Fee Dispute Resolution Program(a) The Bar's fee arbitration procedure is a private, contract dispute resolution mechanism and not the transaction of public business.(b) Except as provided in (d) below, or unless all parties to an arbitration agree otherwise: all records, documents, papers, correspondence and other material submitted by the parties to General Counsel or to an arbitration panel during the course of an arbitration proceeding and any award rendered by an arbitration panel is not subject to public disclosure.(c) Arbitration hearings conducted pursuant to the Bar's fee arbitration procedure will be closed to the public unless all parties to an arbitration agree otherwise. Witnesses who will offer testimony on behalf of a party may, however, attend the arbitration hearing.(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a), (b) and (c), arbitrators must disclose to Disciplinary Counsel any knowledge obtained during the course of an arbitration proceeding of an apparent violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct or ORS Chapter 9 committed by an attorney and all records, documents, papers, correspondence and other material submitted to General Counsel or to the arbitration panel during the course of the proceeding and any award rendered by the panel must be made available to Disciplinary Counsel for the purpose of investigating alleged ethical violations.Adopted effective 4/14/2023.