The International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC), Hyderabad, orchestrated the pioneering Mediation Weekend on July 20th-21st, 2024, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre. This landmark event convened global mediation luminaries, including judges, mediators, senior advocates, general counsels, law firm partners, industry leaders, and members of the business and legal communities.
Mr. Tariq Khan, Registrar of IAMC Hyderabad, kicked off the proceedings, followed by Mr. George Lim SC, Chairman of the Singapore International Mediation Centre, who emphasized the significance of institutional mediation. He highlighted the increasing commitment of large companies to mediation in Singapore, predicting a similar shift in India’s dispute resolution landscape.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice RV Raveendran, a former Supreme Court judge, lauded mediation as an exceptionally effective dispute resolution method. Chief Justice Alok Aradhe of Telangana noted the transformative impact of the Mediation Act of 2023, which dismantled barriers that previously hindered mediation.
Justice Ashok Bhushan, Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, underscored the stress-reducing and trust-building virtues of mediation. He advocated for integrating mediation into various legal sectors, including disputes arising from the Insolvency and Banking Code, 2016.
Supreme Court Judge, Hon’ble Ms. Justice Hima Kohli, delivered the keynote address, tracing the ancient roots of mediation and its modern potential, especially with mandatory pre-litigation mediation.
The weekend featured diverse panels and sessions, including discussions on mediation under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, international trends, commercial transactions, renewable energy, real estate disputes, and intellectual property disputes. Highlights included a mock mediation session by Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and sessions on global mediation skills by ADR ODR International, UK.
The Valedictory Ceremony welcomed esteemed guests like Hon’ble Mr. Justice L. Nageswara Rao, Ms. Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, and Mr. Duncan Turner. They praised India’s strides in formalizing mediation through the Mediation Act, 2023, and stressed the necessity for mediators to maintain high standards of discipline to ensure the credibility of the process.
India Mediation Weekend 2024 set a new benchmark, heralding a future where mediation stands as the cornerstone of harmonious dispute resolution.
