Our Case Assessment Research™ delivers a rigorous analysis that extends far beyond traditional legal review. We begin with an exhaustive examination of the case materials – pleadings, evidence, testimony, applicable law, and potential damages – to develop a complete understanding of the dispute. Drawing on our expertise in arbitration, behavioural science, and decision–making research, we design empirical studies to measure how our arbitral tribunals are likely to respond both emotionally and cognitively to your case. This approach enables us to assess potential outcomes and awards, resulting in a systematic evaluation of your case’s strengths, vulnerabilities, and the optimal strategic approach.
Most hearing transcript analysis tells you what happened. Ours tells you what it means.
We apply a behavioural science framework drawing on psychology, sociology, and neuroscience to decode what is actually unfolding in the hearing room. Arbitrator interventions are examined for sentiment, emotional valence, and psychological framing: the questions they ask, how they challenge counsel and witnesses, and the patterns of engagement across the panel — revealing what those signals indicate about how your case is being received.
The result is not a summary of proceedings. It is strategic intelligence — identifying the motivational forces shaping arbitrator decisions and translating them into actionable guidance for the sessions ahead.
This is not simply better technology. It is a fundamentally different methodology — built for advocates who understand that winning an arbitration depends not just on the strength of your case, but on how it lands.
This research program applies behavioural science to predict and measure how witnesses will perform in arbitration settings. It employs established principles from psychology, including credibility assessment, cognitive biases in decision-making, and persuasion theory. Rather than relying on intuition, it reveals how arbitrators are likely to process information and form judgments about witnesses.
These insights enable strategic decisions about:
Successful advocacy relies upon knowledge of the law, sound judgment, and intelligence. It is also dependent upon the ability to persuasively communicate with other people. Despite the belief of many lawyers that they are effective advocates, this is not always the case. Our team of behavioural science and communication experts have identified specific dimensions of advocacy effectiveness that can be measured and analysed. Each of these dimensions are evaluated separately and then aggregated to calculate an overall assessment of the lawyer’s communication effectiveness. This process involves live presentations reviewed by our psychologists, experienced arbitrators, and communication and media experts. The results deliver an impartial assessment of an advocate’s skills and identifies specific areas for improvement.
ASL’s Bench Trial Assessment Research™ gives lawyers and their clients a decisive edge when preparing Motions for Summary Judgement, or a Bench Trial. Working with client’s counsel, our team of PhD psychologists, neuroscientists, and AI engineers conduct rigorous empirical research — going well beyond conventional legal review — to reveal how the judge in your case is likely to think, feel, and rule. These studies deliver three critical dimensions of strategic intelligence:
I — VULNERABILITIES & OPPORTUNITIES An evaluation of your case’s weaknesses and strengths, identifying where you are most exposed and where your best strategic leverage lies.
II — OVERALL PERSUASIVENESS OF YOUR CASE OR MOTION An empirical assessment of how effectively your arguments, evidence, and presentation strategy are likely to be received by the judge — both cognitively and emotionally.
III — REACTIONS OF SURROGATE JUDGES Analysis of how surrogate judges with similar backgrounds and experience as the judge in your case may respond to your arguments and presentation approach.
Our team of behavioural science experts have earned advanced degrees in affect and social psychology, sociology, data analytics, neuroscience, and AI engineering from institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, and leading universities in the United States. This multidisciplinary expertise enables us to apply rigorous scientific methodology to the complex human dynamics of international arbitration, delivering insights that transform how our clients approach their most consequential disputes.
