World Neutrals Summit 2026 — Barcelona · August 2026 · 58 spots remaining
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System 01 · NES
Neutral Evaluation Systems
Independent expert evaluation before any formal step. Clarity on merits, risk, and the realistic range of outcomes — from $200.
Explore NES →$200
Snapshot from
11
NER sections
INDS™
governed
Evaluate
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Independent Neutral Evaluation (INE™)
11-section NER report · INDS™ governed · From $200
Clarity Snapshot™ $200
Fast-track · 3–5 days · Focused disputes
Clarity DeepView™ $800
Comprehensive · 7–12 days · Complex disputes
Standing Neutral
Prevention from contract execution · DRB · On-call
INDS™ Methodology
6 stages · 7 principles · 4 sub-frameworks
Submit NE-01 Intake
Free · 10 minutes · No commitment to proceed
Who We Serve
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For General Counsel
Dedicated neutral · Unlimited INE™ · ADR clause library
For Global Corporations
GC Retainer · CPRS™ · Priority 48h appointment
For Small Business & SMEs $2,500
Fixed-fee · 60-day target · No lawyers required
For Lawyers & Legal Firms
Appoint · Co-refer · Panel licensing
For Construction & Infrastructure
NEC · FIDIC · DRBs · Standing Neutral
For International Trade
Singapore & NY Convention · 80+ countries
For Associations & Bodies
Panel licensing · White-label ADR schemes
Ombuds Programme
External independent ombudsperson appointment
$200Clarity Snapshot™ from
11sections in every NER report
3–5days delivery
INDS™every evaluation governed
Submit NE-01 Intake →
System 02 · DRS
Dispute Resolution Systems
Seven instruments. One methodology. Arbitration is always the last resort — every instrument before it is designed to prevent it.
Explore DRS →$800
Mediation from
56+
Convention countries
48h
Appointment
Resolution Instruments
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Mediation $800
INDS™-informed · Singapore Convention · 56+ countries
Expert Determination $2,000
Binding · Technical questions · 4–8 weeks
Neutral Chairing
Multi-party · Governance · Restructuring sessions
Arbitration Last resort
UNIONE ICDT · NY Convention · 164 countries
Commercial Contract Disputes
Breach · Payment · Termination · Interpretation
Shareholder & Boardroom Disputes
Deadlock · Unfair prejudice · Buy-out
M&A & Transaction Disputes
Completion accounts · Earn-out · W&I
Employment Disputes
Senior exec · Bonus · Restrictive covenants
Prevention & Architecture
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By Sector
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Dispute System Design
Bespoke ADR frameworks · Contract clause drafting
CPRS™ — Corporate Prevention
Enterprise-wide prevention architecture · Annual retainer
Neutral Appointing Service
1,329+ certified · 80+ countries · 48h confirmed
Construction & Infrastructure
NEC · FIDIC · DRB
Banking & Finance
DIFC · ADGM · ISDA
Technology & IP
SaaS · AI Act · WIPO
Oil, Gas & Energy
PSA · JOA · Renewables
All 12 sectors →
$800Mediation from
56+Singapore Convention countries
164NY Convention countries
48happointment confirmation
Appoint a Neutral →
The Neutral Profession
Get Certified. Join the Bench.
1,329+ certified neutrals. 80+ countries. 12 sector benches. Exclusive by design — maximum 10 per sector per country.
The Profession →1,329+
Certified
80+
Countries
12
Benches
Join the Bench
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Certification Tiers
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For Neutrals — Overview
What bench certification means · Requirements
Apply for Certification Free
5–7 days review · Pay only on approval
Governance & Ethics
Code of Ethics · COI protocol · Global Council
Next-Gen Neutral™$395/yr
Accredited Neutral™$495/yr
Fellow · TheNeutrals.ORG™$795/yr
Learn & Community
The Neutrals Academy
CPD-accredited · Foundation to INDS™ Advanced
The Neutrals Connect
Co-referral · Roundtables · Peer community
Insights & Thought Leadership
Articles · The Neutral Voice · Dialogues
World Neutrals Summit 2026 58 spots
Barcelona · August 2026 · Registration open
12 Sector Benches
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Construction & Infrastructure
NEC · FIDIC · DRB · Standing Neutral
Banking & Finance
DIFC · ADGM · ISDA · LMA
Technology & IP
SaaS · AI Act · GDPR · WIPO
Oil, Gas & Energy
PSA · JOA · LNG · Renewables
Maritime
Charter Party · P&I · BIMCO
Healthcare
NHS · Pharma · Life Sciences
Aviation
Cape Town Convention · MRO · IATA
Media & Sports
Rights · Talent · CAS · IP
Real Estate
RICS · Rent reviews · Dilapidations
Education
HE · Academy Trusts · EdTech
ICT & Telecoms
Spectrum · MVNO · Digital
Private Clients
HNW · Family business · Succession
1,329+certified neutrals
80+countries represented
12sector benches
10max per sector per country
Apply — Free →
The Institution
TheNeutrals.ORG™
Independent. Impartial. International.™ The global home of trusted neutrals — governed by the Global Council, powered by INDS™.
