Derek Fletcher
December 14, 2021
Page 7
notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the applicable rules or in this paragraph 10, the arbitrator shall have no jurisdiction, power, or authority to permit any class or collective claim to be asserted in, to consolidate different arbitration proceedings (other than claims by the Company, the Trust, Beneficient Counselors (on behalf of itself and the other members of the Beneficient Counselors Group), Beneficient Holdings, Inc., and/or Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P.), with, or to join any other party asserting claims against any of the Company, the Trust, Beneficient Counselors, any other members of the Beneficient Counselors Group, Beneficient Holdings, Inc., and/or Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P., as applicable, in, an arbitration between you and any of the Company, the Trust, Beneficient Counselors, any other members of the Beneficient Counselors Group, Beneficient Holdings, Inc., and/or Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P., as applicable.
(c) Arbitration Procedures. Arbitration pursuant to this paragraph 10 shall take place in Dallas County, Texas (or the county where Beneficient Counselors’ offices are located if different) before a single arbitrator pursuant to the JAMS Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures then in effect (except the extent modified in this paragraph 10), or as otherwise agreed by the parties. The arbitrator shall apply the substantive law of the State of Texas (excluding choice-of-law principles that might call for the application of some other jurisdiction’s law) or federal law (including the Federal Arbitration Act), or both as applicable to the Dispute asserted. All evidentiary privileges under applicable law, including attorney-client, work product and party communication privileges, shall be preserved and protected. Except as required by law or as may be reasonably required in connection with ancillary judicial proceedings to compel arbitration, to obtain temporary or preliminary judicial relief in aid of arbitration, or to confirm or challenge an arbitration award, the arbitration proceedings, including any hearings, testimony, and any order, decision or award, shall be confidential, and the parties to the arbitration shall not disclose any awards, any materials in the proceedings created for the purpose of the arbitration, or any documents produced by another party in the proceedings not otherwise in the public domain. The arbitrator may allocate or reallocate the JAMS administrative fees, arbitrator compensation, hearing room rental fees, expenses of the arbitrator (including required travel and other expenses), any JAMS expenses, and any costs relating to proof and witnesses produced at the direction of the arbitrator (collectively the “Arbitration Costs”) as permitted under the applicable rules and substantive law. The prevailing party or parties, as determined by the arbitrator, shall be entitled if so awarded by the arbitrator to recover that party’s reasonable attorney fees, costs, and expenses (including that party’s share of the Arbitration Costs) from the non-prevailing party or parties, to the extent authorized by applicable substantive law. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(d) Exceptions to Mandatory Arbitration. You or the Company, the Trust, Beneficient Counselors (on behalf of itself and the other members of the Beneficient Counselors Group), Beneficient Holdings, Inc., and/or Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P., as applicable, without waiving his, its, or their rights under this paragraph 10, may seek from a court having jurisdiction, any interim, equitable, provisional, or other relief provided for the purpose of enforcing his, its, or their rights under this Agreement or to preserve the status quo pending the arbitrator’s final determination of the merits of a Dispute. You or the Company, the Trust, Beneficient Counselors (on behalf of itself and the other members of the Beneficient Counselors Group), Beneficient Holdings, Inc., and/or Beneficient Company Holdings, L.P., also without waiving his, its, or their rights under this paragraph 10, may bring an action or special proceeding in a court having jurisdiction for the purpose of compelling arbitration, seeking temporary or preliminary relief in aid of an arbitration, or enforcing an arbitration award.