International Mediation: From Settlement to Dispute Resolution?
On 23 September 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., as part of the Russian International Arbitration Congress (RIAC), the International and Comparative Law Research Center (ICLRC) will hold a satellite event “International Mediation: From Settlement to Dispute Resolution?”* The event will be held in person, in the ICLRC Library (14 b. 3 Kadashevskaya Embankment, Moscow).
Mediation is often regarded as an effective and flexible means of out-of-court dispute settlement, yet in many jurisdictions its potential remains unrealized due to fragmented regulation, uncertainty over the status of mediators, the absence of unified professional standards, and difficulties with the legal qualification and enforcement of mediated settlement agreements. These factors continue to undermine trust to mediation among businesses and the legal community. At the same time, mediation is increasingly seen as part of the broader dispute resolution framework, including in cross-border disputes, and international instruments such as the 2018 UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Mediation and the Singapore Convention on Mediation seek to enhance predictability and legal certainty in this field.
The discussion will focus on the following questions:
- To what extent do recent reforms in international mediation, including the introduction of mechanisms for the recognition and enforcement of mediated settlement agreements, bring mediation closer to such dispute resolution mechanisms as litigation or international arbitration?
- How can a balance be struck between institutional support for mediation and the preservation of its out-of-court, voluntary, flexible, and confidential nature?
- May the Singapore Convention on Mediation become not only an instrument for the recognition and enforcement of international mediated settlement agreements, but also an incentive for revising national mediation regulations?
- How important is the development of detailed qualification and ethical standards for mediators? What role could UNCITRAL play in this context?
- Which elements of foreign models of mediation regulation could be useful for Russia, and what legislative amendments may be relevant?
The discussion session is designed as an open dialogue and will involve the participation of both practicing professionals and representatives of the academic community.
Working languages: English and Russian, with simultaneous translation.
*The programme is subject to change.
The video and photo materials will be published on the ICLRC website and social media.