Adjudicator panel

Last updated: 5 May 2026

Decisions at adjudication are made by independent adjudicators drawn from a panel maintained by AR-ADR.

Who sits on the panel

Panel members are individuals with relevant expertise, which may include:

• Legal qualification (solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive) with consumer or contract law experience.
• Experience of dispute resolution, mediation or adjudication.
• Where appropriate, clinical or sector-specific expertise to understand the technical context. Clinical expertise is used to understand evidence; it is not used to determine clinical negligence (which AR-ADR does not decide).

Appointment

Adjudicators are appointed by the AR-ADR Board following an application and assessment process. Appointments are made on merit, against published criteria, and without regard to the interests of any participating trader.

Terms

• Fixed-term appointments, typically three to five years, renewable.
• Adjudicators are paid a fixed fee per case. Pay is not contingent on outcome.
• Adjudicators are not employees of any participating trader and must not have provided paid services to a trader party in the recent past — disclosure rules apply (see independence and governance).

Training

All panel members complete induction training in:

• The AR-ADR scheme rules and procedures.
• Consumer law relevant to medical aesthetic and cosmetic surgery contracts.
• Equality, accessibility and reasonable adjustments.
• Conflicts identification and management.

Continuing professional development is required annually.

Removal

The Board may remove a panel member for misconduct, persistent failure to meet quality standards, conflict of interest that cannot be managed, or loss of relevant qualification.

Allocation of cases

Cases are allocated by AR-ADR’s case management team according to availability, relevant expertise and conflict checks. Parties cannot choose their adjudicator, but they may object on properly substantiated grounds of bias.