Press Release

20 April 2006

ADR activity in the Channel Islands (April 2006)

Guernsey strives to establish itself as a leading centre for mediation

Advocate Roger Dadd, Chairman of the Guernsey Mediation Group is strongly promoting Guernsey as 'a centre of excellence for the resolution of industrial financial disputes'. He is aiming to encourage local lawyers and professionals from varying sectors to train as mediators with the view to creating a core group of qualified specialists who will work collaboratively with the island's key commercial organisations. Advocate Dadd believes that initiative will help to raise the island's profile and add a new dimension to its offshore financial and business capabilities.

A proposed Guernsey court based mediation scheme is also currently in discussion, the notion is welcomed by the Royal Court who believes that mediation will most certainly play a major part in the reducing the number of cases proceeding to court. The introduction of similar county court schemes established in the UK have operated with a great level of success and with the support of the Guernsey Judiciary the pilot scheme is predicted to follow suit.

The proposed system will function under the Guernsey Mediators Group (GMG), who will seek to provide a pool of qualified and experienced mediators for civil and commercial cases. This proposal is fully supported by ADR Group who has worked closely with the Guernsey's Bar Mediation Steering Group since 2003. Having already trained a number of mediators in civil, commercial and family areas to date, ADR Group will be continuing its involvement by providing an exclusive mediator advocacy and awareness training scheme in Guernsey to support the promotion. Michael Lind, ADR Group Managing Director said, "Mediation is playing an increasingly significant role in the resolution of disputes in Guernsey. We are delighted to have been able to work with so many leading practitioners and the Royal Court to help this process gain a wider acceptance and credibility."

At the April 2006 Guernsey ADR conference in Les Cotils, attended by the island's business leaders and politicians, Lord Slynn of Hadley, former counsel to the UK Government commented "It is the sort of skill that can be used by people anywhere. If you made a bid to become the first centre, there is no reason why you could not succeed." Other high profile members of the legal and political community who were present to support and advocate mediation as an integral part of the future litigation system
included Stuart Falla, Employment and Commerce Minister and Sir Brian Neill chairman of the Civil Mediation Council.

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About ADR Group

ADR Group is the leading professional alternative dispute resolution company in the UK. We are highly regarded both nationally and internationally as an authority in mediation and other cost-effective dispute resolution and prevention techniques spanning commercial, public-sector and family disputes.

The Group delivers a wide range of dispute resolution training programmes through its training faculty, with all programmes recognised and approved by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council. ADR Group is also recognised as an accredited mediation provider by the Civil Mediation Counsel, the UK’s leading mediation standards organisation.

ADR Group is an organisation supporting initiatives approved by the Department for Constitutional Affairs, the Court Service and various Court based mediation schemes around the country. The Group formed part of the European Commission’s ADR working party on the drafting and implementation of the EU ADR Code and Directive. ADR Group operates an International ADR Development Programme and has delivered mediation awareness and Judicial training programmes funded by the British Embassy, the Department for International Development and the World Bank Group.

For further information contact

 Katie Vander Woerd

 E: Katie.vander-woerd@adrgroup.co.uk

 T: +44 (0) 117 946 7180.