I was excited to welcome Mrs Achere Cole to the Expert Views on ADR (EVA) Podcast Show. She is the Ag. Director of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse.

 LMDC is the first Multi-Door Courthouse or Court-Connected ADR centre in Africa. Mrs Cole was amongst the dignitaries appointed to set up the first Restorative Justice Manual in Nigeria. She has national and regional experience building ADR mechanisms and capacity.   

Mrs Cole consulted for the Judiciary of Kenya and the International Development Law Organization on a project to support the implementation of the Sustaining Judiciary Transformation Blueprint. She is a CEDR Accredited Mediator, Arbitrator, ADR and Restorative Justice Trainer. 

 Mrs Cole wears many hats, so I have left the link to her profile below:  https://lagosmultidoor.org/dr2/ 

We discussed the role of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) in Nigeria and its newest door -Restorative Justice (focuses on Minor Criminal Offences and aims to restore or repair the harm caused by the offender) while touching on several aspects of Industrial relations in Nigeria.

* It is pertinent to point out that for the first time, my PhD findings (2019-2022) (Dr Chinwe Egbunike-Umegbolu) revealed that minor criminal matters were settled via Mediation / the Restorative Justice Door in Nigeria precisely in Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) and Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse (ESMDC) precisely via Mediation.

I was excited to welcome Professor David Allen Larson and Dean and Emeritus Professor James Alfini to the Expert Views on ADR (EVA) Show. Professor David is a Senior Fellow at the Dispute Resolution Institute; he has been involved with online dispute resolution since 1999 and is a System Designer.  

Professor James also has expertise in dispute resolution-he served as Director of Education and Research at the Florida Dispute Resolution Center and was a member of the Florida Supreme Court Arbitration and Mediation Rules Committee.  Professor David and Professor James once served as Chairs of the American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution.   

They wear many hats, so I have left the links to their profile below:  https://www.stcl.edu/about-us/faculty... https://mitchellhamline.edu/biographi... 

We critically analysed the following questions: 

1. What led to the birth of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution? 

2. At the inception of the Section, what were the major obstacles and challenges faced? 

3. Looking at the law before the advent of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section, what areas were of major concern, and how would you assess the impact made so far?  

4. With the introduction of the Dispute Resolution section, what are your assessments of its use, accessibility to the public, and implementation, and how would you assess people’s reactions and patronage of the Section? 

5. Recently, the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution diversified the composition of its members. What necessitated this and its advantages thus far?  

6. Looking at the ABA, what are the notable achievements of the intervention of the Dispute Resolution Section? 

7. What areas of the Dispute Resolution section require improvement?  

8. What recommendations do you think you could give to improve the usefulness and service of the dispute resolution section in the nearest future?

9. What categories of persons can sustain a practice as a dispute resolution practitioner, and what are the required qualifications?

I was excited to welcome Professor Lela Porter Love to the Expert Views on ADR (EVA) Show. She is the founding director of the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City (NYC). The Kukin Program has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report among the top ten law school programs in the US in dispute resolution since 2000. Professor Love founded Cardozo's Mediation Clinic in 1985—one of the first clinical programs to train law students to serve as mediators. 

She once served as Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Dispute Resolution.  In her chair year, she initiated the first International Mediation Leadership Summit in Hague.  

 The International Academy of Mediators gave Lela a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012; the American College of Civil Trial Mediators gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010; and she received the “Front Line Champion” Award at the Association of the Bar of NYC on Mediation Settlement Day (2009).   

 Professor Love wears many hats, so I have left the link to her profile below:  https://cardozo.yu.edu/directory/lela... 

We examined the following questions:

  1. From your vantage point of having served as a Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, what are the Section's Key Accomplishments? 

2. Why should ADR professionals participate in the Section Activities? 

3. Which Activities are most relevant to potential members or Users? 

4. What is your advice for potential users and people pursuing a Career in ADR? 

5. What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts?

I was delighted to welcome Hon. Douglas C. Mintz (Ret) to the EVA Show. He is a former Connecticut Representative and a retired Judge. He is currently the Co-Chair of the Mediation Committee, American Bar Association, Section of Dispute Resolution and a Partner at Carmody Law Firm LLP.   

Hon. Douglas has acted as a mediator in numerous disputes ranging from complex business disputes to product liability. He is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and a Panellist as an Arbitrator and Mediator for the American Arbitration Association. For most of his Judicial career, Hon. Douglas served as the Presiding Judge for Civil Matters in Stamford and Danbury, CT.    

He wears many hats, so I have left the link to his profile below: 

https://www.carmodylaw.com/our-team/hon-douglas-c-mintz-ret/ 

We examined the following questions: 

 1. What prompted your transition from a Connecticut House of Representatives to a Judge and then to a Mediator? 

2. In 2008, as a Judge, you created a foreclosure Mediation; what does foreclosure mediation entail, and what led to its creation? 

