The Gold Standard Course will not be offered in 2026-27
Please contact dharrison@harrisonadr.com if you have any questions.
“…the best course I have taken on any topic during my professional life! … exceptionally well planned and executed”
“Great job. Far exceeded my expectations.”
“… curriculum has the right balance of theory and practice; the faculty come from at the highest levels of the profession … the drafting exercises are meaningful but manageable. Highly recommended!”
The Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society Gold Standard© Course in Commercial Arbitration (the “Course”) is a comprehensive and intensive course in commercial arbitration as it is practiced in Canada. It covers both international and domestic arbitration from that perspective. The primary and guest faculty for the Course includes many of the leading Canadian and international arbitration practitioners. In addition to the teaching sessions, the Course features extensive reading materials, custom-designed practical exercises on topics such as drafting arbitration clauses, conducting the first procedural meeting, making procedural decisions, and writing awards, as well as video supplements on specialized topics such as tribunal dynamics and investor-state arbitration. In addition to the final award-writing exercise, there is also a final, multiple-choice exam. Two textbooks (Casey on Arbitration Law of Canada (4th ed.) and Gay/Kaufman/Plotkin Arbitration Legislation of Ontario (4th ed.), with a combined retail value of approximately $300, are included in the price of the Course.
The Course is particularly relevant to those who wish to practice commercial arbitration (either as counsel or as arbitrator) in Ontario, and in other provinces with the same legislative framework. However, the practical skills and approaches, and virtually all of the legal principles, are relevant in any Canadian jurisdiction.
In previous years, the Course has met and exceeded the Gold Standard© requirements of the ADR Institute of Canada (“ADRIC”) and successful completion of the Course satisfied the training requirements for the Qualified Arbitrator (Q.Arb) designation conferred by ADRIC (see the ADRIC website for details as to other requirements). We anticipate this will be the same this year.
In addition, in previous years the Course qualified participants for 18 hours of Law Society of Ontario CPD credits, including 3 Professionalism credits, in each of two calendar years. One hour of diversity (EDI) content was also available.
In recent years, the Course has been conducted in 17 Sessions between September and April, on Wednesday evenings (and two Saturday sessions) via Zoom.
The Course is specifically designed for practicing lawyers and has been taken by lawyers at the outset of their career or by those who have practiced for decades. However, anyone who has an interest in commercial arbitration, regardless of legal qualifications, may apply to enroll in the Course.
Enrollment in the Course is limited to 20.
The cost of the Course is $2,450, or $2,250 for members of TCAS. Payment can be made by cheque or etransfer to tcaspayments@gmail.com.
For information contact the Course Administrator, Douglas Harrison, at:
“…to regularly meet and share ideas with the leaders of the arbitration bar (both students and instructors) made this an incredibly valuable educational opportunity.”
“This is the A-Z course about arbitration essentials – fabulous!”
“Comprehensive and intense…”
