We invite you to a morning ADR seminar during which we will honour Michael Leathes‘ legacy by engaging in meaningful discussions on key topics relating to Appropriate Dispute Resolution. This event is open to a wide range of participants, including business executives, external lawyers, in-house counsel, and ADR professionals.
📆 Friday 14 March 2025, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Doors open at 8:45 am for a 9:00 am start
🏢 Oxford, United Kingdom and online
Agenda:
09h00-09h15 Registration at Pembroke College, Harold Lee Room, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DW
09h15-9:45 Welcoming comments and tributes, followed by an introduction to discussion topics
- Ivana NINCIC OSTERLE, IMI
- Tribute to Michael LEATHES by John STURROCK
- Introduction to the 3 topics for discussion by Jeremy LACK, Manon SCHONEWILLE
- Disruption
- Innovation
- Practical/pragmatic ideas
09:45-11:00 Collaborative discussions on mentoring, user-centric mediation, and leveraging technology to enhance data and feedback digests
- Discussion on Topic 1: Mentoring: How can we help those who seek mediation experience and mentoring, worldwide and assist young mediators more vigorously? (Co-Moderators: Jonathan LLOYD-JONES & Joel LEE)
- Discussion on Topic 2: How can we make mediation more “user-centric” and accessible? (Co-Moderators: Nadja ALEXANDER & Anna HOWARD)
- 11:15-12:30 Presentation of the Michael Leathes ADR Legacy Project and summarising possible action items (Danielle HUTCHINSON, Mladen VUKMIR, Mark APPEL (TBC))
- 12h30-13h30 Lunch in College
The program themes are prominently featured in the booklet series “Seven Keys to Unlock Mediation’s Golden Age“, which Michael instigated and organised in 2020. You can learn more here.
Please see the full program details as well as travel and accommodation suggestions here.
We look forward to seeing you in Oxford or online!
We are pleased to share that CPR has bestowed the CPR Jim Henry Award to Michael Leathes, honoring his outstanding achievement for distinguished, sustained contributions to the field of ADR. We would like to thank the staff and judges at CPR and everyone who supported our nomination of Michael for this prestigious award, which is a fitting tribute to Michael’s legacy and his dedication to advancing ADR.he James F. Henry Award Petition. Read more here.
“The James F. Henry Award recipient is given posthumously to Michael Leathes, the founder of the International Mediation Institute. His work as in-house counsel included positions at Pfizer, British American Tobacco and a predecessor company to Diageo. He authored many articles and the book Negotiation – Things corporate counsel need to know but were not taught (Wolters Kluwer, 2017). Among his many accomplishments in mediation and indeed the entire field of dispute resolution, Leathes made significant contributions to the development of Singapore as a center for mediation. A recurring theme that guided his actions, from his teenage years to just before his death, was his desire to help redress a wrong.”
