“Arbitration and Mediation at a Crossroads: Insights from the Stakeholders” - CIArb YMG panel discussion in Paris

On 6 February 2019, CIArb YMG held a roundtable discussion in parallel with the start of ICC Mediation Week in Paris.  The event, which was entitled “Arbitration and Mediation at a Crossroads: Insights from the Stakeholders”, brought together leading practitioners, arbitrators, mediators, students, and members of arbitration and mediation institutions.  After a brief opening by CIArb YMG Global Ambassador Alexander Leventhal, CIArb YMG Vice Chair Athina Fouchard-Papaefstratiou led a discussion with panel members Alina Leoveanu (Manager of the International Centre for ADR at the ICC), Evgenia Saridou (Partner at K. Konnidas & Associates and Dialogos – Family & Commercial Mediation), Diana Bowman (Legal Manager at Vinci Energies International & Systems), Martin Hauser (Partner at BMH Avocats), and Peter Rosher (Partner at Reed Smith).

The panel addressed various topics touching upon the present and future of the two leading modes of alternative dispute resolution: arbitration and mediation.  They addressed, among other topics, the institutional perspective of organizing mediations as opposed to arbitration, the use of mediation in construction disputes, the client’s perspective on using mediation as opposed to arbitration, the recent Singapore Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, and parties’ increasing desire for creativity in dispute resolution.  The event, which was attended by over 100 individuals, was generously hosted by Reed Smith LLP in Paris.