ADR, ADR Agreements, Arbitration, Art, Commercial Mediation, cross-border mediation, Employment, Family Mediation, Language, United States

(FORARB/Charles University)/ /12 Comments

James Bond enters a casino where a beautiful girl is sitting at the bar. He approaches her, buys her a drink and makes his obligatory introduction: “Bond, James Bond…” After brief chatting, she asks him about his profession. Then, the usually reckless hero comes up with a cover story: “I am a mediator… Traveling to…

ADR, Decision making, Dispute Resolution, Mediation Practice, National Mediation Laws, The role of the mediator, Vietnam

(Vietnam International Arbitration Centre) and (University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University)/ /Leave a comment

In recent years, Vietnam has boosted its legal framework for commercial mediation. The story began with the promulgation of the new Civil Procedure Code 2015 whose Chapter 33 serves as the legal basis for the recognition of out-of-court mediated settlement agreements. Then, the Government issued Decree no. 22/2017/ND-CP on Commercial Mediation (“Decree 22”) detailing and…

ADR, Commercial Mediation, Developing the Field, ICC Mediation Competition, International Mediation

(Kwok, Ng & Chan, Solicitors & Notaries)/ /4 Comments

I still remember the very first time I met Colin. It was during my CIArb fellowship oral assessment in Hong Kong. Entering the room with an overwhelming presence, he asked the candidates several questions on costs in arbitration. While the questions themselves were tough and challenging, it was apparent through his encouraging tone and body…

Creativity, Developing the Field, General, Training, Young Mediators

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

I have in previous entries (July 2012 and July 2013) written about a peer mediation initiative called the Peacemakers Conference. The purpose of the Peacemakers Conference is to teach 13-16 year olds how to resolve conflicts amicably in a workshop cum competition format. This year’s Peacemakers Conference was held from 20 to 22 June 2018….

Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Future of mediation, Growth of the Field (Challenges, New Sectors, etc.), International Mediation, peace negotiations, Promoting Mediation, Reflective practise

(Edwards Mediation Academy)/ /Leave a comment

The hills above Edinburgh, Scotland, were bursting with the splendor of bright yellow flowers when mediators from across the globe assembled for the spring conference of the International Academy of Mediators. I had been asked by the conference organizers to lead a discussion, with the goal of inspiring some of the world’s most successful commercial…

Commercial Mediation, Mediation Practice

(Weiler ADR Inc.)/ /Leave a comment

  The recently released decision in L-Jalco Holdings Inc. v. Lawrynowicz & Associates, 2018 ONSC 4002 (CanLII) will be of great interest to mediators, lawyers and clients alike. The case offers a rare glimpse inside the “sausage factory” that is commercial mediation and highlights mediator persistence and creativity in reaching a settlement of a complex…

Brazil, Dispute Resolution, Lawyers, lawyers in mediation, Legislation

(Mediar360 - Dispute Resolution )/ /3 Comments

Brazil is on its way to making lawyers mandatory on mediation procedures. Last month the House of Representatives approved a bill (PL 5.511/2016) that reads, in a free translation, “it is mandatory the presence of Lawyers in consensual dispute resolution procedures, such as mediation and conciliation”. Now the Senate will analyze the subject before it…

Arbitration, Australia, Commercial Mediation, Dispute Resolution, Due Process, Hong Kong, Legal Issues, Legislation, Med-Arb Clauses, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mediation Reforms (Legislation, etc.), Mediators’ Conduct, The role of the mediator

(Strategic Resolution)/ /Leave a comment

(This post is being republished because of technical problems when it was first published) The recently reported Australian case of Ku-ring-gai Council v Ichor Constructions Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 610 (8 May 2018) provides a useful lesson in how not to conduct the hybrid Arb-Med-Arb process, from which (I hope) we might learn how to…

Appointment of Mediators, Co-mediation, Commercial Mediation, cross-border mediation, Future of mediation, International commercial mediation, International Mediation, Uncategorized

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

Having looked at The Rise of Co Mediation in Mega Mediations last month and the challenges such cases pose for mediators, let’s get a little closer to the inner workings of these mediations, especially at the intake stage. So many moving parts – the people, the paper, the posturing –  like a long haul plane sitting…