In this episode of the YCM Expert Conversations Series, we feature Rukmini Menon, a senior lawyer and mediator with over three decades of experience in litigation and dispute resolution.

Having practiced law for more than 30 years, primarily in indirect tax and commercial disputes, Rukmini shares how her introduction to mediation in 2012 transformed not only her professional journey but also her perspective on communication, conflict, and human relationships. She reflects on the shift from a traditional litigation mindset to a collaborative dispute resolution approach, emphasizing how mediation prioritizes dialogue, understanding, and mutually beneficial outcomes.

During the conversation, she discusses the growing importance of mediation in India, particularly following the enactment of the Mediation Act, 2023, which has increased awareness and recognition of mediation as an effective dispute resolution mechanism.

Rukmini also shares practical insights for aspiring mediators, including the core skills that define effective mediation—active listening, neutrality, empathy, and the ability to understand non-verbal communication. She explains common mistakes young mediators make, such as giving advice or being judgmental, and highlights why maintaining impartiality and facilitating dialogue are central to the mediator’s role.

The discussion further explores the importance of mediation training and role-play exercises in bridging the gap between theory and real-world practice, particularly for law students and young professionals entering the field.

Key themes explored in this episode:
• The transition from litigation to mediation practice
• Why listening and communication are core mediation skills
• Common mistakes beginner mediators should avoid
• The evolving mediation ecosystem in India
• How training and role plays prepare future mediators

This conversation offers valuable insights for law students, young mediators, and dispute resolution professionals looking to understand both the philosophy and practical realities of mediation.

In this episode of the YCM Expert Conversations Series, we speak with Reema Bandari, an advocate with more than three decades of experience in litigation, mediation, and dispute resolution.

Drawing from her extensive practice, Reema shares why mediation has become an increasingly important tool in resolving disputes. She explains how principles such as self-determination, voluntariness, and confidentiality make mediation unique and effective, allowing parties to craft their own solutions while preserving dignity and relationships.

The conversation also explores the mindset shift required for lawyers entering mediation, moving from an adversarial approach focused on winning cases to a collaborative approach focused on resolving disputes. Reema discusses common challenges faced by young lawyers and parties in mediation, including unrealistic expectations, lack of preparation, and treating mediation like a courtroom battle.

A significant part of the discussion focuses on the future of mediation in India following the introduction of the Mediation Act, 2023, which aims to institutionalize mediation, strengthen enforcement of settlement agreements, and expand access through community and online mediation frameworks.

As an expert trainer with Young Conflict Managers, Reema also reflects on the importance of structured mediation training, highlighting how role plays, feedback, and mentoring help bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Key themes discussed in this episode:
• Why mediation empowers parties through self-determination
• The mindset shift lawyers must make in mediation
• How mediators move discussions from conflict to resolution
• The role of ethics, confidentiality, and neutrality in mediation
• The impact of the Mediation Act, 2023 on the future of ADR in India
• Why practical mediation training and role plays are essential for young professionals

This conversation offers valuable insights for law students, young lawyers, mediators, and anyone interested in alternative dispute resolution and the evolving mediation ecosystem in India.

In this episode of the Star Performers of YCM series, we feature Mohamed Azad Hasan, a final-year law student from NorthCap University, who completed the IMI-certified mediation training with Young Conflict Managers.

Azad shares how his journey into mediation began unexpectedly during an internship with a judge from the Delhi High Court, where he was introduced to the growing role of mediation in dispute resolution. What started as curiosity soon became a deeper interest as he realized how courts and institutions are increasingly encouraging settlement over adversarial litigation.

In the conversation, Azad reflects on his experience during the training — from initially feeling hesitant about the intensive sessions to discovering how mediation requires emotional, mental, and practical discipline. He discusses the value of YCM’s role-play-based learning, the importance of the co-mediation model, and how working with people from diverse age groups and professional backgrounds strengthened his understanding of conflict resolution.

