The conference was organised by the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) in partnership with the Commonwealth Lawyers Association to showcase the increasing use of mediation in European and International jurisdictions as a means to resolve disputes.

The conference took place last week ahead of the beginning of Mediation Awareness Week today.

Delegates had the opportunity to hear from a panel of keynote speakers who provided local and international perspectives on the growing use of mediation by Courts and clients in many jurisdictions.

Martin Brink, attorney and mediator with Dutch firm Van Benthem & Keulen, and substitute Judge in the The Hague Court of Appeals stressed the need for delegates to become new lawyers in response to the demands for mediation from consumers and courts.

Alexander Ward, president of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, spoke of the increasing use of mediation in Commonwealth countries to resolve often intractable legal disputes.

Brian Speers, chair of the Disputes Resolution Service in Northern Ireland, said that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) remains central to the justice systems of many jurisdictions with mediation as one of the most popular forms of ADR.

He commented further that the Dispute Resolution Service and its professionally trained mediators can offer help and guidance to consumers and others seeking to find a solution to their problems.