Theo Cheng is an independent arbitrator and mediator, focusing on commercial, IP, technology, entertainment, and employment disputes, both domestically in the United States and internationally. More info at www.theocheng.com.Theo has been appointed to the rosters of the AAA, the International Centre for Dispute Resolution, the CPR, Resolute Systems, the American Intellectual Property Law Association's List of Arbitrators and Mediators, and the SVAMC's List of the World's Leading Technology Neutrals. He is a AAA Master Mediator, a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, and a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators.Theo is also an Adjunct Professor at New York Law School where he teaches ADR-related courses and is a Practitioner in Residence at the Intellectual Property (IP) Policy Institute at the University of Akron School of Law (previously at George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School). He also co-founded and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Sonata Academy, the premier, first-in-class institution of education and training for the ADR field, offering arbitration, mediation, and other related courses to both neutrals and advocates.

Before becoming a full-time neutral, Theo practiced for nearly 25 years as an IP and general commercial litigator covering all areas of IP. He honed his litigation skills at several prominent national law firms, where he counseled high net-worth individuals and small to middle-market business entities in a variety of industries (e.g., high-tech, telecommunications, entertainment, consumer products) and represented them in a broad array of business disputes. Some of his most well-known matters involved representing certified classes of songwriters and music publishers, in conjunction with motion picture studios and record labels, in industry-sponsored litigations against various internet, peer-to-peer file-sharing companies such as Napster and Grokster.