Commercial Mediation

Accreditation, ADR, ADR Agreements, Commercial Mediation, Confidentiality, Confidentiality and Transparency, Dispute Resolution, Future of mediation, General, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Hong Kong, Legal Issues, Legal Practice, Legislation, Mediation Act, Mediation Practice, Mediation Reforms (Legislation, etc.), National Mediation Laws, Reform, Regulation, Standards

(Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy)/ /Leave a comment

In June 2012 the Hong Kong Legislative Council passed the Mediation Ordinance (MO), the first piece of legislation on mediation in Hong Kong SAR. The MO was a much awaited and highly anticipated law and some mediation advocates have been disappointed in what they see as much ado about nothing. After all the MO appears…

Commercial Mediation, Mediation Practice, Practical Challenges for Mediators

(Weiler ADR Inc.)/ /3 Comments

I recently had three mediations in a row that failed to reach settlement. After a couple of days contemplating running away with the circus and other lateral career moves, I started focussing on what I might have done differently and what might yet be done to advance resolution. Counsel and parties look for perseverance in…

ADR Clauses, Combined Clauses, Commercial Mediation, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution Clause, Enforcement, Enforcement of a Mediation Clause, Enforcement of an ADR Clause, Future of mediation, Legal Issues, Negotiation

(National University of Singapore, Faculty of Law)/ /1 Comment

I would like to focus this blog entry on a recent development of Singapore relating to agreements to agree/negotiate in good faith and some of the practical consequences that can arise from this case. In the English common law, the traditional position has been that an agreement to agree or an agreement to negotiate was…

Accreditation, ADR, Appointment of Mediators, Availability of Mediators, Commercial Mediation, Confidentiality, Confidentiality and Transparency, Developing the Field, Ethics

(Brick Court Chambers / Clifton Chambers)/ /Leave a comment

We mediators need to market our wares, just like the fruiterer at my local Sunday Farmers’ Market when he calls out prices from behind his stall. Increasingly some mediators are choosing to do this by the numbers – advertising how many mediations they have completed and what level of success they have achieved. For instance, this…

'Money-only' Cases, Clients, Commercial Mediation, Creativity, mediation models, Mediators’ Conduct, Understanding mediation

(Weiler ADR Inc.)/ /Leave a comment

Recently, during a lull in the action in a tort mediation, I was drawn aside by an insurance representative I see frequently. He had concerns about my “style” as a mediator. “Every mediation it’s the same thing”, he said. “It’s almost like everyone knows where the case is going to settle in advance so why…

ADR, Appointment of Mediators, Availability of Mediators, Bias, Clients, Commercial Mediation, Conflict, Developing the Field, Due Process, Ethics, Future of mediation, Hong Kong, International Law, International Mediation, mediation as a career, Mediation Practice, Skills, Standards

(Brick Court Chambers / Clifton Chambers)/ /Leave a comment

I come from a Western mediation tradition that argues strenuously for neutrality and impartiality in a mediator. Indeed, one of the first questions lawyers will ask when hiring me is whether or not I have any conflict of interest – in other words, do I know those involved in the dispute, have I worked with…

ADR, Business, Commercial Mediation, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Mediation Institutions and Rules, Particular Sectors (e.g. Construction, Banking, etc.), Technology

(Mediar360 - Dispute Resolution )/ /1 Comment

The relationship between growth and the combination of knowledge and human capital is no surprise. The economic environment is fast changing and technology driven. The global economy is already what the economists call a knowledge economy, where value increasingly comes from innovation and intellectual property management. No country, region or organization can ignore the challenges…

'Money-only' Cases, ADR, Commercial Mediation, Creativity, Deal Mediation, Future of mediation, Governments/Public Sector, Litigation, Mediation Practice, Success in mediation

(Weiler ADR Inc.)/ /3 Comments

I’ve been working in this field for more than 20 years and one thing that I’ve observed with genuine curiosity over that time is the sniping from various quarters that what I (and others with practices similar to mine) do each day falls short of “The Promise of Mediation”. As readers of this Blog will…

ADR, Arbitration, Clients, Commercial Mediation, Confidentiality, Confidentiality and Transparency, Conventional wisdom, Court Procedure and Litigation, Developing the Field, Enforcement of a Mediation Clause, Ethics, EU Directive on Mediation, EU Mediation Directive, Future of mediation, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Legal Issues, Mediation Agreement, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Practice, Practical Challenges for Mediators, Public Policy, Uncategorized, Understanding mediation

(University of Strathclyde)/ /5 Comments

To paraphrase Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that mediation is confidential. Go on any training course, listen to any mediator’s opening speech, and the secrecy/privacy of the process will be affirmed and reaffirmed. In the commercial mediation arena, and these days most other practice areas, you will also sign a contractual undertaking…

ADR, ADR Agreements, ADR Clauses, Appointment of Mediators, Commercial Mediation, Corporate Counsel's View, Court Procedure and Litigation, Cross-cultural, Developing the Field, Domestic Courts, Due Process, Efficiency, Enforcement of an ADR Clause, EU Directive on Mediation, EU Mediation Directive, Europe, European Law, Future of mediation, General, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), harmonisation of mediation law, Hong Kong, International Courts, International Law, International Legal Theory and Teaching, International Mediation, Mediation Act, Mediation Agreement, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Reforms (Legislation, etc.), Mediation Schemes (In Courts, etc.), National Mediation Laws, Practical Challenges for Mediators, Public Policy, Set Aside a Mediated Agreement, UN and International Organizations, UNCITRAL Model Law

(Brick Court Chambers / Clifton Chambers)/ /Leave a comment

Many have tried but all have failed to implement a definitive single enforcement mechanism for cross-border mediated settlement agreements. This lack of any coherent method of enforcement is widely seen as a major impediment to further globalisation of mediation, the argument being how can we expect parties involved in large international commercial disputes to embrace…