Thomas J. Brewer
THOMAS J. BREWER is an independent arbitrator specializing in international and domestic commercial arbitrations. Previously a trial lawyer representing clients in commercial cases, he has more than thirty years of experience serving as an arbitrator, court-appointed special master, and mediator in commercial cases. Mr. Brewer's arbitration experience includes both domestic and international commercial arbitrations, with over 350 appointments as panel chair, neutral panelist arbitrator or sole arbitrator since becoming a full-time neutral in 2000. His caseload includes a wide range of experience in business and commercial disputes, principally in the following areas:
BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL: Commercial contracts, sale of business/asset purchase, corporate governance and disputes between business co-owners, product development and licensing, insurance, international trade, commercial real estate and many other kinds of business agreements and transactions. Member of the ICDR's International Roster of arbitrators, the AAA’s Commercial and Large, Complex Case panels, and of the CPR Institute's Cross-Border, National Panel of Distinguished Neutrals and Commercial Real Estate panels of arbitrators. Examples of prior cases available at www.tjbrewer.com.
ENERGY, OIL & GAS, ELECTRIC POWER: Oil and gas arbitrations have included participation agreement, area of mutual interest, marketing and trading, pipeline, refinery, natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transport and sales, contract interpretation, royalty, production curtailment, joint venture, petrochemical, sale of business and valuation disputes. Electricity arbitrations have included numerous power purchase agreements, tolling, transmission, joint operating, co-generation, PURPA, ISO/RTO, contract interpretation, wind, solar and photovoltaic projects, biomass, steam supply, project development and other types of disputes and agreements. Member of the ICDR’s International Energy Arbitrators List, the AAA’s National Energy panel, and of the CPR Institute's Energy, Oil & Gas panel of arbitrators. Examples of prior cases available at www.tjbrewer.com.
TECHNOLOGY/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: IP and technology arbitrations have included patent, royalty, product development and licensing disputes related to semiconductor, pharmaceutical, medical product, vaccine, telecom and other technologies, trade secret misappropriation and Lanham Act disputes, copyright, software and business acquisition-related IP disputes. Member of the AAA’s Intellectual Property and of the CPR Institute's Health Care and Life Sciences panels of arbitrators. Member of the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center's Tech List of leading arbitrators and mediators in the technology sector (2020 and prior years). Examples of prior cases available at www.tjbrewer.com.
LLC, M&A and JOINT VENTURES: Substantial experience in arbitrations involving disputes between investors and business co-owners, including LLC members, M&A, joint operating and joint venture agreements, asset purchase, representations and warranties, post-closing purchase price and escrow adjustments, earnout provisions, tax-related acquisition disputes and non-competition disputes. Member of the AAA's M&A and Joint Ventures panel of arbitrators. Examples of prior cases available at www.tjbrewer.com.
OTHER: Arbitration experience also includes numerous construction cases, ERISA multiemployer pension plan withdrawal liability disputes, class action and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective arbitrations, insurance coverage, commercial healthcare payor-provider reimbursement disputes, service as an ICDR Article 37 emergency arbitrator, and many other types of commercial cases. Member of the AAA/ICDR’s recently-created Aviation, Aerospace and National Security panel of arbitrators to handle high-value defense, cyber and security-related disputes in the aerospace, aviation and national security sectors. Substantial prior experience in arbitrations involving aviation, aerospace, software, railroad and government-related disputes. Examples of prior cases available at www.tjbrewer.com.
AWARDS: Listed in Best Lawyers in America for arbitration, 2020 and prior years. Selected by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for arbitration in Seattle in 2015, 2017 and again for 2019. Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators. Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb). Listed in Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, 2019 and prior years (WWL comment: “’superlative’ and was particularly picked out for his expertise relating to IP disputes and energy cases”). Ranked in Chambers USA (2020) in the category of International Arbitration: Arbitrators USA (“an excellent arbitrator” with “good case management skills” who is “particularly adept at handling disputes involving IP”). Listed in Washington Super Lawyers, 2003-2020.
EDUCATION: Dartmouth College (B.A., Government, magna cum laude, 1968); Oxford University (B.A., Jurisprudence, First Class Honours, Wronker and Jurisprudence Prizes, Rhodes Scholar, 1973); Harvard Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, law review, 1975).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. Additional information, and a printable CV, available at www.tjbrewer.com.
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America for arbitration and mediation, 2020 and prior years
- Selected by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for arbitration in Seattle in 2015, 2017 and again for 2019, and for mediation in 2020
- Fellow, College of Commercial Arbitrators.
- Listed in Who's Who Legal: Arbitration, 2019 and prior years (WWL comment: “’superlative’ and was particularly picked out for his expertise relating to IP disputes and energy cases”)
- Ranked in Chambers USA (2020) in the category of International Arbitration: Arbitrators USA (“an excellent arbitrator” with “good case management skills” who is “particularly adept at handling disputes involving IP”)
- Listed in Washington Super Lawyers, 2003-2020
Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110
