ADC has started 2025 with a bang and I am excited to share news, articles, and opportunities galore with you.

Put your skates on, nominations for the 9th Annual Australian ADR Awards close on 9 March. Celebrate your team, colleagues and personal achievements by nominating in one or more of the 27 ADR Award Categories. Click on the categories below to access the easy online submission forms.

The annual Australian Conference & ADR Awards are seminal events in Australia’s dispute resolution calendar. Celebrating their 9th anniversary on 1 & 2 May 2025, the theme is Oceans Nine: Powering the Surge in Global Dispute Resolution. I am thrilled to announce our latest sponsor - my thanks to the Conflict Management Academy for their support.

I am also excited to announce that The Hon. James Allsop AC is a keynote speaker and many more not-to-be-missed professionals are presenting and facilitating. See the website (linked below) and stay tuned for more announcements!

I am always delighted to hear from past ADR Awards winners on the importance of these national awards and the difference they have made to their practice. In this Bulletin we hear from Kala Campbell, 2024’s Under 30 ADR Practitioner of the Year and Judith Levine, Arbitrator of the Year.

A last-minute reminder that ADC's flagship mediation training and mediator refreshers days start on Wednesday, 5 March. If your diary has just cleared, there is still time to reserve your place.

ADC’s collaboration with our Chief Justices in presenting the annual Supreme Courts ADR Address Series is always a highlight of our year. We are honoured to start our 2025 series in Sydney with the ADR Address on 19 March, presented by The Hon. John Sackar KC who brings 

enormous curial, commercial and ADR experience to this 2025 Address. This is a free CPD event, followed by cocktail reception. Seats are filling fast, and I encourage you to register (below) as soon as you can.

On 27 March, ADC is reprising its Expert Determination Masterclass. If you are a senior professional in accounting, law, engineering, architecture and more, this is a brilliant opportunity to connect with a stellar faculty and fellow professionals in honing your approach to expert determinations and leveraging the increased work available.   

Over 20 years the ICC has held an international commercial mediation competition in Paris. And many of you would be aware that ADC collaborates with the ICC in hosting the regional ADC-ICC Asia Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition (APCMC). University teams from APCMC always do very well in Paris and I congratulate National University of Singapore and UNSW for and finishing in first place and runner up this year.

APCMC 2025 is conveniently online from 29–31 August. If you are available to help as a volunteer judge, mediator, or coach this is a great way to earn CPD points, engage with international professionals and support young students in this stellar learning opportunity.

Are you in Local Government or State and Federal civil service? If yes, I encourage you to sign up for our ADR training programmes tailored to your needs (details below).

Also, in this jampacked Bulletin we share ADC’s Thought Leadership article on DR Clauses; we profile two of our wonderful ADC interns who have gone on to do great things in their respective careers; we provide details of ADC’s much loved Book Club, and include a call to action from Australian mediators to save NSW Community Justice Centres.

Thank you as always for being a part of our ADC community and for your continued support. I look forward to receiving your ADR Award nominations this week and seeing you at our many events and training programmes in the coming months.

Warm Regards,

Deborah

Nominations close on Sunday, 9 March 2025

The Australian ADR Awards celebrate the many achievements and contributions of dispute resolution professionals who help de-escalate conflict, promote access to justice, and enhance productivity across all sectors of Australian civil society. The ADR Awards provide an opportunity to recognise industry leaders and trailblazers!

Why Your Nominations Matter

Recognition in the Australian ADR Awards signifies excellence in the field. Nominees embody a commitment to saving clients' time, money, and reputations. This recognition resonates with stakeholders, colleagues, clients, and the broader community, showcasing the many benefits of ADR.

Plan ahead! Your nominations require two written references. Reach out to your referees today to secure their support, and inspiration!

If you are nominating others and prefer to nominate anonymously, please contact ADC urgently, so we can notify your nominee directly.

How to Nominate

Submissions are open in 27 CATEGORIES that celebrate excellence in the field. Click on the categories below to access straight forward nomination forms and guidelines. Don’t miss this chance to be part of the 9th Annual Australian ADR Awards!

It is ADC’s 9th annual Australian ADR Awards in 2025. Do not miss these unforgettable 2 days to engage with leaders and innovators in the dispute resolution community.

May 1, Day 1 – Pier One Sydney Harbour - the annual Australian ADR Awards Conference. This year’s theme is ‘Oceans Nine: Powering the Surge in Global Dispute Resolution’. It follows the stellar success of last year’s ‘Pure Gold ‘ conference and again promises to be the ADR Conference of the year! Mark your calendar for 1 May 2025 and join us on Sydney Harbour, under the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, for an inspiring 1-Day conference filled with insightful and engaging sessions for all dispute resolution practitioners and splice the main brace at the Cocktail Reception.

May 2, Day 2 (AM) – Lockhart Chambers, Coffee and Connections - Ease the sails and kick back at the ADC’s sensational premises at Lockhart Chambers in the heartland of Sydney’s dispute resolution district, where we boast signature works from the unparalleled Ken Hinds Collection.

