FACULTY OF POLITICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMUNICATION SCIENCES

BABES-BOLYAI UNIVERSITY

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR)ROMANIA vs. ENGLAND & WALES

BY CHIRANUS (NICULCEA) ANA-MARIAMACCM, IInd Year, 2nd Semester

CLUJ-NAPOCA, 2011

INTRODUCTION

The judiciary is traditionally regarded as one of the three state powers. Hence it is the duty of the state to organize a justice system, build the necessary legal and tangible infrastructure, recruit judges and make the services available to the public at a small cost. In the wave of liberalization and privatization of public services that swept the western world, as well as the so-called emerging markets in the late twentieth century, alternatives to state judicial systems have been introduced. The United Kingdom has been one of the driving forces of such reforms in Europe; the motto of reform was "access to justice"1, using alternative dispute resolution methods (ADR).

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is often described as the resolution of a problem or dispute by any means other than a formal trial process. ADR increases the parties' opportunities to resolve disputes prior to or during the use of formal administrative procedures and litigation (which can be very costly and time-consuming).

ADR has proven itself to save time and money, and in many instances, to help the parties to restore their business relationships and avoid the acrimony of extended litigation. Indeed, many provincial law societies now require lawyers, as a matter of professional conduct, to consider the use of ADR for every dispute, and if appropriate, to inform the client of ADR options.

ADR is becoming a best practice in supply chains where parties agree from the outset in their contracts to forego court-based litigation and to rely instead on ADR. Parties can be located in the same jurisdiction or province, or they can be in different jurisdictions and still use ADR because they opt in by contract to a set of rules for dispute settlement.

The common formal methods of ADR which are used by the public and businesses include mediation, arbitration, adjudication, conciliation, negotiation, early neutral evaluation and expert determination. Of all of these processes, mediation and arbitration are most common and are well established and sit parallel to the legal and judicial framework in England and Wales and also in Romania.

1ADR in England and Wales: A Successful Case of Public Private Partnership, Loukas A Mistelis, 2006, pg 2

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ROMANIA

Primary forms of ADR in Romania

MEDIATION

In Romania, the first law on mediation was adopted in 2006, respectively Law no.192 relative to mediation and the organization of the mediator profession. In 2009, this law was modified and completed by Law no. 370. In 2008, the Council of Mediation has modified the Standard relative to the training of mediators, which was approved in 2007 (Council of Mediation, 2008).

In addition, the Council of Mediation has adopted the Code of Ethics and Professional Deontology of Mediators (Council of Mediation, 2007). The provisions of the Law no. 192/2006 modified and completed by the Law no. 370/2009 refer to the profession of mediator, the organization of the activity of mediators, the rights and responsibilities of mediators, the mediation procedure, the mediation of family conflicts and of criminal causes.

According to the Article 1 of the Law no. 192/2006 modified and completed by the Law no. 370/2009, mediation is defined as a way to solve the conflicts on a conciliatory base, with the support of a specialized third party as mediator, within a framework of neutrality, impartiality, and confidentiality and with the free consent of the parties.2

This approach is in line with the content of the Directive 2008/52/EC. However, the definition provided by the Romanian law states the condition of neutrality of the third party that provides assistance to those in dispute.

This condition is not formally mentioned in the Directive 2008/52/EC. Nevertheless, the European Code of Conduct for Mediators (that has an informal value) states as requirement the independence of mediators. Romanian law defines the mediator as a person trusted by the parties and that is able to facilitate the negotiations among them and support them to solve the conflict through the identification of a mutually convenient, efficient, and sustainable solution.

The mediation process is based on the cooperation of the parties to the dispute. The mediator cannot impose a solution relative to the dispute among parties.

The relevance of the Law no. 192/2006 modified and completed by the Law no. 370/2009, to the commercial disputes, is based on Article 2. According to this article, the provisions are also applicable to conflicts in consumer protection, when the consumer claims a damage following the purchase of defective goods or services; the non-observance of contractual clauses or warranties provided; the existence of abusive clauses within the contracts concluded between consumers and economic operators; the 2 http://www.dreptonline.ro/legislatie/lege_mediere_profesia_mediator_192_2006.php

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infringement of other rights stipulated by the national or EU legislation in the area of consumer protection.

