Jurisdiction

Co-mediation, Cross-cultural, Developing the Field, EU Mediation Directive, Europe, European Law, Family Mediation, International Courts, International Law, International Mediation, Mediation Practice

(Sabine Walsh Mediation)/ /1 Comment

As globalisation progresses and migration increases, the number of bi-national and bi-cultural relationships and marriages is increasing. This brings a new richness and diversity to our society, but can also bring new challenges and difficulties when those relationships break down. One of the difficulties that can arise is international parental child abduction, where one parent…

ADR, Commercial Mediation, Court Procedure and Litigation, Dispute Resolution, Domestic Courts, Europe, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Lawyers, Mediation Reforms (Legislation, etc.), Public Policy, Reform

(University of Strathclyde)/ /5 Comments

Scotland sits on the north-west fringe of Europe, and is probably best known for whisky, rain and heroic failure on football and rugby pitches. While part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, many people don’t realise it has its own legal system. And why should they? Even English publications often talk…

ADR, Australia, Cross-cultural, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, General, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Hong Kong, Med-Arb Clauses, Mediation Practice, Mediators’ Conduct, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), Practical Challenges for Mediators, Uncategorized

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

They say that you can take the girl out of Australia but that you can’t take Australia out of the girl. So as an Australian living in Hong Kong, let me leave the east-meets-west stories for another time and begin with the very Australian concept of BYO. It’s a long established tradition in Australia to…

Developing the Field, Family Mediation, General, Ireland, Lawyers, Lawyers and Psychologists, Legal Issues, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Practice, Mediation Users/Clients, Practical Challenges for Mediators

(Sabine Walsh Mediation)/ /Leave a comment

I recently met an acquaintance of mine whom I have not seen for some time. He asked what I am doing, job wise. I replied that I am now doing mediation full time. “Oh,” he replied “do you do legal mediation or family mediation?” I smiled wearily and launched into my usual explanation of what…

Australia, Legal Practice, Legislation

(National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council)/ /Leave a comment

Australia is passing legislation encouraging parties to most forms of civil disputes to take genuine steps to resolve their dispute prior to commencing litigation. The idea came from a report of NADRAC (National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council) of which I am the new Chair. NADRAC advises the Commonwealth Attorney-General and has been in existence…

Accreditation, ADR, Availability of Mediators, Clients, Court Procedure and Litigation, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Ethics, EU Mediation Directive, Europe, General, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Lawyers, Legislation, Mediation Act, Mediation Practice, Mediation Reforms (Legislation, etc.), Mediation Schemes (In Courts, etc.), National Mediation Laws, Not-for-Profit Organizations (NGO), Practical Challenges for Mediators, Public Policy, Reform, Regulation, Responsibility of States, Standards, Training

(ADR Center Romania)/ /Leave a comment

As an effect of the Romanian Mediation Law and the EU Directive, for the past years, the mediation profession is growing exponentially in Romania. To date, seven or eight thousand mediators took the basic training and almost three thousand became authorized by the Romanian Mediation Council while the other five thousand were mainly interested in…

Developing the Field, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Hong Kong, Mediation Practice, Regulation

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

The other day my friend and fellow mediator, Jill Howieson, was showing me pictures of gaps in buildings. Now, these are neither accidental gaps nor defects in buildings. Rather these gaps are very deliberate; they form an essential element of construction design. They are the famous architectural gaps of architect Carlo Scarpa. Scarpa was well-known…

ADR Clauses, Arbitration, Combined Clauses, Conciliation, Dispute Resolution Clause, Enforcement of a Mediation Clause, Enforcement of an ADR Clause, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), Legal Issues, Med-Arb Clauses, Mediation Agreement, Switzerland

(Esprit d’entente)/ /1 Comment

On May 16, 2011, the Swiss Supreme Court confirmed a previous ruling on the content and interpretation of a dispute resolution clause that provided for a conciliation attempt prior to resorting to arbitration (decision No. 4A_46/2011, X GmbH v. Y Sàrl, accessible here in French). The clause at stake was drafted as follows (free translation…

Australia, Evaluative Mediation, Mediation Practice, Mediators’ Conduct

(National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council)/ /Leave a comment

When do mediators get to talk to one another? There are of course various conferences. They produce a lot of useful papers and discussions but time is short. Co-mediators get to talk a little but it is usually about the issue at hand. Even mediators who work in a mediation practice are off mediating and…

Confidentiality, Costs in Mediation, EU Mediation Directive, Ireland, Legislation, Mediation Practice, National Mediation Laws

(Sabine Walsh Mediation)/ /Leave a comment

One of the things I value most highly about my mediation practice is the trust that is put in me by the people with whom I work. The parties to a mediation will tell me about their hopes, wishes and fears within a conflict, and will trust me to keep these to myself. It is…