Game Theory, History of mediation, mediation as a career, mediation models, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mediators’ Conduct, Perception, Philosophy, Practical Challenges for Mediators, Promoting Mediation, Scotland, Uncategorized

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“Doubt is not a pleasant condition but certainty is an absurd one.” These words of Voltaire are as apt today as they were when he wrote them in the 18th century. I don’t know about you but this year seems to be a curious mixture where some people purport to deal in apparent certainties, which…

ADR, Creativity, Decision making, Developing the Field, Economics, Future of mediation, Game Theory, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Impasse, Interests, International Mediation, mediation models, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Negotiation, Philosophy, Policy, Scotland

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John and David Sturrock 1. Introduction Several years ago, while travelling back with my son David to Oxford where he was studying as an undergraduate, we discussed my work as a mediator and his study of economics, particularly the learning for us both from Game Theory. I (John) had been familiar with The Prisoners’ Dilemma…

Language, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mediation Users/Clients, Mediators’ Conduct, Scotland, Skills, Transformation

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“I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things … their lives frequently embody a truth expressed by Mother Teresa, from this year Saint Teresa of Calcutta. She once said: ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love’. But even with the inspiration of…

Bias, Brexit, Clients, Cognitive Bias, Commercial Mediation, Communication, Conflict, Decision making, Dialogue, Dispute Resolution, Future of mediation, Interests, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Neuroscience, peace negotiations, Promoting Mediation, Scotland, Training

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I have just read Ian Macduff’s recent Kluwer blog (26 November: “Upheaval and resilience: a note from the Shaky Isles”). What a privilege it is, in this blog, to follow Ian’s erudite writing. He captures so well the spirit of the age, with all its uncertainty, tragedy, hope and opportunity. On that theme, my wife…

Clients, Commercial Mediation, Developing the Field, Europe, Future of mediation, General, Mediation Practice, Mediation Reforms (Legislation, etc.), Scotland

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This blog synthesises some remarks I have made recently to policy-makers in Scotland. As I reflect on things, there are a lot of issues in the civil justice system in my country which remain of interest and concern. Not least, the number of ordinary folk caught up in the court system, paying a lot of…

Bias, Business, Clients, Cognitive Bias, Commercial Mediation, Communication, Deal Mediation, Decision making, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Efficiency, Fear, General, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Improvisation, Interests, mediation models, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Negotiation, Neuroscience, Practical Challenges for Mediators, Scotland, Skills, Sport, Stories, Success in mediation, Trust, Understanding mediation

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The Olympics have come and gone with all of the emotion and inspiration they bring. In our recent, fully-subscribed, residential Summer School on mediation skills for leaders, we reflected on the learning from Rio. We watched a video replay of the men’s taekwondo -80kg final in which Team GB’s Lutalo Muhammad lost to his Ivory…

Brexit, mediation process, Scotland

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This blog is a further reflection on the implications of Brexit, viewed from a Scottish perspective. There are at least four possible outcomes for Scotland’s constitutional future. One, Scotland as wholly independent, neither in the UK nor in the EU. Two, as an independent nation within the EU. Three, as a constituent part of a…

Apology, Bias, Clients, Cognitive Bias, Commercial Mediation, Confidentiality, Decision making, Dialogue, Dispute Resolution, Impasse, Interests, Joint Sessions, mediated settlement agreement, Mediation Agreement, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mistakes, Neuroscience, Perception, Scotland, Stages of mediation, Stories, Uncategorized

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“Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar” “Traveller, there is no path, the path must be forged as you walk.” Antonio Machado, as quoted and translated in Daring Greatly, Brene Brown Those were two very long and eventful days. Though the prospect of reaching an agreement appeared remote – at best – at…

Conflict, crisis negotiatons, Cross-cultural, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Fear, Interests, International Mediation, Middle East, peace negotiations, UN and International Organizations

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As I write this, I am looking across the Gulf of Aqaba at the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, near the place where the Egyptian border abuts Israel, south of the Israeli Red Sea port of Eilat. This morning’s BBC news tells us that Israel is on alert for IS attacks in the Sinai. The accompanying…

Conventional wisdom, Creativity, Dispute Resolution, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Negotiation, Practical Challenges for Mediators, Scotland, Stages of mediation, Training, Uncategorized

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Three recent mediations in three jurisdictions raised some interesting issues.  Each mediation was different. One involved a claim for professional negligence against a firm of solicitors for (allegedly) incorrectly including an occupied building in the sale of a large piece of land. The sellers were unhappy that many years had elapsed since the transaction, a number of them passing while…