Nona Lee is a nationally recognized attorney, arbitrator, former professional sports executive, and leadership strategist who helps organizations build strong cultures, courageous leadership, and lasting impact. With more than two decades in Major League Baseball and more than 30 years (and counting) practicing law, she also advises leaders nationwide through consulting, speaking, and immersive retreats designed to inspire meaningful, measurable change.
In this Q&A, Lee discusses her experience in sports-oriented disputes.
Q: What is your background in sports-related disputes?
Lee: My first involvement in sports-related disputes was representing the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball Salary Arbitration cases against arbitration-eligible players. I also served as a panelist on the NCAA's Independent Resolution Panel, hearing NCAA infractions cases against member institutions. In addition to serving on the AAA's Sports Conflict Panel, I am also an arbitrator for FAIR Sports, a dispute resolution service for NIL disputes.
Q: What kinds of matters do you most often see as an arbitrator or mediator in the sports industry?
Lee: Aside from MLB Salary Arbitrations, the majority of cases I have dealt with in the sports industry as an arbitration have involved infractions-related cases, at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Q: What drew you to ADR work in this space, and what do you find most rewarding about serving on the AAA’s Sports Conflicts Panel?
Lee: In Arizona, after you've been practicing for 5-years, you are eligible to be assigned court-ordered arbitrations. Consequently, over the past 25 years, I served as an arbitrator in court-appointed arbitrations. Having started my legal career as a litigator, it provided me with the opportunity to stay engaged in the resolution of disputes albeit in a different role. I enjoy serving on the AAA's Sports Conflict Panel because it gives me the opportunity to stay engaged in an industry that I love (sports) and know well, while helping with the fair and expeditious resolution of disputes.
Q: What advice would you give parties preparing for arbitration or mediation in complex sports disputes?
Lee: Parties preparing for arbitration or mediation in complex sports disputes should focus on presenting a clear and organized case — almost telling a story — and giving the arbitrator all of the information they need to make a sound decision based on accurate law and fact. There are many different areas of sports so parties should not assume that an arbitrator (even one who specialized in sports law) knows the language and nuances of their particular sport.