According to Law no. 370/2009, only the person that has obtained the quality of authorized mediator may practice the profession of mediator. In principle, the profession of mediator is compatible with the practice of other activities or professions.3

Article 12 of the Law no. 192/2006 modified and completed by the Law no. 370/2009 stipulates that authorized mediators are registered in the Table of Mediators, drawn up by the Council of Mediation, and published in the Official Journal of Romania, Part I.In Romania, Council of Mediation organizes the mediation activity. This body is an autonomous legal person of public interest.

Among the main responsibilities of the council range the following promotion of the mediation activity and representation of the interests of the authorized mediators; development of training standards relative to mediation based on the international best practices; authorization of the initial and continuous professional training, as well as of the specialization training; authorization of mediators; supervision of the compliance with the training standards in the field of mediation; development of the Code of Ethics and Professional Deontology; making proposals to improve regulation of mediation.

The Code of Ethics and Professional Deontology approved by the Council of Mediation reflects the provisions of the Law no. 192/2006. The code guarantees the fulfillment of the mediators’ mission, based on its free acceptance by them. The non-compliance with the deontological norms specified by the code incurs the application of disciplinary sanctions by the Council of Mediation.

The general principles to be applied by mediators are the following: the freedom of parties to apply to mediation and to make a decision; nondiscrimination; independence, neutrality and impartiality of the mediator; trust and moral integrity; professional secret, confidentiality; conflict of interests; fee setting; responsibility of mediators; incompatibilities; quality of the mediation process.

In Romania, the regulatory framework relative to mediation and mediator profession was adopted relatively recently. The profession of mediator was legally created in 2006. Both civil matters and commercial matters are the object of the same provisions relative to mediation and the organization of the profession of mediator.

Mediation can be used to resolve a wide variety of conflicts: Civil law: boundaries, claims, evictions, obligations “to make”, shares, housing

reports, etc. Family Law: divorces, sharing the common property, child custody, etc. Criminal Law: the mediation can be used for crimes that trigger the complaint

by the injured party Commercial Law: claims, payment summons, etc. Labor disputes: royalties, disposal of individual employment contract

The prevalence of commercial mediation is high, primarily because the costs involved in such a procedure are low compared with those incurred in court trials. Also, confidentiality and maintaining or strengthening business relationships are other

3 http://www.avocatnet.ro/content/articles/id_17637/Legea-370-2009-pentru-modificarea-si-completarea-Legii-nr-192-2006-privind-medierea-si-organizarea-profesiei-de-mediator.html

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reasons why mediation records a real success on the current Romanian business market (the mediator keeps secret the information it obtains about the parties during mediation and it will not disclosed it without the consent of both parties. Also, the discussions that are taking place during the mediation process are confidential and can not be used thereafter without the consent of the parties or in some cases expressly provided by law).

In this area, that mediation may intervene in conflicts which arise in connection with the execution, interpretation and severance of commercial contracts. Also, if occurring in electronic commerce disputes, mediation can be applied in particular e-commerce stores that have been in disputes with customers about delivery orders of various products.

No matter in what area mediation can be used, in the current Romanian law mediation is recognized as an effective method of resolving conflicts, the courts having an important role in promoting it. I refer in particular to the Law no. 202/2010 regarding some measures to accelerate the settlement process, which contains provisions relating to mediation by which it changes and augments the civil and criminal procedure codes.

Mediation costs are given by:

• hourly fee or a percentage for the mediator; is generally considered that a mediation session lasts about an hour, and for a mediation in several sessions, the first session is covered up to an hour and a half, i.e. 90 minutes. If the disputes relate to goods of a certain amount (jointly agreed by both parties), it can also be negotiated a percentage fee of the value accepted in addition to the hourly fee. • Although rare it is possible that during the proceedings an expert opinion to be sought, and its price it is covered on both sides • Basic principle of mediation is that the payment shall be made equally by those involved and most often it is estimated (or proposed) an initial time, which is paid, and in the end the difference is paid for the exceeded time• Mediation session shall be paid regardless of outcome, whether or not an agreement is achieved.

