Biography
Gary Benton is an internationally recognized Arbitrator and Mediator with expertise in international business, private investment, technology, IP and emerging growth matters. His practice is focused on technology development, distribution, licensing, infringement (trade secret, copyright and patent) and cybersecurity disputes. He has handled hundreds of cases around the world and serves on the panels of the leading international arbitral institutions in the US, Europe and Asia.
In addition to his arbitration practice, Mr. Benton teaches at Pepperdine University and Santa Clara University. Mr. Benton is the founder and currently serves as the Chairman of the Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center (SVAMC) in Palo Alto, California. He was previously a partner with the leading international law firms Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Coudert Brothers LLP in San Francisco and Palo Alto. As well, he served as Chief Legal Officer for a cloud and mobile cybersecurity company supporting US national security interests.
He is a Chartered Arbitrator and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a Fellow and Board member of the College of Commercial Arbitrators (CCA), an Academy Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) and a member of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA) Advisory Board and the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA). He is a founder and Executive Committee member of the California International Arbitration Council (CIAC) and a member of other US and international arbitral associations.
He was named by the National Law Journal as one of the 25 ADR Trendsetters and Visionaries in the US. He is also named to IAM 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists. He is peer-appointed to the SVAMC List of the World's Leading Technology Neutrals.
Mr. Benton is dual qualified as a US lawyer and an English solicitor and serves in administered and ad hoc proceedings worldwide. He speaks and writes regularly on topics relating to technology and international dispute resolution.