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Best person for the job?

28 March 2013 / Martin Burns
Issue: 7554 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice
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Martin Burns highlights the benefits of appointing a commercial mediator

There is no doubt that mediation of commercial disputes is on the government agenda, and its promise to reduce costs and promote consensus is genuinely attractive. But is mediation ever going to really stack up as a viable alternative to the courts?

The problem for mediation is that it has not been properly embraced by lawyers and used as a matter of routine. The history of mediation in the UK over the past 20 years suggests this is not going to happen anytime soon.

Lawyers know how to litigate. It is what they are trained to do. The courts are their comfort zone. Litigation is the lawyer’s natural state of mind and it is normal for them to advise their clients to litigate rather than mediate. It is also understandable that lawyers who act as mediators will often struggle to move out of an adversarial mindset, and find it difficult to adopt an approach that is all about patiently facilitating an amicable

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

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