Michael Leathes Memorial

Morning ADR Seminar

A seminar on the morning of the memorial is being organised for dispute resolution and professional colleagues of Michael.

9:00am to 12:30pm, Friday 14 March 2025
Doors open at 8:45am for a 9:00am start

Harold Lee Room
Pembroke College
St Aldate’s
Oxford, OX1 1DW

This morning session is open to a wide range of participants, including business executives, external lawyers, in-house counsel, and ADR professionals. It is an opportunity to honour Michael Leathes' legacy by engaging in meaningful discussions on key topics relating to Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) that Michael was deeply passionate about, such as:

• Mentoring new mediators: Supporting the next generation of ADR practitioners worldwide

• Rendering ADR (and especially mediation) more “user-centric” and data-driven: Making dispute resolution processes accessible and effective for all stakeholders

• Improving mediator selection processes: Establishing reliable feedback systems to enhance transparency and trust

These themes are prominently featured in the booklet Seven Keys to Unlock Mediation’s Golden Age, which Michael instigated and organised in 2020 during COVID. You can learn more here.

The Harold Lee Room at Pembroke College provides an intimate and well-equipped setting for these discussions. With full AV connectivity, including Zoom access, this event is designed to enable global participation and the exchange of ideas, including participation online.

The morning session will conclude with a summary of actionable insights, followed by lunch. This allows time to transition to the afternoon memorial event at the Bodleian with family and friends.

Agenda

• 09:00-09:15
  Registration at Pembroke College, Harold Lee Room, St Aldate’s, Oxford, OX1 1DW
  

• 09:15-09:45
  Welcoming comments (Ivana NINCIC, IMI)
  Tribute to Michael LEATHES by John STURROCK
  Introduction to the 3 topics for discussion (Jeremy LACK and Manon SCHONEWILLE) and the 3 principles for our discussions:

  • Disruption

  • Innovation

  • Practical/pragmatic ideas
    

• 09:45-10:30
  Topic 1: Mentoring: How can we help those who seek mediation experience and mentoring, worldwide and assist young mediators more vigorously?
  Co-Moderators: Jonathan LLOYD-JONES & Joel LEE
  

• 10:30-10:45 - Coffee break
  

• 10:45-11:30
  Topic 2: How can we make mediation more “user-centric” and accessible? (Who are the “users”?)
  Co-Moderators:  Nadja ALEXANDER & Anna HOWARD

  1.        Overcoming psychological barriers

  2.        Use of technology?

  3.        Collection of data (science v. Art)

  4.        The Universal Disclosure Protocol for Mediation (UDPM)?

  5.        Other?
  

• 11:30-12:10
  Topic 3: THE MICHAEL LEATHES LEGACY PROJECT: How can we enhance mediator selection and improve feedback digest systems?
  Speakers:  Danielle HUTCHINSON & Mladen VUKMIR
  

• 12:10-12:30
  Summaries and conclusions re possible action items. (Mark APPEL)
  

• 12:30-13:30
  Lunch in College
  

• 14:00-17:00
  Memorial service for Michael Leathes at the Divinity School, Bodleian Old Library, Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BG. 
  Please register for this afternoon event here

Lunch will be served from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, leaving ample time to walk to the Bodleian Library for the afternoon memorial event.

Directions