ARBITRATION

Along with mediation, arbitration offers a safe and convenient alternative for civil and commercial dispute resolution. In Romania arbitration is governed by the Code of Civil Procedure, Book IV “On arbitration”; (Art. 340-370) and is a form of private justice (Book IV “On Arbitration”; amended by Law no. 59/1993) and enables the participating parties to conclude on contracts which stipulate that any dispute arising out of or in connection with those documents (contracts / pre-contracts), including also the conclusion, execution or their abolition, to be settled by Arbitration.

Arbitration offers a modern and efficient alternative means of dispute resolution that allows: - Freedom for the parties involved in the conflict to choose the referee (judge), fact that can not be done in the traditional judicial system - The parties, under the Convention compromise, have the opportunity to choose one or more judges for a ruling in arbitration

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- A quick resolution of disputes between the parties within 5 months, compared to cumbersome mechanisms of judicial system that can last for years- Parties may decide the law or legal system that will govern the contract which expresses their will and way of solving any disputes.

Both mediation (regulated by Law no. 192/2006) and arbitration are voluntary dispute resolution procedures. Therefore, civil procedural law recognizes the autonomy of will of the parties in a dispute subject to arbitration (the freedom to determine the organization and conduct of arbitration), a similar situation in this respect being also the mediation procedure.Regarding the possibility of using electronic means in solving disputes, I mention that the Romanian International Commercial Arbitration Court at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has established an electronic medium for an accelerated arbitration. Thus, applicants have access to a user-friendly electronic environment, providing on-line completion of the procedures. The Technical Secretariat of the Arbitration Court makes available to interested parties a mobile office in order to fill in the applications electronically and to load the supporting documents in the system at no extra costs. Thus consumption of time and labor resources of the involved parties is minimized.

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ENGLAND & WALES

Primary forms of ADR in England & Wales

OMBUDSMEN

An ombudsman is a person who has been appointed to look into complaints about an organization. Using an ombudsman is a way of trying to resolve a complaint without going to court.There are a number of ombudsmen:

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman who investigates complaints about government departments and certain other public bodies. They can also look into complaints about NHS hospitals or community health services

The Local Government Ombudsman who investigates complaints about local councils and some other local organizations

The Financial Ombudsman Service The European Ombudsman The Legal Ombudsman The Property Ombudsman The Housing Ombudsman The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. The Energy Supply Ombudsman.

An ombudsman should be a member of the British and Irish Ombudsman Association (BIOA). Ombudsmen are independent, free of charge and impartial; in most cases, the complaint must be done to the organization first, before it is made to the ombudsman.

The ombudsman’s job is to investigate cases of maladministration. The ombudsman will only look into a case where an individual (or in some cases group of individuals) has suffered personal injustice, hardship or financial loss because of the action or lack of action of a particular organization. The ombudsman will not investigate a case if it is about to go to court or if court action has been started. In some cases, the ombudsman will not look into cases which could be dealt with by a court or tribunal.4

REGULATORS

4http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_rights/civil_rights/ how_to_use_an_ombudsman.htm

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A Regulator is defined as a body which has been established by Act of Parliament, but which operates at arm's length from government and which has one or more of the following powers: inspection; referral; advice to a third party; licensing; accreditation; or enforcement (e.g. The Consumer Council for Water, The Drinking Water Inspectorate etc).

NEUTRAL EVALUATION

With this option an independent person looks at the claims made by each side and gives an opinion, which is non-binding.

The opinion can also be the basis for an agreement between both sides. The evaluator is often chosen because of their expertise in the subject matter of the disagreement (e.g. a lawyer with litigation experience).

EXPERT DETERMINATION

In expert determination, an independent person, usually an expert in the subject of the disagreement looks at the case and gives a decision. The expert is chosen jointly by both sides, who agree from the start to be bound by the expert's decision.

CONCILIATION

Conciliation is a less formal form of arbitration. This process does not require an existence of any prior agreement. Any party can request the other party to appoint a conciliator.

