Thomas Stipanowich

Thomas Stipanowich is a distinguished mediator and arbitrator currently associated with JAMS since 2019, and serves as the William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution and Professor of Law at Pepperdine University School of Law since 2006. Stipanowich led the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution for 14 years, during which it was consistently ranked as the top program in the U.S. in its field. With extensive experience as a commercial and construction arbitrator and mediator, Stipanowich has managed large and complex contract and commercial disputes in the U.S. Additionally, Stipanowich served as President and CEO of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution from 2001 to 2006, promoting innovative dispute resolution practices. Stipanowich holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law and has a background in architecture with a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.