---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 C.F.R. § 11.204"
title: "37"
number: "11.204"
heading: "Practitioner serving as third-party neutral."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/37/11.204"
---

# §11.204. Practitioner serving as third-party neutral.

- (a) A practitioner serves as a third-party neutral when the practitioner assists two or more persons who are not clients of the practitioner to reach a resolution of a dispute or other matter that has arisen between them. Service as a third-party neutral may include service as an arbitrator, a mediator or in such other capacity as will enable the practitioner to assist the parties to resolve the matter.
- (b) A practitioner serving as a third-party neutral shall inform unrepresented parties that the practitioner is not representing them. When the practitioner knows or reasonably should know that a party does not understand the practitioner's role in the matter, the practitioner shall explain the difference between the practitioner's role as a third-party neutral and a practitioner's role as one who represents a client.

## Notes

### Source

Source: 78 FR 20201, Apr. 3, 2013, unless otherwise noted.

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 500; 15 U.S.C. 1123; 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 32, 41; Sec. 1, Pub. L. 113-227, 128 Stat. 2114.

### Source

Source: 69 FR 35452, June 24, 2004, unless otherwise noted.