'kon gres 2009 - LEADR's 10th international ADR conference

David Richbell

David led three sessions during 'kon gres.

Headline! What are we about?

Audio recording: Listen to this session (45 mins) >>

See the headlines we came up with >>

Headline! ...

Audio recording: Listen to this session (13 mins) >>

On Day 1, in the session "Headline! What are we about?", David talked about the threat mediation is under from regulation and the need to maintain it as an open, flexible, joyous process.

We explored our "headline"– what we should keep our sights on so that we don't get drowned in the detail.

"Headlines anchor actions," said David. "A headline gives and sustains confidence."

In his final session, "Headline! ..." on day 3, David built on the explorations during 'kon gres and encouraged everyone to refine their headline and choose one that resonated with them.

David also encouraged LEADR to promote excellence that is way beyond the standard achievable by the majority. "LEADR should be aiming to find the aspirational standards against which best practice can be measured."

The construction industry is great for creating disputes

Audio recording: Listen to this session (45 mins) >>

On Thursday, in his session, 'The construction industry is great for creating disputes', David will draw on his professional background in the construction and property world to explore aspects of the culture which contribute to conflict. Hear about techniques he uses to “crowd control” in complex multi party disputes while maintaining the “fellowship” of the group.

Podcast: Listen to David talk about these sessions (30 mins) >>

About David Richbell

The 2009 Chambers Directory describes David as "....the original mentor for many mediators – a brilliant lecturer, trainer and author."

He is noted for his real empathy with parties, his patience and tenacity and, when required, his robustness.

David has wide experience in multi-party and multi-issue mediations and is one of the few mediators experienced in co-mediation. A significant proportion of David's mediations have been international disputes and multi-racial. He has also mediated a variety of religious and cross-cultural disputes.

He was described in the Chambers Directory (2005) as "a fantastic, intuitive mediator... particularly recommended for his ability to gain the confidence of both the parties and, make clients concentrate on the heart of the case". In 2008, the Directory reported his "refreshingly practical approach to the issues" whilst others applauded his "reliability and conscientiousness".

Mediation of Construction Disputes

David's latest book, Mediation of Construction Disputes, was published by Blackwells in 2008. (See below)

This book is written for users of mediation, whether they are a party, an advisor or an expert. It should also be of help to commercial mediators who have no specialism in construction.

Its aim is to encourage confidence in the mediation process and to ensure that those who do use mediation to resolve their disputes do so effectively, and so are able to maximise the opportunities that mediation offers.

The first three chapters make the case for mediation in an industry that is traditionally adversarial. Then the book looks at the mediation process itself and the roles played by those involved. The third, and most important, section looks at how to use the process to best advantage, and at the variations of the mediation process that are available.

To read a review in The Mediator Directory by David Cornes, click here >>

David Richbell

Based in the UK and practising since 1992, David is now one of the most experienced commercial mediators and trainers of commercial mediators in Europe.

Originally a specialist in Construction, with over 40% of mediations being in the construction and engineering area, he is now appointed for a variety of disputes due to experience alone.

David's professional background is in construction and property and he is on the specialist panel, as well as the main panel of IPOS The Mediation Chambers. He is also a member of PIM Senior Mediators, a registered, trained and accredited CEDR mediator and trained with Endispute in Boston (1995) and Harvard (1996). In May 2008, David was awarded his fellowship with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb (Med)).

David wrote and compiled the CEDR Mediator Handbook and was former Director of Training at CEDR. Co-author of CEDR Continuing Professional Development policy document which was the first document to set the standard for the profession. He also wrote two chapters in Butterworths Mediators on Mediation, Chapter 13 on Mediating Multi-Party disputes and Chapter 17 on Co-Mediation. (ISBN 1-845-92081-3).

David now leads the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Mediator Training Course as founder member of his sister company Mediation and Training Alternatives (MATA), which specialises in advanced mediator training courses and seminars.

Vist David's website: www.richbell.org