For over 37 years ADC has been at the forefront of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Australia. It has helped promote the uptake and best practice of ADR, and Australia’s ADR expertise internationally. ADC has developed into a globally recognised, independent ADR institution with a proven record of corporate social responsibility, exceptional training and education programs, thought leadership and prestigious dispute management services. This is our journey:
1986
When the NSW Government established the Australian Commercial Disputes Centre (ACDC) in 1986, the Hon. Terry Sheahan AO was Attorney General and Sir Laurence Street was Chief Justice. These visionary legal giants saw the benefits to commercial Australia of ADR and ensured that ACDC’s mission was squarely focused on promoting the uptake and best practice of these new, alternative dispute resolution processes. ACDC’s Workplace Mediation Training and Guidelines were an Australian first. ACDC’s activities saw it collaborating with Australia’s Law Societies and Bar Associations, courts and tribunals, local and national government agencies, the construction sector and commerce in general, to introduce mediation, arbitration and conciliation to all sectors of civil society.
2003
ADC entered a MOU with the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) with the goal of establishing a national centre representing international arbitration and mediation. That same year, ADC assumed responsibility for the secretariat functions of the Australian Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). During this period, ADC became the nominated authority for a variety of industry dispute schemes, including the Credit Ombudsman Service (previously the Mortgage Industry Ombudsman Scheme) and the Credit Union Dispute Resolution Centre.
2010
Marking the beginning of an exciting new era for ACDC, the company relocated to new headquarters at 1 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Increasing cross-border trade had led ACDC to pivot internationally, and in collaboration with ACICA and CIArb it opened a national centre for international commercial arbitration. ACDC branded its state-of-the-art room hire operations as the Australian International Disputes Centre (AIDC). ACDC and AIDC continued to develop their local ADR advocacy and thought leadership programs, while simultaneously forging and strengthening global partnerships to build a strong reputation on the international stage.
2015
Globalisation had become the ‘freight train’ of the 21st century, and the company responded to the increasingly blurred lines between ‘national’ and ‘international’. It was time to integrate the company’s domestic (ACDC) and international (AIDC) operations. In amalgamating the two brands, the Australian Disputes Centre (ADC) was launched. The new brand identity retained the company’s prestigious profile for independence, professionalism and quality of service, while drawing on the synergies that ‘one brand’ provided.
Taking this respected and progressive brand forward, ‘ADC’ catalysed the next era in the company’s development. This included a major domestic and international expansion of its training arm, the establishment of its national Supreme Court ADR Address Series and the launch of the annual Australian ADR Awards. Also in this period, The Hon. Robert French AC was appointed as ADC’s Patron.
2020
Facing the global Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020, ADC again demonstrated its agility in responding to global influences and meeting the changing demands of its clients. ADC pivoted overnight to deliver its prestigious training programs online and support the ADR sector by providing ‘online spaces’ and a ‘concierge support service’ under the banner ‘ADC Virtual’.
2022
After successfully providing custom-built rooms for domestic and international ADR matters for 12 years at 1 Castlereagh Street, it was time to make a move. ADC leveraged a timely lease renewal to step away from its room hire service. This strategic move responded to the ‘new norm’ in ADR spaces and the other opportunities ADC saw for its ADR advocacy program. Moving into the heart of NSW’s legal precinct, ADC relocated to new premises at Lockhart Chambers, 233 Macquarie Street.
ADC continues to build on its celebrated history to provide an ADR Centre of Excellence that is the first choice for businesses, government and the community to resolve or learn how to resolve conflicts and disputes.