Federal Arbitration Act (FAA): Primary federal law governing arbitration that establishes the validity and enforceability of arbitration agreements, sets basic requirements for arbitration clauses, and preempts conflicting state laws

State Arbitration Laws: Individual state arbitration statutes that must comply with both state and federal requirements; some states have additional specific requirements for arbitration agreements

Supreme Court Precedents: Key cases including AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion and Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis that establish fundamental arbitration principles in U.S. law

Industry-Specific Regulations: Specific regulations for different sectors including employment agreements (EEOC considerations), consumer contracts, and financial services regulations

Clear Agreement Requirement: Legal requirement that the arbitration agreement must be clear and unambiguous in its terms and intent

Mutuality of Obligation: Legal principle requiring that the arbitration agreement must be mutually binding on all parties involved

Fundamental Fairness: Legal requirement that the arbitration process must be fundamentally fair to all parties and provide adequate means of dispute resolution

Scope Definition: Clear definition of which issues and disputes are subject to arbitration under the agreement

Arbitrator Selection Process: Specific procedures for how arbitrators will be selected and appointed for dispute resolution

Cost Allocation: Clear specifications on how arbitration costs will be distributed among the parties

Venue Specifications: Clear designation of the location or venue where arbitration proceedings will take place

Court Proceedings Waiver: Explicit waiver of the right to pursue disputes through court proceedings

Severability Provisions: Clauses ensuring that if one part of the arbitration agreement is found invalid, other parts remain enforceable

Opt-out Provisions: Where applicable, clear procedures for how parties can opt out of the arbitration agreement