A heartfelt congratulations to all participants of APCMC 2024, and a special thank you to our distinguished judges, mediators, and volunteers who dedicated their time and expertise to make the competition a tremendous success! Your commitment and passion are what continue to drive excellence in the field of ADR.

We have an exciting season ahead with a series of impactful events and training programs lined up. We are thrilled to reprise our ‘Sticky Wicket’ Panel on Australia-India trade relations and dispute resolution during Australian Arbitration Week 2024. Live from Brisbane and simulcast internationally, the panel will explore the innovative approaches fostering stronger trade and investment relations in this dynamic market.

We are proud to announce the ever-popular Supreme Court ADR Address Series 2024, in collaboration with the Chief Justices of New South Wales, Northern Territory and South Australia. These events provide a platform for the judiciary, legal professionals, and the broader community to engage in meaningful discussions on the growing importance of ADR in the courts. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from leading voices in ADR and engage in thought-provoking discussions.

For those looking to expand their skills in expert determination, our 1-day Expert Determiner Masterclass is not to be missed. This interactive programme provides expert lawyers and accountants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to excel in this specialised field. Space is limited for this in-person Masterclass. Register now to secure your spot and stay ahead in the evolving landscape of commercial dispute resolution.

ADC’s Public Sector Masterclasses are designed to equip government teams with the advanced skills needed to manage and resolve conflict and disputes effectively. Our warm thanks to special guest speakers - The Hon. Terry Sheahan AO and Tom Howe PSM KC - who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to these masterclasses.

As always, our ADC Book Club continues to provide a platform for enriching discussions and professional development. I am attending the next Book Club meeting to take a deeper dive into lessons learned from ADC’s consulting work in Cambodia. Sign up in the Bulletin below.

We encourage you to explore our full calendar of Training Events, from mediation accreditation to refresher courses. Now is the perfect time to advance your ADR skills and take the next step in your professional journey with the Australian Disputes Centre.

Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Together, we are shaping the future of dispute resolution in Australia and beyond.

Warm Regards,

Deborah

The Australian Disputes Centre and the International Chamber of Commerce congratulate all the students who worked tirelessly in preparation for APCMC2024 and performed so brilliantly throughout the competition. The judges and mediators were in awe of the talent:

"I am grateful for the wonderful experience to be involved in judging but, even more so, to have had the opportunity of witnessing such eloquence and skill from the contestants; It was a delight to see so much talent developing and I learned a tonne myself as a first time judge; Great experience and very much impressed by the preparation and presentation of the participants! Incredible!; I’m happy our tormented world is in good hands if these students are any indication; Those grand final teams were a delight to watch - such an inspiring amount of talent and hard work on display; Wow what an experience, appreciate the opportunity and commend the calibre of participants."

Our heartfelt thanks to all the judges, mediators, and coaches who volunteered their time and expertise for the ADC-ICC Asia-Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition 2024. A special mention goes to our esteemed Grand Final judging panel - Matrika Niraula, Datuk Prof Sundra Rajoo, Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Dr. June Smith GAICD, Tania Sourdin, and mediator Eunice Chua - who brought a wealth of knowledge and insights to the thrilling final between UNSW and National Law University, Delhi. Congratulations to Team UNSW for winning the Grand Final and to both finalist teams for their exceptional performances. We are confident that these teams will excel at the ICC’s Paris competition in February 2025.

This year’s competition saw remarkable contributions from professionals worldwide, providing students with a unique, cross-cultural learning experience. We are grateful to young Australia-based lawyers Gigi Lockhart and Liam Cross for co-coaching an international team and inspiring students with their real-world insights into ADR practices at the Grand Final. We also want to thank our dedicated student session supervisors, whose generosity and commitment ensured the smooth running of all 48 mediation sessions. Thank you to everyone who helped make APCMC 2024 a success. For a full recap of the award winners, see HERE.

