Hon. Tiffany Williams Brewer brings a wealth of judicial, academic, and public service experience to her work as a neutral. A former New Jersey administrative law judge, she now serves as an associate professor at Howard University School of Law, where she teaches and mentors the next generation of legal professionals. She was recently named chair of American Bar Association Section of Litigation, representing more than 30,000 members nationwide.
Over her career she has also served as assistant U.S. attorney, deputy chief counsel to the New Jersey governor, chief counsel to the speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, and in several other senior government roles.
An international legal educator and nonprofit leader, Judge Williams Brewer has trained lawyers and judges in Africa and the Middle East, served as a visiting professor in India and Saudi Arabia, and founded the Esther Project to advance women and girls. With this breadth of experience, she brings integrity, efficiency, and fairness to her work as an arbitrator and mediator with the AAA.
Q: Could you tell us about your judicial career?
Tiffany: I became an administrative law judge in 2010 after serving as Deputy Chief Counsel to the New Jersey Governor. That role gave me the opportunity to screen judges and hear from the Bar about what mattered most to them, which shaped my own approach of being a judge who truly listens.
As a judge, I presided over a wide range of cases in the central panel model—from environmental matters to welfare disputes. That breadth taught me to adapt quickly, focus on the legal issue at hand, and balance my approach depending on the parties—whether they were self-represented or highly skilled counsel.
Q: What motivated your transition from the bench to ADR?
Tiffany: My motivation really comes from a love of law and respect for the justice system, especially the role judges play within it. The responsibilities of judges are many and the demands often exceed resources. Judges carry tremendous caseloads and responsibility; ADR offers a more expedited, directed way to resolve disputes—one that I believe represents the future of conflict resolution.
Transitioning to ADR, and as well as to education, aligns with my broader calling to teach, to help guide the next generation of legal professionals.
Q: What do you value most about serving as a neutral?
Tiffany: I believe in learning by example. That’s what I try to do and what my father did for me. I grew up knowing the AAA through my father, who was a union president and involved in arbitration. To me, the AAA has always been a trusted source of dispute resolution. What I value most is that parties can place their trust in the integrity and training of the neutral they select. That trust is the foundation of the process.
Q: How has your judicial experience shaped your approach to ADR?
Tiffany: My judicial experience translates directly and seamlessly aligns with AAA and ADR. I know what it means to be fair, open-minded, patient, and diligent in reviewing parties’ positions. I’m deferential to the parties’ wishes in their arbitration clauses and rigorous in applying the law. Listening to witnesses, assessing credibility, and applying the facts is second nature to me—it’s something I’ve done for years.
Q: What is your philosophy on case management?
Tiffany: Efficiency is key. In administrative proceedings, I learned quickly that cases could not go on for years, as I was used to in the civil litigation process. That same discipline applies in ADR. We should be working as efficiently as possible while ensuring that parties’ expectations are met. Case management is about balancing fairness with focus, so the process helps parties achieve their goals.
Q: Can you share a memorable ADR experience?
Tiffany: My very first arbitration stands out. It was layered and challenging, requiring me to adhere to the parties’ agreement from the outset. The resolution was rooted in the revelation of a data anomaly that was challenged, but I knew then—as I do now—that neutrals must follow the evidence and apply the rules fairly in accordance with the guardrails established in the parties’ arbitration agreement.
Q: What advice do you have for advocates and parties preparing for ADR?
Tiffany: Be very clear about the outcome you want, and about your priorities. In discovery disputes, for example, you may not get everything you want, so know where you can compromise and where you cannot. Avoid being overly litigious—thoughtfulness and clarity go a long way in this process.
Q: Have you noticed shifts in disputes or party expectations in recent years?
Tiffany: Yes—I’ve noticed an uptick in cases involving cryptocurrency, particularly around the discovery of data breaches. Parties are increasingly focused on how emerging technologies impact their rights and obligations.
Q: Which qualities do you believe are most essential for a successful neutral?
Tiffany: Leadership, listening, decisiveness and courage. It takes courage to apply the law and the terms of the parties’ arbitration agreement even when the decision is difficult. But at the end of the day, that’s the role of the neutral.
Q: Beyond your professional work, what passions drive you?
Tiffany: I am passionate about purposeful living—self-care and wellness of mind, body and spirit. Empowerment and service are central to both my professional and personal core values. Mentoring and guiding the next generation is also one of my passions.