Michael D. Zimmerman

Justice Zimmerman has served as a mediator in over 150 cases and an arbitrator in more than 100 cases since retiring from the Utah Supreme Court and returning to private practice in 2000. He has handled everything from family disagreements and neighbor disputes to disputes involving constitutional takings; contract breaches, both domestic and international; wrongful franchise termination; business dissolutions; intentional infliction of emotional distress; business torts; landlord-tenant disputes; arbitral division of $1.5 billion in assets of school district; interpretation of commercial insurance policy; claims of unfair trade practices and consumer fraud; and class action determinations.

Dispute Resolution Experience
Private mediator and arbitrator (2000-present); American Arbitration Association, Panelist (2000-present); National Panel of Distinguished Neutrals for CPR: International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution, Panelist; Association for Conflict Resolution, Member (2001-present); Utah Judicial Council, Court Annexed Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, Member (2000-2015); Appointed Special Master for United States District Court (U.S. v. Brown, No. 2:95CR 245B) (2001-2009); Utah Council on Conflict Resolution, Board of Directors, Chair (1999-2006)

Alternative Dispute Resolution Training
Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators, 2022; Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are?, 2021; Cyber Security: A Shared Responsibility, 2020; AAA Case Finances: What Arbitrators Need to Know, 2019; Addressing the Challenges of Demanding Arbitrations: Part 2 ~ The Hearing Phase, the Award, and Beyond, 2019; The Arbitration “Need to Knows”: Trends and Lessons for 2017 and Beyond, 2018; AAA Confronting Arbitrability and Jurisdiction Issues in Arbitration, 2016; AAA The “How To” of Presenting Damages in Arbitration, 2015; AAA “Exceeded Powers” – Recent Trends in Cases Challenging Arbitrator Authority 2015; AAA Webinar, Does AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion L.L.C. Spell an End to Class Actions?, 2013; AAA Maximizing Efficiency & Economy in Arbitration: Challenges at the Preliminary Hearing, 2011; AAA Webinar, New AAA Healthcare Payor Provider Judicial Orientation, 2011; AAA Webinar, How to Prevent Arbitrations from Transforming into Litigations, 2009; AAA Webinar, Get Smart: Issues Surrounding Surveillance in the Workplace, 2009; AAA Webinar, Why Construction Mediations Fail: Avoiding Common Mistakes, 2009; AAA Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics, 2009; AAA Arbitrator Ethics & Disclosure, 2006; AAA Chairing an Arbitration Panel: Managing Procedures, Process & Dynamics, 2005; Utah Council on Conflict Resolution, Annual ADR Symposium, 1999-2005; AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, 2004; AAA Commercial Arbitrator II Training: Advanced Case Management Issues, 2003; AAA Arbitrator I Training-Fundamentals of the Arbitration Process, 2002; Utah Council on Conflict Resolution, Mediation Advocacy Workshop, 2000; Utah Dispute Resolution, Basic Mediation Training, 2000; Harvard Law School, P.I.L. Negotiation Workshop, 1999; various other ADR training.

Background
Appointed to the Utah Supreme Court in 1984 by Governor Scott M. Matheson. Served as chief justice from 1994 through 1998, leaving the Utah Supreme Court in January 2000. As a justice of a common law supreme court, has had broad exposure to numerous areas of law. Taught antitrust and securities regulation as an associate professor of law at the University of Utah College of Law. Heavily involved in class actions, securities fraud suits, and appellate work as a practitioner in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Current practice concentrates on arbitration and mediation, appellate practice, and post-trial motions.

Experience
Partner, Zimmerman Booher (2011-present); Partner, Snell & Wilmer (2000-11); Justice/Chief Justice/Chair of Judicial Council/Member of Judicial Council, Utah Supreme Court (1984-00); Adjunct Professor/Associate Professor, University of Utah College of Law (1989-93, 1976-84); Shareholder, Watkiss & Campbell (1980-84); Of Counsel, Kruse, Landa, Zimmerman & Maycock (1978-80); Special Counsel to Governor of Utah, State of Utah (1978-84); Associate, O’Melveny & Myers (1970-76); Law Clerk, Chief Justice Warren E. Burger of the U.S. Supreme Court (1969-70)

Education
University of Utah (BS, Political Science, cum laude-1966); University of Utah (JD-1969)