Parties may submit statements to the conciliator describing the general nature of the dispute and the points at issue. Each party sends a copy of the statement to the other. The conciliator may request further details, may ask to meet the parties, or communicate with the parties orally or in writing. Parties may even submit suggestions for the settlement of the dispute to the conciliator.

NEUTRAL FACT FINDING

Neutral fact finding is used when a dispute involves an issue requiring expertise, and that issue is a stumbling block to settlement, the parties may agree on a neutral third-party to decide that issue. The parties may make the neutral's decision binding or not. Neutral fact finding can also resolve disputes involving a business entity's internal affairs, like employment discrimination, where the company needs someone outside the company to investigate the charges.

MEDIATION AND ARBRITATION (MED-ARB)

Med-arb is a combination of mediation and arbitration, though not a blend. Each process is kept separate. Mediation is attempted first, and if no agreement results, the dispute will go to arbitration, where a binding decision will be issued. In some cases

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the same person acts as mediator and arbitrator; in others a different neutral person is brought in to arbitrate. The idea of med-arb is to combine the advantages of both mediation and arbitration. If it is possible, both sides will agree a settlement through mediation. If they can’t agree, they both know that in the next stage an arbitrator will make a final decision for them.

MEDIATION

In England, mediation has grown rapidly in response to the need to find an effective option to resolve disputes without lawyers, thus eliminating adversarial nature that a trial produces. The 80s but especially the 90s were the development period of mediation in the UK, the primary role being taken by the legal reforms (1996 - English Arbitration Act, 1999 - Civil Procedure Rules), both recognizing and promoting the need for alternative dispute resolution methods to reduce the cost and duration of court trials.

The step change delivered as a result of Lord Woolf’s review of civil justice and his subsequent Access to Justice Reports of 1995 and 1996 (on 26 July 1996, Lord Woolf published his Access to Justice Report 1996 in which he “...identified a number of principles which the civil justice system should meet in order to ensure access to justice”.), signalled a significant change in the handling of civil court cases. Under these changes the courts were given a clearly defined role in providing information about ADR and encouraging its use in appropriate cases. Lord Woolf’s Final Report stated “the court will encourage the use of ADR at case management conferences and pre-trial reviews, and will take into account whether the parties have unreasonably refused to try ADR or behaved unreasonably in the course of ADR.”5

Lord Woolf’s vision for a greater push towards the use of ADR, along with the introduction of judicial case management was enshrined formally into the court process through the Civil Justice reforms of 1999. The Civil Procedure Act of 1997 provided for the establishment of a new code in the form of Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) governing the practice and procedure to be followed in the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the county courts. The Woolf Report on Access to Justice played a pivotal role in raising the profile of ADR in England.

The Civil Procedure Rules have been amended accordingly to ensure all litigants have exhausted all methods of resolving and have considered Alternative Dispute Resolution before actual court proceedings are issued. Pre-action protocols are designed to facilitate early settlement of the dispute. In addition to this judges have been given powers to impose on both parties to try mediation if they have not already complied with the C P R requirements.The new Civil Procedure Rules indicate clearly the desire of those who are responsible for the administration of civil justice to bring about radical change in litigation culture.

ADR has been also a feature of Government policy over the last decade, building on the momentum of the Lord Woolf reforms, Court of Appeal judgments and on the growth of mediation in the commercial sector as a means of resolving high value disputes. 5 http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/solving-disputes-county-courts.pdf

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In 2001, the Government introduced the ADR Pledge, which was a significant step forward in terms of support for ADR as it made a commitment that all Government departments and their agencies would use alternative forms of dispute resolution, where appropriate and with the consent of the other party in dispute. The ADR Pledge is currently being renewed and extended, by encouraging both local authorities and businesses to make a similar commitment to using ADR in appropriate cases. 6

Another key area of activity has been in the development of court-based mediation. In 2004 it was set up the National Mediation Helpline to form the basis of a national mediation service for all county courts, served by panels of commercial mediation providers, accredited by the Civil Mediation Council (CMC).

