CADRIn Connect Webinar: Mediation as a Comparative Process

Baria Ahmed is UK qualified barrister, arbitrator, mediator and ADR consultant, with a practice focussing on international projects, commercial ADR services, professional training and development. A member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London, Ms Ahmed operates both independently and as a member of various institutional panels and enjoys a highly varied ADR practice, assisting clients across the spectrum including construction and engineering, banking and finance, partnership and shareholder, insurance and employment/workplace matters. As a trainer, Ms Ahmed has shaped and delivered internationally recognised mediation and ADR skills courses, running both open and in-house programs for law firms and corporate clients around the globe. Separately, and with a keen interest in cultural and jurisdictional influences on ADR, Ms Ahmed has undertaken substantial research into comparative practices, working with international donors and development agencies such as the World Bank, IFC, UNDP, Inter-American Development Bank and the EU. In the Caribbean, Ms Ahmed was integral in the establishment and launch of the Arbitration and Mediation Court of the Caribbean (AMCC) in Barbados, stepping down as the institution’s founding Director General in December 2018. In 2020, she co-founded the Caribbean ADR Initiative (CADRIn), a non-profit organisation working to inspire regional clients and practitioners towards greater use of ADR through the provision of practical resources and knowledge dissemination.

In this webinar, Ms Ahmed will consider the development of mediation as part of a movement towards a wide range of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, influenced by reactions against court-based litigation and the demand for quicker, cheaper or otherwise more appropriate options. Inspired by social philosophies, where the focus is often on participation, responsiveness and the preservation of relationships, the value of mediation will be evaluated in comparison to other dispute resolution systems, such as arbitration and litigation in civil and commercial disputes. 

The presentation will be followed by a Q&A. Please include any questions you have on the topic on the registration form so that these can be included in the discussion. 

We look forward to your joining us for what will no doubt prove to be an informative and engaging presentation.