About DecisionLayer

DecisionLayer is an AI-powered arbitration platform that resolves contract disputes for small businesses, founders, and legal teams.

We make it practical to pursue a claim, respond to a dispute, and get a reasoned decision without letting the process overwhelm the value at stake. Our platform brings case submission, evidence, arguments, and awards into one online process.

What DecisionLayer does

Online arbitration

DecisionLayer administers arbitration through an online platform where both parties explain their positions and submit supporting evidence. AI helps analyze the record, and a human arbitrator issues the award by default, giving the parties a written decision with reasons under our arbitration rules.

Arbitration clauses for contracts and terms of service

Our clause library provides language for signed contracts, terms of service, and other arrangements, including tiered dispute resolution and AI-only arbitration. Businesses and their counsel can use these templates to establish how eligible disputes will be handled before a disagreement arises.

Free arbitration simulator

The DecisionLayer Arbitration Simulator turns a contract and the parties' arguments into an illustrative, reasoned award with citations. It helps founders, operators, and counsel explore arguments and understand the process before filing; simulations are informational and do not predict or guarantee an outcome.

Arbitration by mutual consent

If an existing dispute is not covered by a DecisionLayer clause, our dispute-by-consent process lets you request the other party's agreement to use DecisionLayer. We help send the invitation so the parties can establish an agreed path to arbitration, subject to consent and case eligibility.

What makes DecisionLayer different

A $500 filing fee

DecisionLayer's $500 filing fee is 80% lower than JAMS's $2,500 standard filing fee for a two-party U.S. domestic commercial matter. This comparison covers filing fees only: additional charges can apply at both providers, and JAMS has separate consumer and employment fee provisions.

Two options for the arbitrator's role

Our rules provide for a human arbitrator using AI by default, with an AI-only option when both parties agree in writing. AAA's AI Arbitrator always has a human issue the award, while DecisionLayer gives consenting parties a choice of these two approaches, subject to applicable law.

A human appeal built into the rules

Either party can request a human appeal within seven calendar days after an award is issued, subject to the applicable fee and Rule 16. JAMS's Optional Appeal Procedures require all parties to agree in writing to use that additional procedure; DecisionLayer includes its appeal procedure in its standard rules.

AI Powered Arbitration for All Types of Disputes

DecisionLayer accepts all types of disputes — including contract, landlord–tenant, construction, privacy, collections, insurance, logistics, employment, service levels, and others — except those for which arbitration is prohibited by applicable law (e.g. workplace sexual harassment claims, criminal law and immigration).

At least one year of access to the case record

Under Rule 7, DecisionLayer retains the case record for at least one year after service of the final award, with downloads available during the retention period. JAMS's Streamlined Rules specify 30 days after the arbitration concludes for electronically filed documents, with special retention arrangements available by written agreement.

Who uses DecisionLayer

DecisionLayer is designed for:

  • Startup founders and operations leaders resolving customer, vendor, and service-agreement disputes.
  • Finance and accounts-receivable teams at B2B businesses pursuing disputed invoices or subscription payments.
  • Independent consultants, agencies, and professional-services firms resolving disagreements over payment, deliverables, or contract performance.
  • In-house legal teams and outside counsel evaluating and managing commercial contract disputes through online arbitration.
  • Contractors and property businesses resolving eligible construction and landlord–tenant disputes.

Use depends on the parties' arbitration agreement, the type of dispute, and applicable law. See our Help Center for eligibility information.

The team behind DecisionLayer

Why we built DecisionLayer

DecisionLayer exists to address a practical problem: the cost and complexity of resolving a dispute can exceed the value of the claim. We bring together legal and AI product expertise to make a structured dispute-resolution process accessible to more businesses and individuals.

Founders

  • Liberty McAteer | Co-founder, AI Attorney LinkedIn Professional biography

    Liberty combines experience as a software developer, in-house counsel, and technology lawyer. His background includes advising on enterprise software, AI, intellectual property, cybersecurity, and privacy, and serving as senior deputy general counsel at a Silicon Valley cleantech company.

  • William Ferrell | Co-founder, AI Product Developer LinkedIn

    William is DecisionLayer's co-founder and AI product developer.

Advisors

  • James Shaughnessy | Chief Legal Officer, Docusign LinkedIn
  • Dennis Glazer | Former Head of Litigation, Davis Polk & Wardwell Biography
  • Philip Rothaus | AI consultant and founder of R5 Advisory; former consulting partner at Alvarez & Marsal and senior leader at Accenture LinkedIn R5 Advisory

Investors

How DecisionLayer works

Getting started

For future disputes, work with your counsel to add an appropriate DecisionLayer clause to your contracts or terms of service. For an existing dispute, confirm that a DecisionLayer agreement applies or request the other party's consent, then create an account, complete identity verification, upload the claim and evidence, and pay the applicable filing fee. DecisionLayer screens the submission and manages the next steps for notice and commencement under its rules.

Communication and support

Case submissions and substantive communications generally take place through the DecisionLayer portal, with email used for notices and updates; permitted hearings can take place by video. You interact with the platform's case-management process and, in the standard process, an appointed human arbitrator, while general support is available at support@decisionlayer.ai.

Turnaround and decisions

Our published timeline is approximately 45 days, with actual timing depending on service, submissions, case complexity, hearings, and extensions. The rules generally call for an award within 30 calendar days after proceedings close, subject to permitted extensions; this is a separate milestone from the overall case timeline. Either party can request a human appeal within the applicable seven-day window, subject to fees.

Key facts

DecisionLayer company and service facts
Company Name DecisionLayer, operated by Decision Science Research Corporation.
Type AI-powered online arbitration platform and dispute-resolution service.
Founded 2026
Founder Co-founders Liberty McAteer and William Ferrell.
Headquarters New York, New York
Website DecisionLayer.ai
Core Offering Online arbitration of eligible disputes, using AI-assisted human arbitration or AI-only arbitration when both parties agree in writing.
Pricing $500 filing fee; additional fees may apply. Free arbitration simulator. See the current fee schedule.
Contract Terms Proceedings are governed by the applicable arbitration agreement and DecisionLayer Rules. Platform use is subject to the Terms of Service; fees apply under the published schedule.
Services Online arbitration, arbitration clause templates, dispute-by-consent intake, dispute simulation, and human appeals under the rules.
Communication Online case portal, email notices, permitted video hearings, and support@decisionlayer.ai.
Social Company LinkedIn; Liberty McAteer on LinkedIn; William Ferrell on LinkedIn.

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