jurisdiction. If the Petition is not properly completed, the Chair will return it to the

Petitioner and specify what clarification or additional information is required. If the Committee does not have jurisdiction, the Petitioner shall be so advised. A copy of the petition and the determination that the Committee lacks jurisdiction shall be provided to the Respondent. (c) Service of Petition. Within 14 days of the determination that the Committee has jurisdiction, a copy of the Petition, and opening letter shall be served on the Respondent by certified mail, return receipt requested. A copy of the Petition for Arbitration and opening letter shall also be served upon the law firm, if any, with which a lawyer-party is associated. (d) Response to Petition. Within 21 days after receipt of the Petition and opening letter, the Respondent shall file a response with the Administrator at the office of the Wyoming State Bar which shall forward a copy to all other parties. (e) Failure of a Lawyer Respondent to Respond. Failure of a lawyer Respondent to file a response to the Petition shall not delay the scheduling of a hearing; however, in any such case the panel may, in its discretion, refuse to consider evidence offered by the lawyer which would reasonably be expected to have been disclosed in the response. (f) Client Consent Required. If a lawyer files a Petition for Fee Arbitration, the arbitration shall proceed only if the client returns a signed election to participate in arbitration within 21 days of receipt of the Petition and opening letter. (g) Informal Resolution. The Chair or designee shall review the Petition and Response and determine whether informal resolution should be attempted. If it appears that the dispute might be resolved by informal contact with Petitioner and Respondent, the Chair or designee shall contact the parties to explore the possibility of an informal resolution of the dispute. If an informal resolution is attained, an order embracing the terms of the informal resolution shall be prepared by the Chair or designee and transmitted to the parties. (h) Appointment of Panel. If the Chair or designee determines that an attempt at informal resolution would be ineffectual, or if an attempt at informal resolution is unsuccessful within 30 days after receipt of the Response to the Petition, then the Chair or designee shall notify the parties that the matter is being referred for an arbitration hearing. In that event, the Administrator shall appoint a panel and mail to the parties written notification of the name(s) of the panel member(s) assigned to hear the matter. A copy of the written notification shall be mailed to the panel member(s). (Added May 10, 2016, effective October 1, 2016; amended December 10, 2020, effective February 1, 2021.)