Press Release

12 June 2006

Poland - ADR Group Present to the Polish Embassy

Poland joined the European Union in 2004 after a long period of legal and cultural adjustment. The entry into the EU has clearly had a positive effect on the economy, the largest in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Poland has experienced immense economic growth since the union, aided by strong exports and the country’s recovery from a recession. The government of Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz faces the challenge of advancing Poland’s legal system and reducing the bureaucracy and corruption that is hampering growth. However in view of the current status, the polish legal sector has made an optimistic prediction in workflow terms.

In terms of ADR development, the polish legal system has seen an increase (in both volume and complexity) of litigation and arbitration. Arbitration is currently proving to be the preferred method of dispute resolution, as arbitrators are seen as more qualified to deal with high-level corporate disputes than state courts. The introduction and effectiveness of arbitration as a method of ADR provides a great opportunity to introduce mediation on a greater scale, with significant interest already apparent in the legal market.

        Warsaw, Poland - Home to the Polish Embassy and Residence

With the aim of further promoting mediation to the Polish Judiciary, the ADR Group has been invited to present at a mediation conference, on 14 June 2006 in Warsaw, in conjunction with the Residence of the Polish Embassy. A number of extremely prestigious speakers renowned in the field of mediation will be participating, including The RT Hon Lord Philips, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and the Polish Deputy Minister of Justice Andrzej Grzelak. The conference will discuss the impacts and benefits of mediation on the commercial law practice in Poland. Slovenian Judge Alez Zalar will also be discussing the positive aspects of mediation from a Slovenian perspective, following the success of the commercial and family mediation training of 26 Ljubljana District Court Judges in 2002, by the ADR Group

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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.