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Steven Skulnik, Esq.
Arbitrator
Download Bio Contact Case ManagerSteven Skulnik is an experienced arbitrator and mediator who has served as sole arbitrator, tribunal chair and co-arbitrator in more than 100 matters through award, including domestic and international commercial disputes. His matters span complex disputes involving technology and software, financial services, banking and securities, intellectual property and licensing, life sciences and healthcare, energy, real estate, hospitality, franchise and distribution relationships, corporate disputes and cross-border transactions.
Skulnik brings more than four decades of experience in domestic and international arbitration and commercial litigation. Before joining Practical Law in 2014, he was counsel in the litigation department at Ganfer & Shore LLP. He previously served as counsel at Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP and as a partner at Pavia & Harcourt LLP. His private practice included commercial contracts, banking, employment, real estate, shareholder and partnership disputes, intellectual property, trademarks, information technology and unfair competition matters in federal and state courts and domestic and international arbitration.
He is also a Senior Specialist Legal Editor on the arbitration team at Practical Law, Thomson Reuters, where he writes and edits legal know-how concerning arbitration law and practice.
Skulnik was appointed to the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center’s 2026 Tech List®, recognizing leading arbitrators and mediators with significant experience in technology disputes. He is also a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Areas of Expertise
- Technology, software and data
- Artificial intelligence and digital assets
- Intellectual property, licensing and trademarks
- Banking, financial services and securities
- Hedge funds, private equity and investment disputes
- Business and commercial contracts
- Corporate, shareholder and partnership disputes
- Healthcare, life sciences and pharmaceuticals
- Energy, mining and infrastructure
- Real estate and hospitality
- Franchise and distribution
- International and cross-border disputes
Representative Arbitration Matters
Technology, Software, Telecommunications and Intellectual Property Disputes
- Chair of the tribunal in a dispute between an educational testing service and a software developer
- Chair of the tribunal in a dispute between a compiler of data on recycled automobile parts and a manufacturer of automobile-parts information systems
- Chair of the tribunal in a dispute between parties that owned the same trademark in different territories concerning the reasonableness of termination of a license agreement
- Sole arbitrator in a dispute between a local exchange carrier and a telecommunications billing aggregator concerning indemnity relating to a consumer class action
- Co-arbitrator in a patent-license dispute
- Co-arbitrator in a dispute involving a license agreement between a software developer and an insurance company
Financial Services and Investment Disputes
- Sole arbitrator in a dispute between an investment banker and his former employer
- Co-arbitrator in a dispute between members concerning removal of a manager and derivative claims against the removed manager
- Co-arbitrator in a dispute brought by a 50% member of an LLC derivatively on behalf of the LLC against a trademark licensor
Franchise, Licensing, Distribution and Hospitality Disputes
- Chair of the tribunal in a dispute involving a hotel franchise agreement
- Chair of the tribunal in a dispute between a food manufacturer and its multi-unit franchisee
- Sole arbitrator in a dispute concerning the fair market value of distribution rights under New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law
Healthcare Disputes
- Sole arbitrator in a dispute concerning termination of a Medicare Advantage provider agreement
Real Estate and Commercial Disputes
- Sole arbitrator in a dispute between a buyer and seller of commercial real property in Europe
- Sole arbitrator in a dispute between a photographer’s representative and a photographer
- Co-arbitrator in a dispute under a janitorial services contract for an NHL hockey arena
- Co-arbitrator in a warranty dispute concerning a large-cabin business jet
International and Cross-Border Arbitration Experience
Skulnik has handled international and cross-border commercial disputes and serves on the International, Commercial and Large Complex Case Panels of Arbitrators of the AAA/ICDR, the Panel of Arbitrators of the International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR), the Panel of Arbitrators of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), and the FedArb International panel.
His international arbitration experience includes disputes involving commercial real estate in Europe and other cross-border commercial relationships.
Mediation Experience
Skulnik has mediated approximately 60 disputes. Representative matters include:
- A dispute between two technology integration firms
- A royalty dispute involving a fashion license
- A dispute involving website design
- A dispute between a hotel owner and its manager
- A dispute concerning a sales commission plan between an employee and a company providing treasury services to hedge funds
- A dispute concerning restrictions on an insider’s sale of company stock
Professional Recognition
- Appointed to the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center 2026 Tech List®
- Selected to New York Super Lawyers® for Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2012–2026
- Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
Arbitration Leadership and Professional Affiliations
- Chair, New York City Bar Association Arbitration Committee, 2018–2021
- Co-Chair, New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Arbitration Committee, 2016–2018
- Organizing Committee, New York Arbitration Week, 2019–2025; Co-Chair, 2024
- Member, International Arbitration Club of New York
- Member, New York International Arbitration Center
- Member, Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center
- Member, ICDR Publications Committee
- Board of Editors, Dispute Resolution Lawyer, New York State Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section
Selected Publications
- Co-editor, College of Commercial Arbitrators Guide to Best Practices in Commercial Arbitration, 5th ed. (2025)
- Author of chapters addressing Shearson/American Express v. McMahon and Granite Rock Co. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters in S. Supreme Court Precedents on Arbitration (2025)
- Co-author, “Application of Mandatory Law in U.S. Arbitration,” Dispute Resolution Journal (2024)
- Author, “Arbitrating During a Pandemic,” Practical Law The Journal – Litigation (2020)
- Author, “Considering Video Conference Arbitration Hearings in the US: Ensuring Due Process,” Dispute Resolution Lawyer (2020)
- Co-author, “Do Arbitrators Know the Law (and Should They Find it Themselves?),” Dispute Resolution Journal (2018)
Education
- J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 1983
- B.A., Economics, Brandeis University, 1980
Admissions
- New York
- S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- S. District Court for the Western District of New York