Azad also talks about applying mediation skills in everyday life, particularly the ability to move parties from positions to underlying interests, and how active listening and patience can transform conflicts into constructive conversations.

Key themes discussed:
• Discovering mediation through internships and academic exposure
• The growing role of mediation in modern legal practice
• Learning through role plays and co-mediation exercises
• The importance of patience, listening, and emotional awareness in mediation
• Why students should explore mediation early in their careers

This episode offers practical insights for students and young professionals who are curious about mediation and want to understand how dispute resolution skills can shape both their professional path and everyday interactions.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Star Trainees of YCM series, where we spotlight the journeys and reflections of outstanding participants from YCM’s mediation training programs.

In this episode, host Faiza Mushrida speaks with Swati Saxena, an advocate, social worker, and community activist who works extensively on women’s rights and conflict resolution in underprivileged communities. Swati shares how her work with NGOs and grassroots dispute resolution inspired her to formally pursue mediation training through YCM’s Young Conflict Managers IMI-certified program.

The conversation explores how mediation training helped her refine communication, patience, and conflict-resolution skills, and how those lessons translated into real-life mediation scenarios in community disputes. Swati also reflects on the value of interactive training methods such as role plays, peer learning, and practical exercises that helped shape her mediation practice.

Through her story, listeners gain insight into how mediation can bridge the gap between legal frameworks and community-level conflict resolution.

Key themes discussed:
• How social activism and NGO work led to mediation practice
• Practical skills gained from mediation training
• The importance of patience, communication, and active listening
• Applying mediation techniques in real-world community disputes
• Why ADR and mediation are becoming essential skills for the future

This episode offers inspiration for students, professionals, and anyone interested in learning how mediation can create meaningful change in both legal and community settings.

In this episode of the YCM Conversations Series, we speak with Ashpinder Kaur and Rimjhim Kheda, the runner-up negotiating pair at the Samahar Mediation Competition 2025.

Both fourth-year law students from Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Ashpinder and Rimjhim share their journey through the competition and reflect on what it takes to succeed as a negotiating duo. They discuss how strong coordination, understanding party interests, and maintaining spontaneity in negotiations played a crucial role in their performance.

The conversation also highlights the unique challenge of negotiating in matrimonial dispute scenarios, a less commonly explored area in mediation competitions. From handling difficult negotiation moments to managing pressure during the finals, the duo share valuable insights into teamwork, preparation strategies, and the importance of practical and realistic settlement proposals.

The episode concludes with advice for students preparing for negotiation competitions and reflections on the growing importance of mediation and negotiation in modern legal practice.

Key themes discussed:
• Preparing as a negotiation pair for mediation competitions
• Understanding interests and developing realistic settlement proposals
• Managing pressure during final rounds of competitions
• The role of coordination and synergy between negotiating partners
• Why mediation and negotiation are becoming essential skills for law students

In this episode of the YCM Conversations Series, we speak with Rhea Gupta, a third-year law student at National Law University Jodhpur, who recently won the Samahar Mediation Competition 2025.

Rhea shares her journey into mediation, how she discovered the field through law school, and what ultimately drew her toward dispute resolution as a space focused on empathy, listening, and meaningful dialogue. In this candid conversation, she reflects on the emotional challenges she faced during the competition, the resilience required to continue showing up, and how mediation became a grounding experience during a difficult phase of life.

The discussion also explores the practical strategies behind mediation competitions, including how to prepare for problem briefs, identify party interests, manage emotional moments during mediation, and navigate difficult negotiation dynamics.

This conversation offers valuable insights for students interested in mediation, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution, highlighting both the technical preparation and the emotional intelligence required to succeed.

Key takeaways from the episode:

• How mediation competitions help build real dispute resolution skills

• Preparation strategies for mediation problems and simulations

• Managing emotionally intense moments during mediation

• The role of empathy, patience, and listening in dispute resolution

• Advice for students exploring mediation as a career path

In this episode of the YCM Conversations Series, Harshita speaks with Devanshi Dalal, a corporate lawyer and negotiation practitioner, about the real skills that shape outcomes in dispute resolution.

