Mediation provides an attractive alternative to resolving disputes through court proceedings. Mediation promises just results in the interest of all parties concerned, a reduction of the court caseload, and cost savings for the parties involved as well as for the treasury. The European Directive on Mediation has given mediation in Europe new momentum by establishing a common framework for cross-border mediation. Beyond Europe, many states have tried in recent years to answer the question whether, and if so, how mediation should be regulated at a national and international level. The aim of this book is to promote the understanding and discussion of regulatory issues by presenting comparative research on mediation. It describes and analyses the law and practice of mediation in twenty-two countries. Europe is represented by chapters on mediation in Austria, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Spain. The world beyond Europe is analysed in chapters on mediation in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Switzerland and the USA. Against this background, further chapters on fundamental issues identify possible regulatory models and discuss central principles of mediation law and practice. In particular, the work considers harmonisation and diversity in the law of mediation as well as the economic and constitutional problems associated with privatising civil justice. To the extent available, empirical research is used as a point of reference in the critical analysis.

The editors' earlier book Delivering Family Justice in the 21st Century (2016) described a period of turbulence in family justice arising from financial austerity. Governments across the world have sought to reduce public spending on private quarrels by promoting mediation (ADR) and by beginning to look at digital justice (ODR) as alternatives to courts and lawyers. But this book describes how mediation has failed to take the place of courts and lawyers, even where public funding for legal help has been removed. Instead ODR has developed rapidly, led by the Dutch Rechtwijzer. The authors question the speed of this development, and stress the need for careful evaluation of how far these services can meet the needs of divorcing families. In this book, experts from Canada, Australia, Turkey, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Scotland, and England and Wales explore how ADR has fallen behind, and how we have learned from the rise and fall of ODR in the Rechtwijzer about what digital justice can and cannot achieve. Managing procedure and process? Yes. Dispute resolution? Not yet. The authors end by raising broader questions about the role of a family justice system: is it dispute resolution? Or dispute prevention, management, and above all legal protection of the vulnerable? This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's International Arbitration online service.

Every mediator recalls how difficult it was to break into the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and how gaining initial experience was near impossible. This eye-opening book provides insights into what success looks like in a mediation practice. The Annual World Mediation Summit brings some of the most forward-thinking international conflict experts together in this book sharing their accounts of how mediation is used to resolve interpersonal and international conflicts so that participants walk away from the conflict with win-win solutions. This book will appeal to anyone interested in practical experiences in mediation across the globe, or wanting to discover how the most successful mediators operate. It is also appropriate for anyone interested in learning from successful judges, lawyers and mediators. Furthermore, this book will be useful to anyone who wants to learn about how mediation works worldwide and to learn from mediators’ challenges and capitalize on their successes. The twenty plus chapters here are written by authors from across the globe supporting the use of mediation in place of other more complicated systems. Their experiences are thoughtfully and clearly described in this book.

Appendices. Index. With commentary and analysis on commercial mediation and arbitration provided by some of the leading Judges, Lawyers and Academics in the field, Commercial Mediation and Arbitration in the NAFTA Countries is the definitive source on dispute resolution under NAFTA and also on arbitration and mediation in Canada, Mexico and the United States - on both the National and International level. This work, the result of the efforts of the Canadian, Mexican and United States? governments and the U.S. Mexico Conflict Resolution Center (CRC), which was created in 1994 via United States Congressional funding to promote Arbitration and ADR in the NAFTA region, presents the proceedings of the first-ever conference on mediation and arbitration in the NAFTA countries held in Mexico City in June 1999. This work is not only timely, but a must for anyone involved, either directly or indirectly, in dispute resolution in the region.

This edited collection introduces and defines the concept of “comparative restorative justice”, putting it in the context of power relations and inequality. It aims to compare the implementation and theoretical development of restorative justice internationally for research, policy and practice. In Part I, this volume compares practices in relation to the implementing environment - be that cultural, political, or societal. Part II looks at obstacles and enablers in relation to the criminal justice system, and considers whether inquisitorial versus adversarial jurisdictions have impact on how restorative justice is regulated and implemented. Finally, Part III compares the reasons that drive governments, regional bodies, and practitioners to implement restorative justice, and whether these impetuses impact on ultimate delivery. Featuring fifteen original chapters from diverse authors and practitioners, this will serve as a key resource for those working in social justice or those seeking to understand and implement the tenets of restorative justice comparatively.