Here is an update on international mediation developments from Keith Seat, Mediate.com Mediation News Editor.
HM Revenue & Customs sponsored several informal consultations in 2010 about mediation and appears to be eager to introduce mediation at a much earlier stage of the process in U.K. tax disputes. Tax Journal (December 16, 2010)
U.K.’s Justice Minister seeks to reform legal aid and suggests that mediation may provide much of the answer. IBB Solicitors (November 9, 2010)
Under Russia’s new mediation law, which takes effect in January, employment disputes can be resolved through mediation, although further amendments to the law may be needed. Moscow Times (November 9, 2010)
The Supreme People’s Court of China promulgated Professional Ethics and a Code of Conduct for judges. Among the 96 articles in the new Code of Conduct are provisions intended to standardize judicial mediation. Law Library of Congress (December 28, 2010)
The Papua New Guinea courts have introduced mediation in an effort to address a huge backlog of civil cases on their docket. While the Chief Justice set a five year target, the Justice who chaired the rules committee says the impact has been immediate. ABC Radio Australia (December 30, 2010)
New South Wales, Australia has replaced a plan for using private arbitrators to resolve planning appeals with legislation before parliament to streamline the court mediation system and have matters resolved in three months rather than six. SMH.com.au (November 23, 2010)
New Zealand's leading independent rural advocacy organization is urging the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry to consider legislation for farm debt mediation services, as exists in both Canada and New South Wales, Australia. Scoop.co.nz (December 9, 2010)
Mediation is becoming increasingly important in Jamaica, both through court-connected mediation with high settlement rates and by being woven into all other aspects of life, overcoming notable resistance in just a dozen years. Jamaica Information Service (December 11, 2010)
Keith L. Seat is a full-time mediator and arbitrator who can effectively assist parties in resolving a wide range of telecommunications, antitrust and other commercial disputes. With over twenty years of legal experience as a mediator, arbitrator, litigator, advocate before executive branch agencies, and key staffer in the legislative and judicial branches, Mr. Seat brings a wealth of experience to his work as a mediator and arbitrator to help parties reach successful resolutions of complex disputes.
Mr. Seat began his legal career in a federal clerkship with U.S. District Judge William H. Becker, and then litigated antitrust and commercial disputes for many years at a major Washington law firm, Howrey, Simon, Arnold & White, where he first worked on telecom and technology issues. In 1993, Mr. Seat was named General Counsel of the Antitrust, Business Rights and Competition Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, where he served for four years, playing a significant role in the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Returning to the private sector in 1997, Mr. Seat rounded out his experience with a senior in-house counsel position at MCI, one of the nation’s largest telecommunications firms. At MCI, he gained a first-hand appreciation for the important perspective brought to issues and disputes by in-house decision-makers. Mr. Seat also deepened his knowledge of telecom issues and gained experience addressing competition-related issues in the corporate setting, as well as helping resolve disputes among large organizations.
The views expressed by authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Resourceful Internet Solutions, Inc., Mediate.com or of reviewing
editors.
