PARIS - In today’s economic climate, international companies must adopt a dispute-wise business management practice in order to succeed. Recent studies have shown that companies including mediation as part of their dispute resolution policy derive demonstrable economic benefits.
To help legal and business professionals take advantage of mediation as a form of dispute resolution, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) – in conjunction with the American Bar Association Sections of Dispute Resolution and International Law – will host a one-day conference on how to use this cheaper and business-oriented method of settling disputes.
Mediation is a form of amicable dispute resolution (ADR) that settles disputes quickly and cheaply. The process involves a neutral third party using a structured process to facilitate negotiations and help parties reach creative, win-win solutions.
A positive, ongoing business relationship between the parties is often maintained after mediation, a situation more difficult to achieve after a contentious arbitration or court battle.
Mediation also allows companies to limit risks by providing a neutral forum for disagreements and a pre-planned resolution procedure, in which parties control the outcome in the place of a legal determination imposed by a third party.
Managing Risks and Getting Results: How to Use Mediation Effectively in International Business Disputes, will be held at ICC headquarters in Paris on 11 February 2010. It will feature an opening address from Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration Jason Fry and will appeal to in-house counsel, members of senior corporate management, and other legal and business professionals.
The conference will provide practical information on topics such as the business value of mediation, comparison of risk limitation in mediation – as opposed to other forms of dispute resolution – and implementation of mediation policy. Participants will be given insight into mediation strategy as well as learn how to implement mediation policy and prepare for mediation.
Mediation experts from companies such as AkzoNobel, GE, Nestle and Thalès will share their experiences and strategies, and discuss the methodologies and techniques in which appropriate ADR procedures can be used in international business. A case study will give participants the opportunity to see mediation in a recreated, international business context.
The interactive conference will take place in lecture and roundtable discussion format. Participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions and obtain information most relevant to their practice.
Presentations will be held in English with a simultaneous translation into French.