Drawing from her experience working in corporate law and high-stakes negotiations, Devanshi discusses why negotiation sits at the center of legal practice — often influencing results more than simply being right on the law. She reflects on how understanding interests, building trust in the process, and maintaining meaningful dialogue are essential to successful mediation and settlement conversations.

The discussion also explores how aspiring mediators and negotiators can develop practical instincts through simulations, competitions, and real-world exposure, rather than relying only on theory. Devanshi shares practical advice on preparation, listening, confidence, and learning from mistakes — skills that young professionals can cultivate early in their careers.

This conversation is part of the YCM Mediation Training Series, where practitioners share insights to help students and young professionals build stronger dispute resolution skills.

Key themes discussed:
• Why negotiation is central to legal practice
• The role of listening and preparation in successful negotiations
• Common mistakes beginners make in negotiations
• The importance of simulations, role plays, and feedback
• Advice for students exploring mediation and negotiation as a career

Join us for an insightful roundtable hosted by YCM India, where leading dispute resolution experts dive into the real-world implications of the Mediation Act, 2023. From understanding time limits in mediation to exploring the rise of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), this episode captures diverse perspectives on how the Act is reshaping India’s conflict resolution landscape.

✨ Featured Speakers:

• Jawad Sir – Senior Mediator, FCDR

• Namita Shah – Co-founder of Resolve 360 & LegalTech Asia

• Satish Padi – Principal Associate, Khaitan & Co.

• Kudrat Dev – Founder, YCM India

🔍 Topics Discussed:

• Timeline restrictions and party autonomy in mediation

• Role and concerns around the Mediation Council of India

• The future of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR)

• Confidentiality, access, and digital adaptation in mediation

• Ageism, youth involvement, and access to opportunities in the mediation ecosystem

• The contrasting realities of mandatory vs. voluntary mediation

Whether you’re a legal professional, a student, or simply curious about how mediation is evolving in India, this discussion offers thought-provoking insights and practical takeaways.

📢 Don’t forget to share, subscribe, and stay tuned to YCM’s platform for more powerful conversations around law, mediation, and dispute resolution.

🎙 Star Trainees of YCM | SwathiSaxena’s JourneyMeet Swati Saxena – advocate, certified mediator, and changemaker. In this video we enjoy the conversation between Swati Saxena and host Faeeza Murshida about her inspiring shift from grassroots conflict resolution to becoming a professionally trained mediator.✨ Hear how YCM’s 40-hour IMI-certified training transformed her approach to communication, active listening, and real-world dispute resolution. From slum communities to structured mediations, Swathi’s story proves: you can resolve it.🗓 Next Batch Alert:YCM’s IMI Certified Mediation Training is back!📅 Starts: 5 July 2025 | 🕒 Weekends Only📌 Registrations close: 30 June 2025🔗 Register now: Contact YCM for ongoing discounts and details: [email protected] or WhatsApp +91 73048 44860👉 Subscribe to our channel for more inspiring stories and mediation insights!

Can a poorly worded clause reopen a conflict that was thought to be resolved?
In this insightful workshop, hosted by YCM and supported by The Collective Council, legal expert Dr. Aman Hingorani dives deep into the art and precision of drafting settlement agreements in mediation.

From common drafting pitfalls to real-world best practices, this session offers practical tools, legal insight, and mediator perspectives essential for dispute resolution professionals, students, and anyone passionate about the future of mediation.

🎯 What to Expect:

• Importance of clarity in drafting

• Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Role of lawyers and mediators in final agreements

• Interactive Q&A with participants

💡 Whether you're a mediator, lawyer, or student—this episode is your guide to making the final deal truly stick.

🔗 Originally streamed on YouTube by YCM.
📌 Visit ycmindia.org for more.

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