3. As a Co-Chair of the ABA Mediation Committee, what has the section achieved thus far? 

4. What is your advice for potential users of ADR and people pursuing a career in ADR? 

5. What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts, particularly in the workplace?

 6. Can you tell me about Carmody Law LLP?

I was delighted to welcome Jo Colbert Stanley to the EVA Show. She is the managing member Attorney of Stanley Legal Services. Jo is a Florida Supreme Court-qualified arbitrator and a certified circuit civil and county mediator. She has practised law for over Twenty (20) years, focusing on the areas of labour and employment, insurance defence, alternative dispute resolution, and human resource diversity and sensitivity training.  

In addition to her law firm and ADR work, Jo owns and operates a successful yacht management company in Fort Lauderdale. Stanley Yacht Services, Inc. has been taking care of private yachts for over fifteen (15) years, providing year-round maintenance and project management services to discerning yacht owners. Jo is proudly rostered with the International Yacht Arbitration Council and Alterity ADR.

Jo wears many hats, so I have left the link to her profile below: 

Stanley Legal Services 

https://lawstanley.com/

 We discussed the following questions:

  1) How far has ADR enhanced access to Justice in the US?  

 2) Is there any measurable difference or impact on the Cost and Time Frame for settling disputes under ADR Compared to litigation?  

 3) Are employees or workers aware of ADR options regarding disputes or conflicts that might arise at the workplace?  

4) To what extent are employees encouraged to use ADR to settle discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace-US is the given context?   

5) Why is ADR more prevalent or popular in the more complex societies (in this context, developed countries- the US) than in the less complex societies (developing countries-Nigeria)?  

6) What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts in the workplace? 

7) What type of mediation is best suited for workplace conflict?  

8)  Why Yacht Mediation? What does it entail? 

9) What is your advice for people pursuing a career in ADR? 

10) Can you tell me more about Stanley Legal Services and your PhD thesis?

I was delighted to welcome Mr Odunayo Bamodu to the Expert Views on ADR (EVA) Show. He was the Pioneer Director of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) and is currently the Deputy Chief Registrar of the (NICN).    

We discussed extensively on what led to the establishment of the NICN and its role while touching on several aspects of Industrial relations in Nigeria.

 See the link to the profile of the NICN below:  https://nicn.gov.ng/

I was excited to welcome a living legend, Kenneth Cloke, to the Expert Views on ADR (EVA)  Show. He has been an Adjunct Professor at Harvard University School of Law’s Program on Negotiation, Insight Initiative; he is currently an Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine University’s School of Law. 

He is a world-recognized mediator, dialogue facilitator, conflict resolution systems designer, teacher, public speaker, author of numerous books and articles, and a pioneer and leader in the field of mediation and conflict resolution for the last thirty-seven (37) years.  

In 1980, he became a mediator, and in 1983, he created the Center for Dispute Resolution in Santa Monica, California, where he has been a mediator, arbitrator, facilitator, coach, consultant and trainer, specialising in communication, collaborative negotiation, dialogue facilitation, and resolving complex multi-party disputes, including thousands of marital, divorce, family, community, grievance and workplace disputes, collective bargaining negotiations, organizational and school conflicts, sexual harassment, discrimination, and public policy disputes; and designing preventative conflict resolution systems for public and private sector organizations.  

 In 2006, he co-founded Mediators Beyond Borders based in Washington, D.C. MBB is an organisation that mobilises mediators around the world to support individuals, organisations, communities, and governments in building conflict-resolution literacy and capacity in under-served communities.   Ken wears many hats, so I have left the link to his profile below:  https://www.kencloke.com/about 

We analysed the following Questions: 

1)  How far has ADR enhanced access to Justice in California?  

2)  Is there any measurable difference or impact on the Cost and Time Frame for settling disputes under ADR Compared to litigation?    

3) In line with your book, Resolving conflicts at work,  can you give tips or strategies for resolving conflicts or disputes?  

4) Are employees or workers aware of ADR options regarding disputes or conflicts that might arise at the workplace?  

5) To what extent are employees encouraged to use ADR to settle discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace- US is the given context?

6) What is your advice for people pursuing a career in ADR? 

7) Can you tell me more about Mediators Beyond Borders (MBB)?

I was thrilled to welcome Duncan Bagshaw to Episode 30 of the EVA Show. He is a Barrister and a partner with Howard Kennedy, a prestigious London-based full-service Law firm.  Duncan is a highly experienced lawyer who advises on large international disputes in arbitration and litigation proceedings. He handles cases from all over the world, and has particular experience in Africa, having lived and worked in the region and handled many disputes arising from African projects. He has worked on many cases involving African law and African seats of arbitration.  

Duncan wears many hats, so I have left the link to his profile below: 

 https://www.howardkennedy.com/en/peop... 

In this episode, we analysed the following questions: 

  1) How far has ADR enhanced access to Justice in France and the  UK?  

2) Is there any measurable difference or impact on the Cost and Time Frame for settling disputes under ADR Compared to litigation?  