Join the Australian Disputes Centre for a cutting-edge panel discussion on the evolving landscape of the Australia – Indian trade relationship and dispute resolution.

Five years on we are reprising our panel discussion from Australian Arbitration Week 2019, reflecting on the deep and historic ties between Australia and India, and examining how these relationships have strengthened, including the QUAD alliance and recent trade agreements. Our esteemed panel of experts will delve into the dynamic range of issues that have shaped cross-border dispute resolution in this ever-growing global market.

How much has changed since 2019 and what innovative approaches to dispute resolution are fostering more efficient and effective trade and investment relations? Don't miss this golden opportunity to gain insights into the current trends and future directions of the Australia-India trade relationship.

More panellists to be announced. Stay tuned!

Register here »

Our Expert Faculty

John Rundell, BE, B Ec, MBA, LLM, DipICArb, FHKICPA, FCPA, CA, FCIArb, FIAMA, FAICD, QSA
Arbitrator, Mediator and Expert Determiner

Greg Laughton SC
Barrister, Arbitrator, Expert Determiner & Mediator

With the increasing use of Expert Determinations in commercial Australia, there are new appointments awaiting those who are prepared. Join expert determiners John Rundell and Greg Laughton SC for this ever-practical Masterclass on how to excel in conducting Expert Determinations. Register Today!

Full Details and Registration HERE –>

The annual Supreme Courts ADR Address Series recognises the ever-increasing importance of ADR in the management of all forms of civil disputes, and the significant role of ADR in the work of Australia’s Supreme Courts. 

The invited audience for the ADR Address series is ‘broad church’ and includes those from the dispute resolution sector - judiciary, lawyers, dispute resolution practitioners and academics - together with parliamentarians, government officials, commercial and community leaders, and students.

The Australian Disputes Centre is honoured to collaborate with Chief Justices Bell, Grant and Kourakis in presenting the Supreme Court ADR Address Series for 2024.

Chief Justice Michael Grant and the Australian Disputes Centre invite you to join friends and colleagues for this timely ADR Address in the Northern Territory delivered by leading silk, Mr Alistair Wyvill.

Seating for the ADR Address is free but limited.

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

We are thrilled to have lawyer-mediator and academic, Peter Kassapidis, deliver the ADR Address of the Supreme Court of South Australia 2024.

Seating for the ADR Address is free but limited.

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

Conflict levels are high in the community and can be a costly problem for the public sector. Skilled staff who can negotiate, de-escalate conflict and resolve disputes have never been more important. These two-day Masterclasses are dedicated to the public sector experience and equip participants with the vital skills and strategies needed to:

The Australian Disputes Centre provided a tailored 1-day mediation training course to our government department which provided excellent insight into the mediation process, effective communication, formulation of position papers and consideration of mediation strategy. The course provided many extremely helpful tips and suggestions which we can put into practice immediately. The ADC team kept all participants engaged and focussed all day and we have all learned so many valuable new skills. Thank you! –  Rebecca Dalias

"Absolutely brilliant learning experience. I was particularly impressed by the process of providing feedback on our performance from several experienced coaches. The real-time live assessment was extremely valuable." – Prasuna

"This was an extremely professional and educative experience. I've gained a highly valuable skill and couldn't recommend the course more highly." – Peter

One of the regular challenges faced by Australian mediators is managing the process in a way that respects the cultural norms of parties and assists them in negotiating agreements. We share a few tips HERE »

The ADC Book Club features a reading list designed to deepen your dispute resolution knowledge and expertise. Stay current, add CPD points for your NMAS Accreditation and expand your professional connections in a relaxed online setting (from wherever you are!).

ADC Book Club is curated by ADC’s stellar training faculty and meets regularly.

What our Book Clubbers are saying:

It is great interacting with my peers. Great conversations are generated around the reading material we review but the real gems lie in expanded discussions around how the text can be incorporated into our practices. Phillip Dibben

Join the Conversation HERE!