ADC has been privileged to be at the forefront of the ADR industry for nearly 40 years and over this period, to be a part of the growing use of ADR for Environmental Justice. Speaking at the October LAWASIA Conference in Kuala Lumpur, my focus was the flexibility of ADR processes in addressing the formidable challenges of coastal development.

ADC has been a strong supporter of Australian Arbitration Week over many years. Our tradition is to take a country or region and discuss how ADR can best support trade and investment. In October 2024, we dived into the dynamic range of issues that shape cross border trade and dispute resolution between Australia and India: How far have we come over the past 5 years? What are the innovations? What is fostering more efficient and effective trade and investment relations? What is the outlook? Thank you to our esteemed Sticky Wickets’ Panel and to all attendees for supporting this recent event in Brisbane.

Looking forward, I am delighted to share that ADC has more things in store before summer is with us.

Coming up in November, we have the ADR Address of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory delivered by leading silk Alistair Wyvill SC. In South Australia the ADR Address will be delivered by Dr Peter Kassapidis. Both speakers are seasoned ADR practitioners with unique insights into current developments in the field. These are free events. With limited seating I encourage you to register today.

ADC continues to receive accolades for the quality of its training programmes. Those in the Public Sector who are seeking to hone their negotiation and conflict management skills will be thrilled to connect with experts in the sector on our upcoming Masterclasses. Our special guests and Australian legal and ADR giants are The Hon. Terry Sheahan AO and Tom Howe PSM KC.

For those seeking to learn the art of mediation, there is still time to register for ADC’s upcoming November, December, and January training programmes. All courses are filling quickly so please ensure you register early.

Looking forward to May 2025, please ‘Save the Dates’ for the ADR Awards Conference (1 May) and Gala Dinner (2 May).

Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to seeing many of you in Darwin or Adelaide for the upcoming ADR Address Series or at one of ADC’s second-to-none training programmes!

Warm Regards,

Deborah

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

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!

Special Guest:

The Hon. Tom Bathurst AC KC FRSN

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 –>

It is ADC’s 9th annual Australian ADR Awards in 2025. The ADR Awards Conference - ‘Oceans Nine’ - follows the stellar success of this year’s ‘Pure Gold’ event and promises to be the ADR Conference of 2025! Mark your calendars for an inspiring day filled with insightful sessions for all dispute resolution practitioners, engaging workshop sessions and a who’s who networking opportunity. The renowned ADR Awards Gala Dinner celebrates excellence in ADR on 2 May 2025. Don’t miss either opportunity to engage with leaders and innovators in the dispute resolution community and celebrate excellence in the field!

"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

Relive the impactful discussions from Australian Arbitration Week 2024, where the "Challenged by a Sticky Wicket?" session brought together industry leaders to address the evolving economic and strategic relationship between Australia and India. Expert speakers unpacked the impact of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), highlighting how renewable energy projects, including Adani's ambitious plans in Queensland, could reshape both economies. The session also delved into the complexities of foreign investment in India, discussing regulatory hurdles and contract enforcement, while underscoring the progress of arbitration reforms. This lively panel offered unique perspectives on the multifaceted nature of bilateral ties in a rapidly globalising world. The blog are a must-watch /read for anyone invested in the future of Australia-India partnerships.

Read the blog HERE

At the LAWASIA Conference 2024, legal professionals and experts from across the region gathered to discuss some of the most pressing challenges in the Asia-Pacific legal landscape. One of the standout presentations came from ADC's CEO, Deborah Lockhart, whose speech captivated the audience with a visionary approach to environmental justice and sustainable coastal management through ADR. Her paper highlighted the adaptability of ADR in tackling complex environmental disputes that traditional litigation often struggles to address. Deborah’s insights underscored ADC’s commitment to using ADR as a framework for fostering equitable and sustainable environmental solutions across diverse and fragile coastal regions.

Read the blog 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 AMDRAS 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

Next meeting is 6 November 2024 - Join the Conversation HERE!