 3) Are employees or workers aware of ADR options regarding disputes or conflicts that might arise at the workplace? 

4) To what extent are employees encouraged to use ADR to settle discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace-France / UK are the given context?  

5) Why is ADR more prevalent or popular in the more complex societies (in this context UK) than in the less complex societies (Nigeria)? 

6) What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts in the workplace?  

7) Can Conflict or disputes at the workplace be prevented or avoided?  

8) What type of mediation is best suited for workplace conflict?  

9) What is your advice for people pursuing a career in ADR?

I was delighted to welcome Professor Andrew Chukwuemerie to the EVA Show. He is a  lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).  SAN is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten (10) years of standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. It is the equivalent of the rank of Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom. He is a Professor of Law at Rivers State University and a Partner in the law firm of Okibe Lawhouse (Legal Practitioners & Arbitrators), Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 

Before becoming a law lecturer, Prof. Chukwuemerie had been a private practitioner since his call to the Bar in 1989. He renders services to individuals, firms and companies in various sectors of the Nigerian and foreign economies, such as Oil and Gas, Shipping, Banking and Finance, Manufacturing, Construction, General Commerce and General Services. 

Prof Andrew also renders Company Secretarial Services under the sister secretarial firms Central Nominees Limited and GE & P Nominees Limited and now under that of Okibe Lawhouse. These include the attendance of Company Board and General Meetings and the taking of minutes of those meetings, filing of documents and making of appropriate returns to the government and its agencies etc.

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK and the author of five well-received law practitioners’ textbooks and about Sixty (60)  articles published mostly in international learned journals of the highest repute and standing in their different areas of law. He is also the author of about Fifteen (15) chapters in other books and liber amicirum across the continents. He has presented some thirty- seven (37) conference papers in different continents as well.

*Prof wears many hats, so I have left the Link to his profile below: 

https://africanarbitrationatlas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ANDREW-CHUKWUEMERIE-CV.pdf

In this episode, we analysed the following questions:

 1) How far has ADR enhanced access to Justice in Nigeria?

2) Is there any measurable difference or impact on the Cost and Time Frame for settling disputes under ADR Compared to litigation?  

3) Are employees or workers aware of ADR options regarding disputes or conflicts that might arise at the workplace?

4) To what extent are employees encouraged to use ADR to settle discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace-Nigeria is the given context?

5) Why is ADR more prevalent or popular in the more complex societies (in this context UK) than in the less complex societies (Nigeria)?

6) What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts in the workplace?

7) Can Conflict or disputes at the workplace be prevented or avoided?

8) What type of mediation is best suited for workplace conflict?

9) What are the benefits of using Mediation to settle workplace conflicts?

10) What are the disadvantages of using Mediation to settle workplace conflicts?

11) Is there any difference between Mediation and Conciliation?

12) What is your advice for people pursuing a career in ADR?

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBVpPSj0RS0

I was honoured to interview Professor Paul Idornigie on Expert Views on ADR  (EVA) show. He is a Professor of Commercial Law at Veritas University, Abuja, Nigeria; he is also a Chartered Secretary and Chartered Arbitrator (UK), a Notary Public for Nigeria and an Author.   Professor  Paul is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). SAN is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten (10) years of standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. It is the equivalent of the rank of Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom.  

 Prof was also a Senior Lecturer at the Nigerian Law School Abuja, was involved in the setting up of the Abuja and Asaba Multidoor Courthouses, a former member of the National Executive Committee  of the Nigerian Bar Association and was former Chairman Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK), Abuja Chapter.   In this episode, we analysed the following questions:

  1) How far has ADR enhanced access to Justice in Nigeria?  

 2) Is there any measurable difference or impact on the Cost and Time Frame for settling disputes under ADR Compared to litigation?  Or what is the likely timeframe for resolving a workplace conflict or dispute through mediation?  

  3) Are employees or workers aware of ADR options regarding disputes or conflicts that might arise at the workplace?   

4) To what extent are employees encouraged to use ADR to settle discrimination, bullying and harassment in the workplace-Nigeria is the given context?  

  5) Why is ADR more prevalent or popular in the more complex societies (in this context UK) than in the less complex societies (Nigeria)?  

 6) What is the way forward for mass advocacy or awareness of the benefits of utilising ADR in settling disputes or conflicts in the workplace?  

7) Can Conflict or disputes at the workplace be prevented or avoided?   

8) What type of mediation is best suited for workplace conflict?   

9) What are the benefits of using Mediation to settle workplace conflicts? 

 10) What are the disadvantages of using Mediation to settle workplace conflicts? 

 11) Is there any difference between Mediation and Conciliation?

  12) What is your advice for people pursuing a career in ADR? 

* Veritas University: 

https://www.veritas.edu.ng/ 

*Prof's Profile: 

https://paulidornigie.org/profile-of-prof-paul-idornigie-san-phd-c-arb/