There is currently no authorized regulator or regulatory body for ADR in England and Wales. Training and accreditation of mediators is provided by a number of organizations, among whom are the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (www. cedr.co.uk), the ADR Group (www.adrgroup.co.uk), and In Place of Strife (www.mediate.co.uk).

Mediators are independent and impartial, and their aim is to help the parties reach an agreement; they do not make decisions for the parties. Other common features of mediation are: it is voluntary, private, and confidential (unless both parties agree, issues discussed during mediation cannot be used in court).

The types of conflicts, according to British legislation, which can be addressed through mediation, are:

Civil conflicts Family conflicts - In England and Wales, participation in family mediation

is voluntary and is undertaken to resolve disputes arising in the context of divorce or separation under the provisions of domestic legislation. Family mediation is at present nearly always conducted face-to-face, and mediators consider it beneficial for people to reach agreement together. In family disputes in England and Wales there is no contract in which a family mediation clause could be inserted. Under the law of England and Wales couples who marry are not subject to a matrimonial property contract. The Family Mediation Council was set up in 2007 to harmonize standards for family mediation in the UK. The council approves family mediation bodies which meet its requirements. Family mediators who are trained and accredited by bodies approved by the council are listed on the government-funded Family Mediation Helpline website.

Commercial/business conflicts - The Civil Mediation Council is the national body which represents and promotes civil and commercial mediation. At the end of 2005 it started piloting an accreditation scheme for civil and commercial mediation providers.

Community conflicts - There is currently no national umbrella organization for community mediation providers. Mediation UK, which was the national body for over 120 community mediation services, went into voluntary liquidation in October 2006.

Labour/Workplace conflicts (The ACAS - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, Code of Practice in Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures provides for best practice in the area of employer/employee disputes. ACAS provides an independent and impartial service to prevent and resolve disputes between employers and employees. ACAS conciliators

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have a statutory duty to promote settlements in a wide range of employment rights complaints which have been made, or could be made to an employment tribunal.

Victim-offender conflicts

Mediation normally takes place at a neutral venue, where the mediator and the parties establish the issues, the options and negotiate an agreement. The exact length and proceedings of the mediation depend on the issues at stake: for instance family or neighborhood mediation requires specific approaches. Commercial and civil disputes normally involve a meeting of the parties and their solicitors – although often each party is in a different room and the mediator ‘shuttles’ between the two rooms.

The general principle that applies in civil courts in England and Wales is that the ‘loser’ pays the other side’s costs as well as their own, except in the family courts, where each side normally pays their own costs. In alternative dispute resolution, the general principle is that each side pays their own costs.

Mediation costs can vary, depending on the type of mediation. For example: Community mediation is usually free to local residents; Family mediation services often charge an hourly rate. Some have a scale of

fees, so the payment depends on how much money each side has (help with the costs of family mediation can be get through the Community Legal Service), and;

Commercial mediation providers charge according to the complexity and value of the claim

If one side is eligible for legal aid, the Community Legal Service fund will pay for the cost of the mediation or other form of alternative dispute resolution. Sometimes, the organization one is complaining about pays all the costs because they are the financially stronger side.

Ombudsman schemes tend to be the least expensive to use, as they are free to the person complaining. Community mediation doesn’t cost much either. It usually involves face- to-face meetings, so only the travel and other expenses should be paid, but it may be able to get these back as part of a mediated agreement if both sides agree to this.

It is not obligatory to seek legal advice when using alternative dispute resolution, but it is advisable. It is also advisable to ensure that any ADR provider used has accreditation and carries indemnity insurance.

The resolution achieved through ADR can take the form of a decision or agreement by the parties, depending on the form of ADR used. Generally, methods such as mediation, conciliation and neutral evaluation are designed as aids to agreement. Expert determination, adjudication and arbitration schemes produce decisions though these may or may not be binding according to the circumstances and methods used. Some Ombudsmen make binding decisions, others make recommendations.

