Mediation is highly effective dispute resolution method and endorsed by the English courts.
But does mediation work in an international conflict too?
How are disputes resolved in other countries?
What are the attitudes to mediation in different countries and cultures?
And most importantly what can we learn from each other?

CIArb Western Counties (in collaboration with DACB and BCCG) invites you to attend a virtual event. Our Chair and Vice Chair (Sean Gibbs and Kai von Pahlen) will interview distinguished mediators from different jurisdictions:

 England: Rebecca Attree
 France: Pierre Servan-Schreiber
 Germany: Ulrich Kremer

We will discuss their experiences in handling disputes in an ever increasingly international world, how businesses from different cultural backgrounds may come to the negotiation table with entirely different expectations and what lessons we can learn to resolve disputes in the most efficient way.

The event will be virtual and take place on 7 September from 2.30pm to 4pm.
If you would like to attend this virtual event, please email Kai von Pahlen at kvonpahlen@dacbeachcroft.com

Speakers

Pierre Servan-Schreiber
For more than thirty years, Pierre has been one of the leading lawyers in France for strategic cross-border acquisitions as well as complex litigation.
In recent years Pierre has been acting as a mediator in high profile matters involving large groups, companies and family businesses. He is an accredited mediator with several prominent US, British and French Mediation centers. Pierre is also the co-director and co-author of Deals de Justice, a widely acclaimed book published which analyzes the new methods of investigations and sanctions imposed by US governmental authorities. The book won the O. Debouzy literary prize for 2013. Pierre was also selected by French leading economic newspaper Les Echos as one of the 200 French individuals who best represent France abroad and by Décideurs Stratégie Droit Finance as one of the top 50 business lawyers in France.
https://pierre-servan-schreiber.fr/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierre-servan-schreiber-ba16097/

Rebecca Attree
Rebecca of IPOS Mediation is one of the top 50 UK commercial mediators. Described as “an exceptional mediator”, she has been consistently ranked in the directories as a Leading Mediator. Mediating a wide range of disputes in the UK and internationally, Rebecca regularly mediates disputes that relate to shareholder, partnership, company / commercial, family business, insurance, trusts, property, aviation, workplace, employment, and the creative industries. Rebecca frequently mediates inter-personal disputes between parties from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, beliefs and diversities and speaks fluent Italian and good French. She is the Chair of
the Dispute Resolution Working Group of Libralex EEIG. Rebecca is also qualified as to mediate in the US with INADR. She frequently mediates international disputes online. A Cambridge graduate and former City of London solicitor (Reed Smith, then Laytons), Rebecca has advised overseas governments and judicial administrations how to introduce mediation into their jurisdictions, and trained judges and other professionals overseas to become mediators. She is the Chair of the Dispute Resolution
Working Group of Libralex EEIG and Editor of the Libralex ADR Guide.
https://mediate.co.uk/mediator/rebecca-attree/
https://www.rebeccaattreemediator.com/publication/alternative-dispute-resolution-international-guide/

Ulrich Kremer
Ulrich is Legal Counsel for Germany at SwissRe International SE,
Niederlassung Deutschland (SwissRe CorSo).
Ulrich has 23 years of insurance industry experience, mostly in Legal/General Counsel or Claims Department Manager functions, with various underwriters and involvement in a broad variety of disputes and negotiations. Ulrich obtained his mediator´s certificate at Deutsche Anwalt Akademie in 2014. He has a significant track record of conducting mediations and applying special mediation principles and techniques in business, employment, not-for- profit organization and inheritance disputes, inside and outside the insurance industry, and including private practice activities. Ulrich believes that in Germany mediation is still largely underestimated and actively promotes the use of mediation by German businesses and individuals.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrich-kremer-a637b0a4/

CIArb Western Counties

Sean Gibbs, Chair
Sean is CEO of global expert witness company Hanscomb Intercontinental. Sean’s primary expertise is quantum and as well as acting an international expert witness also sits as mediator, arbitrator, adjudicator, expert determiner and dispute board member. He has held directorships and senior commercial positions with contracting and consultancy firms in the UK and Internationally. With over 30 years’ experience in the onshore and offshore construction and engineering industries across the globe Sean
has worked across the continents of Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa and the Americas. He is Junior Vice Chair of the Adjudication Society, Council Member of the Society of Construction Law (UK), ICP Member of the International Bar Association, Region 2 Director of the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation and founder of UK Adjudicators and HK Adjudicators. Sean is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators and a FIDIC President’s List Adjudicator and Mediator.
www.linkedin.com/in/sean-sullivan-gibbs

Kai von Pahlen, Vice Chair
Born and raised in Germany, Kai moved to Britain in 2002, to study law at university. Kai is now a lawyer at DACB in Bristol and specialises in dispute resolution, both domestic and cross-border. He is experienced in mediation and court (including High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court) and recognised for his legal work in both
Chambers UK and the Legal 500. He regularly delivers legal training as a speaker of MBL Seminars. In 2017, Kai was one of 40 DACB lawyers who cycled from Bristol
to Paris and together raised more than £100,000 for charity. Since 2020, Kai has been the Honorary Consul of Germany in Bristol, a role in which he promotes British-
German relations and friendship. His consular work includes reviewing and certifying documents for international use, akin to a notary public. He is also a trustee of the German Saturday School Bristol.
https://www.dacbeachcroft.com/en/gb/people/kai-von-pahlen/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaivonpahlen/