The Australian Disputes Centre announces the launch of its First Nations’ Mediation Panel. “This Panel of specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dispute resolvers builds on ADC’s work within the community and brings additional focus and resources to the significant opportunities for culturally appropriate dispute resolution” says CEO, Deborah Lockhart. In assisting disputing parties to resolve their issues, the Australian Disputes Centre has been appointing arbitrators, mediators and experts from its independent Panels over many decades, and more recently [...]

The Global Data Trends and Regional Differences preliminary report from the Global Pound Conference (GPC) Series has something to say about Australia: it’s ripe for an alternative dispute resolution revolution. The report drew input from a global cast of stakeholders in international dispute resolution. In the aggregate, its results were not surprising, highlighting a global focus on efficiency, collaboration, and pre-dispute and mixed-mode dispute resolution protocols. Within the report, Oceania, consisting of Australia and New Zealand, stood out. The report [...]

Back to the Future of Cross-Border Contracts: What 60 years of the New York Convention means for the commerce of today and the conflicts of tomorrow. The New York Convention is a global instrument, but its effects are felt on a local level, and its scope of operation is defined by the flows of international trade. ACICA’s Symposium on Underwriting Cross-Border Contracts, celebrated the New York Convention’s 60th birthday by addressing the domestic and international role of the Convention. The [...]

Dear Friends and Colleagues, I would like to add the voice of the Australian Disputes Centre to the many tributes made to Sir Laurence Street over the past week. After a stellar legal career, Sir Laurence opted to use his knowledge of the law, his connections and his authority to help the early years of ADR in this country. What is now a commonplace approach to the management of commercial disputes, was at the time regarded as revolutionary, and [...]