missouri Endowed Professor of Law in 2016. Previously she was a Professor at the University of Colorado School of Law for over 16 years. Prior to teaching, Professor Schmitz practiced law with large law firms in Seattle and Minneapolis and served as a law clerk for the U. S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Professor Schmitz teaches courses in Contracts, Lawyering, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), AI, Data Analytics and the Law, Arbitration, International Arbitration, and Consumer Law. She has been heavily involved in ODR teaching and research for a long time and is a Fellow of the National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution, as well as the Co-Chair of the ABA Technology Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section and the ODR Task Force. She serves on the Association of American Law Schools Executive Committee on Commercial and Consumer Law, was an External Scientific Fellow of the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg, and is a researcher with the ACT Project exploring AI and ODR. Professor Schmitz has published over 50 articles in law journals and books, and a book, The New Handshake: Online Dispute Resolution and the Future of Consumer Protection, with Colin Rule.
TECHNOLOGY DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Expert in blockchain and AI and the Law; working with Cybersecurity and issues at the crossroads of law and technology.
ARBITRATION: Leading expert in arbitration; has taught arbitration for over 20 years, as well as international arbitration; expert in ethical and practical aspects of proper arbitration aimed for the most efficient and fair processes; teaches CLEs in arbitration for various audiences; expert in use of technology and virtual hearings in arbitration as well.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS: Represented parties in arbitrations focused on government contracts; gained insights and expertise as a state employee in Colorado and Missouri; provided pro bono assistance for courts considering incorporation of online dispute resolution (ODR) and “e-courts”; continuing to gain cutting edge knowledge and expertise with respect to government contracts, especially as governments move processes online.
COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS: Arbitrated commercial, construction and vehicle cases, including serving as the sole arbitrator on several automobile defect cases that went to award, and a commercial contract case that settled after commandeering a beneficial preliminary hearing; served as the appellate arbitrator on complex cases analyzing insurance contract coverage; practiced as an attorney at two large law firms, with a focus on commercial matters, government contracts and other complex contract and commercial law matters; teaches and consults with respect to contract and commercial law, and is considered a leading expert with respect to commercial law — thus serving on the Executive Committee of the American Association of Law Schools Commercial and Consumer Law Section.
PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE: Is a leader with a top rated Center for the Study of Dispute Resolution; is listed with the American Arbitration Association, United States Arbitration & Mediation Services, and De Mars Arbitration; has a reputation for fairness and attention to detail; and represented parties in arbitration and mediation while in private practice as an attorney with two different law firms before becoming a Professor.
$375/hour for hearings; $350/hour study and preparation; happy to work with the parties to keep costs down and use virtual hearings — I have long been an expert in online arbitration (OArb).