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ARBITRATION

Arbitration is the most formal of the methods used to settle disputes without using the courts. The relevant law on arbitration can be found in the Arbitration Act 1996.  The Act contains provisions concerning:

the requirements for arbitration agreements, very detailed requirements concerning arbitration panels and appointment of

arbitrators, jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal, arbitral proceedings, including legal representation, evidence, appointment of

experts and advisers, provisions on arbitral awards – their content and biding force, appeals (very limited).

The Arbitration Act 1996 states that the object of arbitration is to obtain the fair resolution of disputes by an impartial tribunal without unnecessary delay or expense. It further states that it is an agreement to submit to arbitration present or future disputes whether they are contractual or not. The distinguishing feature of arbitration can be summarized as the decision of a third party, the arbitrator, is binding on the parties. It also differs from the litigation as both parties involved in the dispute can agree on who can decide the outcome of the dispute as well as the procedure they would like to adopt to come to that decision taking into account any statutory provisions.

The agreement to go to arbitration can be made by the parties at any time.  It can be written into a business contract by what is called a Scott v Avery clause or the parties may just agree on arbitration when a dispute arises.  The parties can agree the number of arbitrators who will hear their dispute.  It could be three, two or just one person.  The parties will normally appoint someone who is an expert in their particular area of business.  There is also the Institute of Arbitrators who will provide trained arbitrators to parties who wish to settle a dispute.  The actual procedure to be followed in any arbitration hearing is left to the parties to decide.  Therefore, arbitration hearings can take many forms.  The parties can decide on a paper arbitration, which means the parties submit everything to the arbitrator in writing, who will then read everything and make a decision.  However the parties can also have a hearing at which they appear and give evidence and witnesses may be called.  The decision made by the arbitrator is called an award and is legally binding on the parties.

Advantages of Alternative Dispute Resolution

Speed - Settling a dispute using ADR is usually much quicker than using the court system.

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Expertise - A specialist from within a particular trade or industry is able to suggest a reasonable solution which will be acceptable to the parties involved.  A judge is unlikely to have specialist knowledge, other then in the law.

Privacy - ADR is conducted in private, therefore avoiding publicity from the media.  The public are also unable to attend.

Parties may be able to remain on good terms - The aim of ADR is to find a compromise solution which is acceptable to both parties.  Court proceedings create a winner and a loser.  Using ADR to settle a dispute means businesses can remain on good terms and continue to trade with each other once their dispute is resolved.

Costs to the Parties - All forms of ADR are far cheaper than taking a case to court.

Costs to the State - Every case resolved using ADR saves the Government money.

Saving of Court Time - Every case solved through ADR stops the courts being over burdened with cases.

The online dispute resolution services (ODR) are another mechanism offered by numerous English organizations to facilitate the resolution of disputes between parties. Below are only a few examples of such organizations:

Dispute Doctor provides an online mediation service carried out by a barrister mediator based in Bristol. The parties can web conference by Skype, return agreements and pay online. There is also a handy Useful Resources section which contains Guides to Mediation. The areas covered are divorce and separation (finances), employment and organizational conflict (i.e. conflict arising out of personal or professional relationships). Mediations are standard facilitative mediations, carried out by an accredited mediator. For more difficult disputes, the mediator employs a problem solving technique called CLEAR which is a seven step process aimed at helping the parties to step outside of the problem and look at the issues in a structured and holistic way.

The Mediation Room run by Graham Ross, a mediator and retired solicitor with over 20 years experience in IT and the law. He is a member of the United Nations Expert Panel on Online Dispute Resolution. He provides a service “where technology meets dispute resolution enabling people to have their disputes resolved at less cost, in time and money, and with less damage to underlying business or personal relationships than by pursuing through the courts or by arbitration.” The online service provides an online messaging and blind bidding process, with additional message areas in which client and lawyer can communicate securely.

E-mediator offers: - A bullet point guide to how and why mediation works in more than 80% of cases

- A collection of articles written by Consensus Panel members and guests

- ADR Glossary explaining common terms and acronyms- Case Studies related to cases settled successfully using

traditional and online mediation- Extracts from the Civil Procedure Rules that relate to ADR.

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PROFESSIONAL ADR SERVICE PROVIDERS:

1. Chartered Institute of ArbitratorsThe Institute was founded in 1915 and now has 11,000 members in more than 100 countries; the CIArb refers to itself as “a centre of excellence for the global promotion, facilitation and development of all forms of dispute resolution”.

2. IDRSIDRS provides dispute resolution services to individuals and businesses. It is a subsidiary of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). IDRS administers independent conciliation, mediation, adjudication and arbitration schemes to settle complaints and disputes involving individual companies, members of trade associations, professional bodies, and their customers.

3. CEDR Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution works with governments, public and private sector organizations to develop schemes for alternative dispute resolution. It provides training courses and consultancy services in the area of ADR. It prides itself on being material in bringing mediation into the mainstream of the English civil justice system, but its outreach is international as well.

4. The Academy of ExpertsThrough the Faculty of Mediation & ADR the Academy of Experts has been providing Mediation Training since the early 90's as part of its commitment to Cost Efficient Dispute Resolution. The Academy holds a Register of Qualified Dispute Resolvers - available on-line.

5. Maritime Solicitors Mediation Service A specialized service set up by a group of 19 English maritime law firms. The main objective is “to promote the use of mediation in the maritime and marine insurance sector to assist parties to expedite the cost effective resolution of disputes.

6. The Ombudsman Service Ltd. The Ombudsman Service Ltd. is a not-for profit private company providing Ombudsman services to energy, telecoms and surveying sectors.

7. National Mediation HelplineThe helpline is provided by the Ministry of Justice in conjunction with the Civil Mediation Council. The aim of the helpline is to inform about mediation and to facilitate access to mediators. There are numerous mediators accredited with the Helpline.

8. Civil Mediation CouncilThe Council operates a scheme for accreditation of mediation providers. It was founded to represent the common interests of mediation providers and mediators in promoting mediation and similar forms of dispute resolution. It is now recognized as the organization which represents the interests of civil, commercial and workplace mediation in England and Wales, with links throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. It has more than 400 members, an accreditation scheme for mediation providers, and organized major conferences and forums. The CMC is the first point of contact for the Government, judiciary and industry on civil mediation issues.

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The Mission of the CMC is to influence the policies and practices of the UK government and other governments, as well as the professions and the public, increasingly to adopt mediation as an effective means of dispute resolution.

9. ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)The service aims to “improve organizations and working life through better employment relations.” It supplies up-to-date information, independent advice and training, and works with employers and employees to solve problems and improve performance. ACAS serves as part of the Employment Tribunals system, with increasingly important role, especially following the 2002 Employment Act and the later 2008 Employment Act.

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RESOURCES

http://www.civilmediation.org/about-cmc

http://www.cedr.com/news/archive/Individual_member.pdf

http://www.businessandmoney.ro/inpage/aplicabilitatea-institutiei-medierii-sistemul-drept-romanesc/

www.dca.gov.uk/civil/final/contents.htm (Access to Justice Final Report, 1996) http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dca.gov.uk/civil/final/overview.htm

http://www.idrs.ltd.uk/?p=7&lang=e

http://arno.unimaas.nl/show.cgi?fid=3609

http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/docs/annual-pledge-report-2006-07.pdf

http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/solving-disputes-county-courts.pdf

http://www.adrnow.org.uk/go/Section_1.html

http://www.juriscom.net/uni/mem/17/odr01.pdf

http://www.avocatnet.ro/content/forum%7CdisplayTopicPage/topicID_22126/.html

http://www.dreptonline.ro/legislatie/lege_mediere_profesia_mediator_192_2006.php

http://www.avocatnet.ro/content/articles/id_17637/Legea-370-2009-pentru-modificarea-si-completarea-Legii-nr-192-2006-privind-medierea-si-organizarea-profesiei-de-mediator.html

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_rights/civil_rights/how_to_use_an_ombudsman.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/civiljustice/adr/adr_rom_ro.htm

Civil Justice in England and Wales-beyond the courts (Research Project), Russ Taylor, 2009

ADR in England and Wales: A Successful Case of Public Private Partnership, Loukas A Mistelis, 2006, pg 2

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