National Arbitration Forum Names Michael Kelly Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

Minneapolis, MN, May 11, 2006 --(PR.com)-- http://www.adrforum.com — The National Arbitration Forum (FORUM), one of the nation’s largest providers of out-of-court dispute resolution services, has hired Michael Kelly as its new chief operating officer and general counsel. Kelly is responsible for managing the company’s operations and legal affairs to position the FORUM for anticipated future growth in the dispute resolution industry.

In 2005, disputing legal parties entrusted the FORUM to resolve legal claims worth more than $3 billion. Fueled by several years of large-scale growth, the company moved to larger headquarters in Minneapolis and opened offices in New Jersey and California. The increasing growth, in terms of revenue and national operations, prompted the need for the COO position. Kelly is the first to hold this position with the FORUM. Prior to Kelly, operational oversight was handled by the FORUM’s managing director and board of directors.

“We’ve seen the number of legal claims we resolve annually triple over the past three years,” said Ed Anderson, managing director of the FORUM. “The board recognized we needed to bring on operational talent to best position our organization for the future. Mike understands the legal intricacies of our business and brings the expertise we need.”

Prior to joining the National Arbitration Forum, Kelly was the senior vice president of strategy and business development for Gander Mountain. Before that, he was the executive vice president for the Minnesota Vikings for nearly five years. Kelly was also a partner with Minneapolis law firm Faegre & Benson.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help position the FORUM for its next level of success,” said Mike Kelly. “The increasing popularity of ADR puts the FORUM in an excellent posture for growth, which is why I was so attracted to this position.”

Michael Kelly served on the Edina City Council for eight years and was the Mayor Pro Tem for four years. In 1999, Kelly was selected by CityBusiness as one of its "40 Under 40," recognizing future community and business leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Kelly was also selected as a "Super Lawyer" and a "Rising Star" by his peers in the legal community in two surveys published by Minnesota Law and Politics.

Kelly received his Bachelor of Arts and law degrees from Notre Dame. In law school, he was awarded a scholarship through the Thomas J. White Center on Law and Government. As a White Scholar, Kelly worked as research editor for the Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy.

About the National Arbitration Forum
The National Arbitration Forum is one of the world's leading providers of alternative dispute resolution services, including arbitration and mediation. Committed to the integrity of ’s legal process, the National Arbitration Forum maintains a distinguished panel of over 1,500 attorneys and retired judges who follow and apply the substantive law when rendering legal decisions. National Arbitration Forum mediators and arbitrators are located across the and in 29 countries around the world. By administering dispute resolution solutions that save time and money, the National Arbitration Forum provides an efficient and effective service for all legal parties. Now in business for 20 years, the National Arbitration Forum is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with offices in New Jersey and Los Angeles. For more information visit the National Arbitration Forum's website at http://www.adrforum.com/.

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