Creator of Arbitral Class Waiver, Alan Kaplinksy, Profiled

Philadelphia lawyer Alan Kaplinsky profiled by Philadelphia Inquirer:

Kaplinsky takes credit for the Arbitration Waiver, an agreement that forces bank customers (and, more recently, corporate employees) to accept arbitration to settle disputes, instead of suing or joining well-financed class-action lawsuits. Kaplinsky had feared that the bureau under Cordray would effectively ban mandatory arbitration. The Trump administration has favored the practice, protecting Kaplinsky’s legacy.

“We made a lot of money defending those suits. So you could say this goes against our self-interest,” Kaplinsky told me. “But I felt class actions were being abused.