Mediation – a Commonwealth Perspective
Jointly-organised by The Law Society of Singapore and Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), this event will present how mediation is developing in the UK, Europe, India and other Commonwealth jurisdictions. The objective of this programme is to explore the role of the Courts in encouraging mediation, the appointment and qualification of mediators, the training available for mediators and how mediation operates in a resistant legal profession. In addition, the role of the lawyer will be considered examining how to maximise benefits from participating in mediation and how developing a mediation practice can develop reputation, client satisfaction and revenue.
When? 13 November 2019, Wednesday 12.30pm – 2.00pm
Where? Maxwell Chambers Suites 28 Maxwell Road, 02-08 Singapore, 069120
Programme Outline:
12.00pm – 12.30pm: Registration
12.30pm – 12.40pm: Introductory Remarks from Steven Thiru – Vice President (Australasia), Commonwealth Lawyers Association
12.40pm – 2.00pm:
Panel Discussion: Mediation – a Commonwealth perspective and how to get the most out of representing a client in mediation
Panellists:
The Honourable Justice L Nageswara Rao – Supreme Court of India
Brian Speers – President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association
2.00pm: End
Speakers’ Profile:
The Honourable Justice L Nageswara Rao – Supreme Court of India
Justice L. Nageswara Rao was born in Andhra Pradesh, India on 08.06.1957. He studied law at Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh and was called to the bar in 1982. He practiced law until he was appointed to the bench in 2016. In 1982, Justice Rao commenced his legal practice as an Advocate in the District Court, Guntur. In 1985, he shifted his legal practice to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, where he continued to practice till 1994. In 1995, Justice Rao moved to Delhi to practice in the Supreme Court of India. In 2000, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh designated him as a Senior Advocate. In the Supreme Court of India, Justice Rao served as the Additional Solicitor General of India for two terms: from August 2003 to May 2004 and from August 2013 to December 2014. His practice in the Supreme Court mainly focused on the areas of constitutional, service, administrative, labour, armed forces, criminal, civil, commercial and corporate laws. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 13.05.2016, becoming the seventh person to be directly elevated to the Supreme Court from the bar.
Brian Speers – President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association
Brian is a Council member of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and a member of the Executive Committee. At the Commonwealth Law Conference in Livingstone, Zambia in 2019 he was elected as President of the CLA.
In 2010 – 11 he served as President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. He is now Treasurer of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.
Brian practices as a solicitor in Belfast, Northern Ireland where he is managing partner of CMG Cunningham Dickey Solicitors. He works mostly in property development transactions which include site acquisition and financing, planning and development.
He is one of the most experienced legal mediators in Northern Ireland.
He has devised and teaches the ADR and mediation training programme for solicitors,barristers and judges run by the Institute of Professional Legal studies at Queen’s University,Belfast. He is the Chair of the Law Society Mediation Service administered by the Law Society of Northern Ireland.
He is a long-time member of the Education Committee and has undertaken vocational training review for qualification as a solicitor in Northern Ireland.
Brian has been interviewed on various print and broadcast media about mediation and has written extensively about mediation particularly in the journal of the Law Society of Northern Ireland. He has contributed the chapter on Mediation in Northern Ireland for a book – Mediation in the EU. He was on the Mediation sub Committee for the Review of Civil Justice in Northern Ireland conducted by Lord Justice Gillen and was the UK nominated mediation expert to the CCBE (Bar Associations across Europe) for their publication of a guide to mediation for lawyers.
Registration Fees:
Law Society Member: $53.50
SCCA Member: $96.30
Non-member: $107.00