Commonwealth Lawyers Association, The Law Society of Northern Ireland Dispute Resolution Service

and the University of Ulster

Belfast Mediation Conference8th and 9th May 2014

Conor Lecture Theatre, University of Ulster, Belfast Campus

The Commonwealth Lawyers Association, (CLA) together with the Law Society of Northern Ireland’s

Dispute Resolution Service and the University of Ulster, School of Law, are hosting an important

international Mediation Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 8th and 9th May 2014.

Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, will deliver an important retrospective consideration of the pivotal case

of Halsey V Milton Keynes National Heath Trust exactly 10 years on from delivering the key Judgement

in the Halsey case. There has been much commentary about the Halsey case and the contribution - good

or otherwise - it has made to the development of mediation in the jurisdictions of the UK. Lord Dyson’s

retrospective should be of interest to mediators, legal advisers, policy makers and academics.

In another key note address Professor Laurence Boulle the well-known and influential author and

mediator will discuss “Changing Hats: Lawyers, Mediators, Judges and Lawyers again within and

outside mediation”. This will be explored in the context of changing paradigms within the legal

services industry across various jurisdictions and within contemporary disputes resolution systems

around the world.

Lord Kerr of the Supreme Court of the UK will provide a closing reflection for the Conference particularly

considering parties’ rights to a hearing of and decision concerning their case.

Other speakers include lawyer mediators from Canada, England, Northern Ireland, Nigeria and Malaysia.

Policy concerning development of mediation in the established legal system will be addressed by the

Minister of Justice in Northern Ireland and by Dr Susan Price of Exeter University. The CLA Belfast

Mediation Conference will also include sessions on confidentiality in mediation, and time limited

mediation particularly for small claims courts.

Hosted in the City of Belfast in Northern Ireland, where historical social divisions have been assisted by

various mediation processes, this CLA Belfast Mediation Conference will be of interest to lawyers, policy

makers and mediators in Northern Ireland, throughout the rest of the UK and internationally.

Conference Overview

Photographs courtesy of Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Titanic Belfast. Front cover image courtesy of Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau.

How to book your place to attend

The cost for attending the Conference is £250.

Places at the Conference are limited. If you are interested in attending please register your initial interest now by emailing emma.stephenson@cmgsolicitors.co.uk

Thursday 8TH May

12.45 – Registration and lunch1.45pm

1.45pm Opening event and welcome Brian Speers Conference Chair and Chair Dispute Resolution Service Law Society NI

Professor Richard Barnett Vice-Chancellor, University of Ulster

Richard Palmer President, Law Society of Northern Ireland

Mark Stephens CBE President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association

2.00pm Keynote Address Professor Laurence Boulle Changing Hats: Lawyers, Mediators, Judges and Lawyers again within and outside mediation

2.45pm Coffee break

3.15pm Confidentiality in mediation – who should know what?

Mr Justice Bernard McCloskey President of the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service

followed by Panel discussion

Alva Brangam QC

TBC

Laurie H Pawlitza, solicitor Torkin Manes Barristers and Solicitors Toronto, Canada

4.15pm Panel discussion - Skills matter

Core Skills for lawyer mediators

Skills for time limited mediation - Jeremy Ferguson Chanter Ferguson, Devon

Helen Kilroy, McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors, Dublin

Skills teaching Brian Speers, CMG Solicitors, Belfast

5.30pm Drinks Reception, Belfast Harbour Commissioners sponsored by Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau

Preliminary Conference ProgrammeFriday 9TH May

9.30am Welcome Sir Declan Morgan Lord Chief Justice, Northern Ireland

9.45am Mediation and Policy

David Ford, Minister for Justice Northern Ireland

Small Claims Mediation - lessons from England Dr Susan Prince, University of Exeter

Policy challenges for Northern Ireland University of Ulster

Developing mediation within a resistant legal profession Brian Speers, CMG Solicitors, Belfast

10.45am Coffee break

11.15am Mediation in matrimonial cases

High value divorce Laurie H Pawlitza Torkin Manes Barristers and Solicitors Toronto, Canada

Contact and care - how mediation can help David Gaston, family mediator

11.45am Panel Discussion - Hot issues and trends in mediation

Professor Laurence Boulle - an international overview

TBC Mediation and professional negligence

Helen Kilroy - McCann Fitzgerald, Dublin

12.30pm Perspective from other Commonwealth Jurisdictions TBC

1.00pm Lunch

2.00pm Key Note Address: Halsey 10 years on. The decision revisited Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, United Kingdom

3.00pm Coffee

3.30pm Key Note Address: The right to a hearing and decision - should the Courts encourage mediation?

Lord Kerr, Supreme Court United Kingdom

4.15pm Questions from delegates

An opportunity to raise questions and issues with Lord Dyson, Lord Kerr and Professor Boulle

4.45pm Close.

Belfast Mediation Conference8th and 9th May 2014

Conor Lecture Theatre, University of Ulster, Belfast Campus

Booking Form

Delegate fee £250.00The CLA Belfast Mediation Conference will provide 8 hours of mediation related CPD.

The delegate fee includes registration pack, attendance on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th May, lunch on both days and a Conference drinks reception at the Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

The delegate fee is transferable to another person in your organisation if a delegate is unable personally to attend all the sessions.

How to book and payPlaces are limited. You should fax this Booking Form to conference organisers CMG Solicitors, Belfast on telephone 0044 28 9032 6578 or telephone them on 0044 28 9023 4606 or email the Booking Form to emma.stephenson@cmgsolicitors.co.uk. Payment can be by cheque payable to CMG Solicitors or you can request details of how to pay by bank transfer or credit card. A receipt will be issued for all payments.

In conjunction with the Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau details of what to do during your stay in Belfast and conference hotels with reserved rooms for delegates can be found at the following website https://aws.passkey.com/event/10888420/owner/9279435/landing. Information on things to do and what’s on in Belfast during your stay can also be found at http://visit-belfast.com/.

Booking Details

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All delegates are responsible for making their own travel and accommodation arrangements. We strongly recommend that delegates from abroad who require visas contact the in country High Commission as soon as possible to inquire about waiting times for this process which may be lengthy. Delegates requiring visas must make their own arrangements. We are not able to assist and cannot make refunds or transfer fees once the deadline passes.

Cancellation Policy Notice of cancellation must be made in writing. If written cancellation is received before Thursday 17th April 2014, 90% of registration fees will be refunded. Cancellation and refund requests received after 17th April 2014 will not be accepted. All fees are non-refundable after 17th April 2014. Unfortunately, under no circumstances can we issue refunds for no-shows. Fees may not be transferred to another event.