ICC leads the way in ADR training for international...ICC leads the way in ADR training for international...

A three-day bilingual training seminar on techniques of amicable dispute resolution took place at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris on 16, 17 and 18 April 2007. This first-ever ICC event of its kind attracted participants from 15 different countries, which reflects the increasing attention the international legal community is giving to mediation and other methods of amicable dispute resolution.

The training programme took participants through the different stages of any amicable dispute resolution procedure, namely the initial choices (drafting of the clause, choice of neutral), the conduct of the proceedings (the role of the parties illustrated through a case study) and the end result (the drafting and enforcement of an agreement).

ICC ADR—meaning precisely “amicable dispute resolution”—operates under a set of rules that leaves parties free to choose the technique best suited to the circumstances. In addition to learning about mediation, the participants in the recent training seminar were familiarized with other amicable methods such as neutral evaluation and mini-trial. The choice of procedure is crucial, as it determines what will be expected of the neutral.

After describing the roles of the various players in a mediation (mediator, parties, lawyers), distinguished dispute resolution practitioners led working groups in which participants had the opportunity to follow a mock case in English and French.

The programme also included a section devoted specifically to the outcome of the proceedings. There were detailed discussions on the drafting of a settlement agreement, the form and nature of the agreement and its enforcement at law.

This inaugural ADR training event, which brought together individuals from widely diverse professional and cultural horizons, proved furthermore to be a unique forum for exchanging viewpoints and experience. Much praise was made of the ICC ADR Rules for their flexibility and their ability to meet the needs of the various players involved in international trade.  

This programme may be credited towards vocational training in certain countries. Such was its success that ICC intends to repeat the event as part of the activities it regularly organizes for the business world.

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