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Core Mediation News

Spring 2003

Negotiation Nuggets
Mediations Increase
Mediation in the USA
Recent English Decisions
Health Claims
News of Events
Forthcoming Training Courses
Staffing

Negotiation Nuggets

In this and subsequent newsletters, we hope to bring you some ideas which will help you to negotiate more effectively, whether in direct negotiations or as negotiators working with a mediator in a mediation.

  • Uncertainty is the only thing that is certain: expect and work with the unexpected; do not be thrown off track by the discovery of new facts or by being presented with unforeseen solutions.

  • Aggressive negotiators tend to be unsuccessful: on the other hand, research shows that negotiators who seek to maximise gains on their own side and who acknowledge that the other side also has to maximise its gains tend to get the best results.

  • Separate the people from the problem: you may not like the other side's values, attitude or behaviour but you have a common interest in solving the dispute: focus on that and not on positions or posturing.

  • Surprise the other side: often a small concession made by you will be a significant gain for them (especially if you try to see things from their perspective): this may unlock a deadlock in negotiation.

  • Don't sweat the small stuff: keep an eye on the big picture, know your objectives and goals and don't be distracted by side issues.

Mediations Increase

The number of mediation enquiries continues to increase in number. The range of disputes which are now being considered for mediation is diverse and extensive. Recent examples include:

  • Contracts of employment in the oil industry; management strategies in education; property and boundary disputes; alleged negligence of architects and builders; personal injury; construction projects and disputes over landed estates.

The number of actual mediations taking place is also on the increase. A number of enquiries have proceeded to mediation in recent months, nearly all of them producing a satisfactory outcome within a day or two. Core Mediation saw a 43% increase in mediations between 2001 and 2002. In the first three months of 2003, figures suggest a substantially greater increase this year.

Why use Core Mediation?

Because our mediation services rank amongst the best available: we have a well-resourced, systematic and supportive pre-mediation service, together with a panel of highly-trained mediators, all equipped to take you from the first stage of the mediation process through to its conclusion.

Mediation in the USA

John Sturrock attended the recent conference of the American Bar Association Section on Dispute Resolution in San Antonio, Texas. John presented two sessions: one on setting standards of competence for mediators and the other an innovative and timely session on mediating the Iraq crisis. Working with Heather Allen, an experienced mediator from England, they were joined in the first session by members of the Texas Bar who have pioneered mediation in that State over the past 15 years. It was fascinating to learn how legislators, judges and policy makers combined to provide the necessary impetus to bring mediation to the mainstream in Texas. In the second session, John and Heather acted as mediators in a simulated mediation involving a number of the signficant players in the events in the Middle East. The first stage was to identify who should take part in the discussions and the second was to begin to design a process for taking discussions forward amongst the various parties. John's article on this fascinating event can be found on the Core website Click here to link to article.

In the United States generally, conflict management and conflict resolution using mediation and other co-operative techniques is well established. Many industries and corporations have devised dispute management and resolution strategies which involve independent mediators or facilitators from a very early stage in contractual and other arrangements. The potential for preventing and minimising the impact of conflict is thus greatly enhanced.

Recent English Decisions

The English courts continue to encourage mediation in appropriate cases. A recent example is the case of Leicester Circuits v Coates Brothers where the Court of Appeal penalised a successful party which withdrew from mediation (on the instructions of insurers), having agreed to it.

Judge LJ said "The whole point of having mediation, and once you have agreed to it, proceeding with it, is that the most difficult of problems can sometimes, indeed often are, resolved." "It seems to us that the unexplained withdrawal from an agreed mediation process was of significance to the continuation of this litigation. We do not for one moment assume that the mediation process would have succeeded, but certainly there is a prospect that it would have done if it had been allowed to proceed. That therefore bears on the issue of costs."

Health Claims

The Scottish Executive Group on Compensation for Health Claims reported recently. In a relatively short reference to mediation, the Group supported the recommendation of the Royal Society of Edinburgh report which last year recommended that a pilot exercise be conducted using mediation in medical negligence actions.

News of Events

  • Core Mediation made a presentation to a major Oil and Gas conference on Contract Risk Management in Aberdeen on the benefits of mediation for that sector. On a vote amongst delegates following the presentation, 98% of those attending said that, in the appropriate situation, mediation adds real value and saves money during dispute resolution. 53% thought that we are moving away from litigation during disputes and a further 28% thought that such a move was possible.

  • Core addressed the In-House Lawyers Group at the Law Society: this is a forerunner to a full-day training course for In-House Lawyers on advising and representing clients in mediation. This will take place on Tuesday 14th October. Full details can be obtained from triciasim@lawscot.org.uk.

  • John Sturrock was one of the leaders of CEDR's International Spring School for Mediators in Amsterdam in early April. The course was attended by participants from all over the world.

  • Advising and Representing Clients in Mediation: this two day course in March was again enthusiastically received. We will be announcing the date of our next course for lawyers and others wishing to gain more experience in preparing for and representing clients in mediation: please let us know if you would like to take part.

  • John Sturrock and Ewan Malcolm of the Scottish Mediation Network presented a morning seminar and workshop to the Diploma students at Dundee University, many of whom were fascinated by the potential for new approaches to conflict resolution and problem solving which the mediation process encourages.

Up-coming Events

  • May 8, Edinburgh: Mediation in Action Forum: 5.00 - 7.30 p.m. - an interactive workshop with an opportunity to experience mediation and to hear of the latest developments in the USA and elsewhere: click here for flyer or contact maxine.gomersall@core-mediation.com. REGISTER NOW!

  • May 9, Glasgow: Mediation Forum for Glasgow Bar Association: 2.00 - 5.00 p.m.

  • May 12/13 and 29/30, Edinburgh: Mediation Training for Senior Health Executives (in association with NHS Education for Scotland)

Forthcoming Training Courses

  • Starting on 1st May, Core Consulting is running a seven-day mediator training course which is taking place in three modules in May and June, culminating with assessment and accreditation on 19th and 20th June. The course has been over subscribed and there is now a waiting list for the next mediator training course. If you are interested in training to be a mediator, please let us know and we will add your name to the list.

  • Summer School: Core Consulting is running a Negotiation and Advocacy Summer School in Edinburgh on 21, 22, 25, 26 and 27 August. This is an exciting new project, full details of which can be found on our website on Summer School Brochure.

  • A further Summer School is proposed for Aberdeen on 3, 4, 5 and 6 September. Details will be available soon. Please let us know if you are interested in attending.

  • International Advanced Mediator Course: Viterbo, Italy, run by MATA: 13-20 September 2003, headed by David Richbell, former Director of Training at CEDR. Contact david@richbell.org for more information.

Staffing

Core has been enormously fortunate in recent months to have the services of Alanna Barron as a consultant. Alanna has worked with us on various projects including re-design of the website, marketing and selling strategies, research into new developments in mediation and event management. Although Alanna's time with us is relatively short before she progresses with her legal career, she has proved to be a great asset. We expect to announce the employment of a further consultant shortly and we are delighted that Lindsay Adams of Adams Associates is now assisting us with events co-ordination also.



              
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