May 2, Day 2 (PM) - The renowned and not-to-be missed ADR Awards Gala Dinner celebrates excellence in the field at the prestigious National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour.

Who are the Australian ADR Award Winners and how did they achieve this recognition for excellence?

As president of Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and designee to the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators by the President of the World Bank, Judith Levine’s expertise has contributed to pioneering legal frameworks addressing global environmental challenges. As someone who worked outside of Australia for more than a decade, the Australian ADR Awards helped Judith solidify her arbitrator profile nationally, giving her a much bigger platform.

Read more about how the Australian ADR Awards has impacted Judith’s practice.

Kala Campbell is a Senior Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, and a trailblazer specialising in domestic and international arbitration for construction projects. As an active member in the ADR community, Kala expressed the benefits of winning the Australian ADR Awards in expanding her professional network and credibility, especially as a mentor to support younger professionals.

Read more about Kala’s experience and the impact of the Australian ADR Awards’ impact on her Practice.

"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

We are honoured to have The Hon. John Sackar KC presenting the NSW ADR Address. Recently retired from the Supreme Court, John Sackar shares his enormous curial, commercial and ADR experience in delivering this year’s Address.

The ADR Address brings together a diverse audience, including members of the judiciary, legal professionals, academics, government officials, and students. This Address is part of the Supreme Court ADR Address Series, which celebrates the evolving importance of ADR in managing civil disputes across Australia.

The ADR Address will be followed by a Cocktail Reception.

Seating for the ADR Address is free but is filling fast. Please register your attendance now to secure a seat.

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

With the increasing use of Expert Determinations in commercial Australia, there are new appointments awaiting those who are prepared. Join ADR experts and expert determiners, The Hon Tom Bathurst, John Rundell and Greg Laughton SC for this practical Masterclass on how to excel in conducting Expert Determinations. 

Seats are filling fast - Register Today!

Full Details and Registration HERE –>

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

Over many years ADC has created a rich and vibrant culture for students and young legal practitioners to volunteer their time and contribute to our work. They network with leading ADR Practitioners and learn more about the raft of dispute resolution processes available to parties. Our Interns remain part of the ADC family, and we delight in watching their career progression. Here we introduce you to two former interns - Aidan O’Callaghan and Jerome Babete – who are out in the world making a difference.

As a representative of the Australian Government, Aidan manages negotiations and international relations. Recognising the key skills he learned from ADC, Aidan is an inspiration to our young interns and practitioners.

Read about Aidan's work here –>

 

At ADC, we not only equip interns with ADR knowledge they can take forward in future roles but also provide a highly supportive work environment and opportunities to network. Jerome shares how ADC inspired him in finding a new career path - fuelling his passion for making a difference in the community. Read more Jerome’s experience on what makes ADC’s internship programme stand out.

Read about Jerome's work here  –>

Effective dispute resolution clauses are essential to avoid costly litigation and ensure smooth conflict resolution. This article highlights the key elements of a strong ADR clause—certainty, compliance, and commerciality, drawing insights from Australian case law. By carefully drafting these provisions, businesses can safeguard their relationships and resolve disputes efficiently, keeping matters from "bubbling over" into costly legal battles.

Read the article HERE

The ADC-ICC Asia Pacific Commercial Mediation Competition (APCMC) is back for its 9th year, and we’re inviting universities from around the world to compete in this exciting global event! Taking place online from 29-31 August 2025, this prestigious competition offers Law, Business, and Social Science students an incredible opportunity to develop their skills in commercial mediation and negotiation.

Teams will tackle real-world international commercial disputes, guided by professional mediators and adjudicated by experienced ADR practitioners. The competition provides students with valuable networking opportunities and a chance to showcase their abilities on a global stage.

So many reasons to participate:

For Universities: Register your teams now and prepare them for a memorable and educational experience. Multiple teams are welcome!

For Professionals: Volunteer as a mediator or judge and engage with the next generation of ADR leaders while earning CPD points. The APCMC 2025 promises to be an inspiring event, uniting students, professionals, and academics from across the globe. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Learn more and sign up today to be part of this prestigious competition!

Register here today and join us online this August!

National University of Singapore

University of New South Wales

The 20th ICC International Commercial Mediation Competition was held in Paris from 3–8 February 2025. ADC was thrilled to see so many teams from the Asia-Pacific region represented and excelling on the global stage.

Congratulations to the winning team National University of Singapore and runner-up University of New South Wales for their stellar performance in the final mediation session!

We draw the community’s attention to a petition to save the NSW Community Justice Centres (CJCs). For nearly 40 years, the CJCs have been instrumental in providing accessible, free mediation services to the community, helping resolve disputes efficiently and fairly. The decision to close these centres marks a significant shift, and the ADR industry is rallying behind efforts to keep these mediation services available to all and help ensure that essential services like these remain available for future generations. The closure of the CJCs comes at a time when the cost of living crisis is already putting a strain on many individuals and families, making access to affordable dispute resolution services even more critical. 

Consider signing the e-petition 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

Join the Conversation HERE!