Mediation in the News

What changed

A comprehensive review and regulatory update confirmed the procedural standards and price structuring governing online Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAMs) and remote sessions in England and Wales. The guidance clarifies parity under Family Mediation Council (FMC) standards, confirming eligibility for legal aid and the government £500 mediation voucher scheme across digital formats.

What changed

Newly published 2026 dispute resolution statistics show that approximately 70% of couples entering full mediation successfully reach agreements, led by children arrangement disputes at a 63% resolution rate. The release highlighted the expanding impact of the Family Procedure Rules alongside warnings that the number of mediators delivering legal aid has dropped substantially.

What changed

Mediate UK published an operational update confirming expanded nationwide provision of Legal Aid Agency (LAA) funded family mediation services across England and Wales. Alongside this rollout, an open-access eligibility checking platform was deployed to streamline means-test verification for prospective mediation clients prior to initial assessment sessions.

What changed

This analysis details the hardening of judicial expectations regarding non-court dispute resolution (NCDR) in the UK family courts. It highlights that the 2026 Financial Remedies Court Guide now expects parties to engage in NCDR before proceedings progress, with judges empowered to delay or suspend cases where no attempt has been made.

What changed

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) announced the appointment of Sarah Cattan as a Research Fellow at ADR UK. This role focuses on the microeconomic analysis of public policy, which informs the evidence base for dispute resolution frameworks.

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.

What changed

The Gujarat State Legal Services Authority (GSLSA) organized a two-day Community Mediation Training Programme specifically for the trading community. The program aims to equip local business leaders with dispute resolution skills to handle commercial and community-level conflicts without litigation.

What changed

Dr. Karl Mackie CBE, the founder and former CEO of the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), has passed away at the age of 79. Mackie was instrumental in transforming commercial mediation from a niche concept into a rigorous professional discipline within the UK and internationally, overseeing the training of over 10,000 mediators during his tenure.

What changed

Acas has published a draft revised Code of Practice on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures, representing a significant update to workplace dispute standards. The Civil Mediation Council (CMC) has formally welcomed these revisions as a meaningful step forward for workplace mediation, though it noted that further integration is required to maximize the impact of ADR in employment settings.

What changed

The mediation community is mourning the passing of Dr Karl Mackie CBE, a co-founder of CEDR and a foundational figure in the development of professional mediation in the UK and internationally.

What changed

Vietnamese lawmakers have called for the implementation of specific safeguards within online mediation to protect vulnerable parties. The proposal focuses on ensuring data privacy, verifying participant identity, and maintaining the integrity of the mediation process in a digital environment.

What changed

NHS Resolution has officially renewed its contract with Costs Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR) to provide mediation services for legal costs. The move aims to prioritise speed and reduce administrative burdens associated with traditional court-based costs assessments. This renewal reinforces the NHS's commitment to using mediation as a core strategy for managing litigation uncertainty and safeguarding public funds.

What changed

Mediate UK has announced the expansion of its legal aid-funded family mediation services, effective 10 August 2026. The initiative includes the launch of a new online eligibility checker to help families quickly determine if they qualify for government-funded support.

What changed

The Parliament of Uzbekistan has officially supported the country's accession to the UN Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation (the Singapore Convention). This move aims to align the nation's legal framework with international standards for cross-border dispute resolution.

What changed

Over 550 families in Salisbury, Maryland, have filed a request for court sanctions against Perdue after the company unilaterally withdrew from a court-ordered mediation session. The underlying lawsuit involves allegations related to PFAS contamination.

What changed

Twenty major corporate entities in Sri Lanka have signed a formal pledge to adopt commercial mediation as their primary method for resolving disputes. This initiative is designed to alleviate the significant backlog currently facing the Sri Lankan court system.