Mediation online

Technical, legal, and communicational challenges

Friday 15 February 2008, 12.30 - 17.00

VU University Amsterdam

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Admission free, but please register: douwe.groenevelt@debrauw.com

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) is slowly but surely becoming a full-grown alternative for conventional or 'offline' dispute resolution. Some of the most promising developments in this respect are taking place in the field of online mediation. But on its path to full maturity, online mediation still faces several challenges.

The most important of these challenges will be addressed by three international experts in the field.

• Graham Ross (UK), mediator and founder of TheMediationRoom.com, will speak about the latest developments in online mediation internationally and will elaborate on the pivotal factors for making online mediation projects successful. In this connection, he will discuss the various technical challenges to overcome by anyone wanting to create an online mediation environment or application.
• Stephanie Bol (NL), who defended her PhD thesis titled 'Mediation and Internet' in November last year, will discuss the legal aspects of online mediation. She will describe the legal regulations that online mediation environments will have to comply with. Furthermore, she will put forward concrete suggestions for incorporating the necessary legal warranties into such environments.
• Barbara Madonik (CAN), an international communication consultant and mediator, will address the broadly acknowledged challenge of the lack of 'physical' (i.e. non-verbal) communication in online mediation, in a presentation titled "Keeping the Heart and Mind in Technological Mediation".

After a presentation by Marjo Wildvank (Software Conflict Resolution, SIG) on opportunities for SME for mediation online (e.g. IT conflicts), the conference will be concluded with a moderated discussion including on the topics presented by the speakers, followed by drinks at the bar.

We welcome everyone with a professional interest in conflicts (public sector, academics, lawyers, dispute resolution professionals), and how to resolve them online to participate in this event!

Date: Friday 15 February 2008
Time: 12.30 - 17.00 (including light lunch and drinks)
Location: VU University Amsterdam (conference room to be announced later)
Admission: free, but please confirm your attendance by sending an e-mail to douwe.groenevelt@debrauw.com

Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th!

This NWO/JURIX sponsored 'afternoon conference' - is organised by the
Computer/Law Institute at the VU University Amsterdam and
the Centre for Electronic Dispute Resolution (CEDIRE) in cooperation with the
Dutch IT & Law association NVvIR.

Arno R. Lodder
Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of the VU University Amsterdam, founder and director of CEDIRE

Douwe Groenevelt
Lawyer at De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek, research associate at CEDIRE

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Speaker Bios:

Barbara Madonik
Barbara is  an international communication consultant and mediator. She is president of Unicom Communication Consultants Inc., a Canadian company specializing in communication strategies, and delivering customized training, dispute investigation and resolution services. She is a veteran professional keynote speaker and conference presenter, whose mediation presentations draw standing-room-only audiences at American Bar Association conferences. She pioneered the practical use of non-verbal communication in the Canadian court system in the 1980's and as been an invitee of the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight as expert in non-verbal communication.  Her book, I Hear What You Say, But What Are You Telling Me? The Strategic Use of Nonverbal Communication in Mediation, is required reading in several US university courses on conflict resolution.

Stephanie Bol
Stephanie holds a PhD in law from the VU University Amsterdam and defended her thesis titled "Mediation and Internet" in November 2007. She is research associate at the Centre for Electronic Dispute Resolution and frequently publishes on the legal aspects of online mediation.

Graham Ross
Graham is the CEO and founder of TheMediationRoom.Com, an international frontrunner in the field of online dispute resolution services, with clients such as the US National Institute of Health, the US National Mediation Board and Ebay/PayPal. Graham himself is in practice both as a mediator and as a solicitor. Graham has over 20 years experience in IT and the law and is a member of the United Nations Expert Panel on Online Dispute Resolution. He speaks regularly at international conferences on the impact of the law on the Internet and e-commerce and on technology in the judiciary and Alternative Dispute Resolution.