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28 July 2011 / Dr Ann Brady
Issue: 7476 / Categories: Features , Procedure & practice , EU , Mediation
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Time for reflection?

Dr Ann Brady considers the role of mediation across the EU

The 2002 European Commission Consultative Paper on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in civil and commercial law initiated a broad-based consultation on a number of legal issues relating to mediation and brought into sharp focus variations between individual member states such as: domestic legislation, or lack of it, regulating the use of mediation; provision of mediation according to the type of legal system operated; the training and regulation of mediators; costs of operating mediation services and who should bear the financial burden. Among a number of major EU initiatives following this consultative paper, two have particular significance: the European Code of Conduct for Mediators and Directive 2008/52/EC on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters.

Code of Conduct

The European Code of Conduct for Mediators sets out the following principles to which both individual mediators and mediation services providers can voluntarily commit: competence; appointment and advertising of mediators’ services; independence; neutrality of mediators; mediation agreements; fairness of the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Winckworth Sherwood—Charlotte Coleman & Qaisar Sheikh

Winckworth Sherwood—Charlotte Coleman & Qaisar Sheikh

Two promoted to partner in property litigation and education teams

Dorsey & Whitney LLP—Peter Knust

Dorsey & Whitney LLP—Peter Knust

Cross-border finance and restructuring specialist joins as of counsel in London

Powell Gilbert—Callum Beamish-Lacey

Powell Gilbert—Callum Beamish-Lacey

IP firm promotes litigator to partnership

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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