OVERVIEW
This inaugural Conference aims to promote awareness of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes, and provide a forum for both local and international ADR practitioners to share their practices. It will bring together members of the judiciary, experienced practitioners, renowned academics and key policy-makers from Singapore and beyond to reflect on existing policies and shape policies for the future. In recent years, ADR has been used widely in Singapore and globally to resolve personal and business conflicts. New ADR initiatives have also emerged, such as Collaborative Law, which enables parties to co-operate to achieve a consensual settlement which best meets the specific needs of all affected parties, by working with their lawyers and other professionals without resorting to litigation.

SPEAKERS AND PANELISTS
The Conference will feature both plenary sessions as well as break-out sessions with panelist speakers giving presentations on a wide range of ADR topics. The Keynote Address will be delivered by The Honourable the Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong. The Honourable Justice Ms Belinda Ang and the Honourable Justice Ms Judith Prakash will be chairing plenary panel discussions. Leading local speakers and panelists include Mr Wong Meng Meng SC, Mr Lok Vi-Ming SC, Mr George Lim SC and Associate Professor Lim Lan Yuan. Distinguished international speakers and panellists include Mr Michael Leathes, Honorary Chair of the International Mediation Institute; Mr David Hodson, Partner at The International Family Law Group LLP and co-founder of the UK family law arbitration scheme; and Ms Catherine Gale, Law Council President, Australia.

TOPICS OF INTEREST
The Conference will include the following specialised topics: “The Future of ADR in 2020”, “Comparative ADR in the Asia-Pacific Region”, “Mediation Advocacy: Getting the best results for your clients without going to trial”, “ADR and the Criminal Justice System”, “Through the mirror of experience: Advanced mediation tools and techniques”, “Collaborative Law – Resolving Disputes without Trial”, “Lawyers as Negotiators – The good and bad news”, “Mediation: Evaluative or Facilitative or both?” and “The Court’s role in Promoting ADR: Trends and Development around the world”.

PUBLIC FORUM
The Conference will feature a public forum on “Amicable ADR and You” with presentations by distinguished speakers including Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, the Honourable Member of Parliament Ms Ellen Lee and the Honourable Chief District Judge Mr Tan Siong Thye. An ADR Awareness Exhibition will also be held in conjunction with the public forum showcasing the various ADR options available.

To find out more, please visit www.lawsociety.org.sg/Conference/ADR or email: 5Cs@lawsoc.org.sg or phone: (65) 3520-0230/ 3520-0239.

ORGANISERS
The Conference is organised by the Singapore Judiciary, the Law Society of Singapore, the Singapore Mediation Centre, the Singapore Academy of Law and the Community Mediation Centre of the Ministry of Law. Having each contributed to the advancement of ADR in different and unique ways, they have now come together in an unprecedented collective effort to spread the ethos and awareness of ADR in the community.