Mediation in the News

What changed

Malaysia has announced strategic initiatives to bolster its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) ecosystem. These efforts are designed to prepare the nation for the upcoming AIAC Asia ADR Week 2026, which focuses on the future of dispute resolution. The initiative aims to bring together international practitioners and stakeholders to refine mediation and arbitration standards.

What changed

The Chief Justice has publicly emphasized the critical role of mediation in the efficient delivery of justice within the Indian legal system. This statement reinforces the judiciary's commitment to promoting ADR as a primary mechanism for clearing case backlogs and resolving civil disputes outside of traditional litigation.

What changed

UK law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper has appointed Jean-François Le Gal as its first head of international arbitration. This strategic hire marks a significant expansion of the firm's dispute resolution capabilities, focusing on international arbitration and related mediation practices.

What changed

The Commercial Mediation Conclave 2026 focused on the critical role of mediator trust and the implementation of the Mediation Act 2023. Discussions centered on the mediator's responsibility in fostering trust between parties and the specific challenges of mediation involving government entities.

What changed

Trade unions at Skeyes air traffic control have suspended strike action at Charleroi Airport to engage in formal mediation. The process, initiated by the mobility minister, aims to restore dialogue between the parties rather than impose a specific outcome. The suspension of the strike was a mandatory condition for the commencement of these talks.

What changed

The upcoming Dutch Arbitration Day 2026 will address critical challenges in European arbitration, including the impact of recent CJEU rulings and EU Council regulations on economic sanctions. The event will feature panels on the intersection of anti-suit injunctions and European investment law.

What changed

New developments in EU-level consultations are investigating the utility of harmonized rules for the amicable resolution of disputes between investors and public authorities. The initiative seeks to determine if non-adjudicative ADR, including mediation, can be more effectively utilized to prevent and resolve these complex cross-border conflicts.

What changed

The Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, chaired the inaugural meeting of the English Law Promotion Panel. The panel, which includes representatives from major legal and dispute resolution institutions, aims to identify opportunities to grow the UK’s £42.6bn legal services sector, with a specific focus on promoting English law and its dispute resolution capabilities globally.

What changed

The Irish Minister for Justice has rejected a formal request from the Law Society of Ireland to appoint a mediator to resolve a long-standing dispute regarding a new fee structure for criminal-defence solicitors. The rejection has led to expressions of disappointment from practitioners who supported mediation as a path to resolving the standoff.

What changed

Alaris announced a US$95 million investment into Nexus, a firm specializing in independent clinical reviews and healthcare dispute resolution services. This major capital injection signals growing institutional confidence in the scalability and commercial value of specialized, independent ADR services in the healthcare sector.

What changed

Legislative analysis confirmed that California Assembly Bill 1950 has officially passed through the legislative cycle and been enacted, authorising County of Los Angeles Superior Court judges to refer civil cases into mediation regardless of the monetary amount in controversy. The scheme, effective ahead of full pilot implementation, entitles referred litigants to up to three hours of remote or in-person court-connected mediation at no cost. The measure is designed as a direct statutory mechanism to alleviate the court's 67% increase in civil filings.

What changed

China released its 15th five-year plan for intellectual property protection (2026-2030), which specifically prioritizes the refinement of IP rules for AI and algorithms. The plan mandates the creation of a cross-border IP dispute case database and aims to improve international dispute resolution mechanisms to better manage risks in the digital economy.

What changed

The United Arab Emirates has officially deposited its instrument of accession to the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the Singapore Convention). This action makes international commercial settlement agreements resulting from mediation directly enforceable across UAE courts and signatory jurisdictions without the need to start litigation from scratch. The formal accession solidifies the UAE's position as a major regional hub for international alternative dispute resolution.

What changed

The central bank has introduced a formal policy framework for third-party organisations to conduct mediation for loan recovery. The rules mandate strict professional standards, requiring mediator panels to include legal and accounting experts with at least 10 years of experience, while explicitly excluding Politically Exposed Persons.

What changed

A detailed legal analysis of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) 2026 Mediation Rules was released, highlighting significant shifts toward electronic filing and digital proceedings. The rules now include default provisions for language and venue when agreements are silent, alongside a new hybrid fee model for mediators. These changes reflect a decade of progress in alternative dispute resolution within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

What changed

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) issued a formal warning regarding documents misusing the name of a legitimate solicitor, Elizabeth Murphy, to falsely claim affiliation with the 'IMC International Mediation Center'. The scam involves fraudulent correspondence that could mislead parties into engaging with an unauthorised entity. This alert highlights a growing trend of identity theft within the legal and ADR sectors.

What changed

Bangladesh Bank has officially formulated a comprehensive policy titled 'Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mediator' to expedite the recovery of loans. This policy aims to provide a structured mechanism for resolving financial disputes outside of traditional court litigation.

What changed

A new opinion piece published by the Civil Mediation Council discusses the Law Commission's report regarding the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The article critiques the current approach to property disputes and advocates for more robust mediation interventions.

What changed

The UK government has released a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This framework sets out the government's planning policies for England and how they should be applied, which often serves as a catalyst for development-related disputes.