About the Institution →INDS™
governed
Global
Council
The Institution
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About TheNeutrals.ORG™
Bench · Academy · Global Council · Mission
Governance & Ethics
6 pillars · Code of Ethics · Complaints · Sanctions
INDS™ Methodology
The framework behind every engagement
Neutral Appointing Service
1,329+ · 80+ countries · COI-checked · 48h
Insights & Thought Leadership
Articles · The Neutral Voice · Dialogues
World Neutrals Summit 2026
Barcelona · August 2026 · 58 spots
Contact
Enquiries · Appointments · Partnerships
Connected World
→
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UNIONE™↗
International Commercial Dispute Tribunal · Arbitration administration · New York Convention · 164 countries
UNBOUNDED™ Global Ecosystem™↗
World Neutrals Summit · Global professional events · The neutral community gathered annually
For Associations & Bodies
Panel licensing · White-label ADR schemes · CPD
Ombuds Programme
External independent ombudsperson appointment
INDS™every engagement governed
GlobalCouncil governed institution
IndependentImpartial · International™
UNIONE™ ↗
UNBOUNDED™ ↗
Neutral Evaluation ▾
Evaluate
Independent Neutral Evaluation (INE™)11-section NER report · INDS™ governed→ Clarity Snapshot™ — $200Fast-track · 3–5 days→ Standing NeutralPrevention from contract execution→ INDS™ Methodology→Who We Serve
For General Counsel→ For Global Corporations→ For SMEs — from $2,500→ For Lawyers & Legal Firms→ For Construction & Infrastructure→ For International Trade→Dispute Resolution ▾
Resolution Instruments
MediationFrom $800 · Singapore Convention · 56+ countries→ Expert DeterminationBinding · From $2,000→ Neutral Chairing→ Arbitration (Last resort)NY Convention · 164 countries→Prevention
CPRS™ Corporate Prevention→ Dispute System Design→ Neutral Appointing Service→12 Sectors
Construction & Infrastructure→ Banking & Finance→ All 12 Sectors — Full Directory→Get Certified ▾
Join the Bench
Apply for Certification — Free5–7 days · Pay only on approval→ For Neutrals — Overview→ Governance & Ethics→Learn
The Neutrals AcademyCPD-accredited · Foundation to Advanced→ The Neutrals Connect→ Insights & Thought Leadership→ World Neutrals Summit 2026Barcelona · August 2026 · 58 spots→Already Certified?
My Dashboard→ My Bench Profile→About ▾
Thomas Deen
- Houston, United States
- +1 (713) 828-1580
- tdeen@sbsblaw.com
Tom Deen has spent over 35 years practicing in the areas of maritime/admiralty law, commercial litigation, insurance, insurance defense, arbitration and business transactions. He has handled almost every type of matter imaginable in his practice areas. In addition to his litigation and transactional practice, Tom is also a certified maritime arbitrator and mediator and served for several years as the
Tom is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas and is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Southern, Northern and Eastern District of Texas. Tom is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubble, which indicates a demonstration of the highest professional and ethical standards and is the highest rating a lawyer can receive.
BAR ADMISSIONS
- State Bar of Texas - 1983
- Supreme Court of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas
Texas Bar Association
- Houston Maritime Arbitrators Association: Past Chairman of the Board of Directors
- Propeller Club of the United States - Port of Houston: Past Member of the Board of Directors
- Houston International Seafarer’s Center: Member of the Board of Directors
- The Maritime Law Association of the United States
- International Transportation Management Association
- Houston Mariner's Club
Background and Education
- Juris Doctor, 1983 - South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas
- Bachelor of Science, Political Science, 1977 - Emory University, Atlanta Georgia
Tags
ArbitrationMediation