Commonwealth Mediation Conference report

Law Society welcomes Master of Rolls to CLA Mediation Conference

In April the Law Society of Northern Ireland was delighted to welcome Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls, to Law Society house as a keynote speaker at the Commonwealth Mediation Conference 2022.

The Conference was organised by the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) in partnership with the Law Society Mediation Service (LSMS) and provided a platform to discuss the growing importance of mediation to resolve disputes.

The Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan DBE, opened the two-day conference which was attended by members of the judiciary and lawyers from countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and India.

Those attending had an opportunity to hear contributions from Mr Justice Knowles from the International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) and George Lim, Chair Singapore International Mediation Centre and Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls.

Commenting the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and local Northern Ireland solicitor, Brian Speers said: “This is the second time that Northern Ireland has hosted this prestigious conference and it is a reflection of the growing interest in mediation and lawyers as problem solvers that delegates from around the world have once again joined us”.

Speaking the President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Brigid Napier said:

“The Law Society is delighted to welcome colleagues from across the world to Belfast to lead discussion in this growing and developing area of law.”

Top Award for Commonwealth Mediation Event

The Law Society and Commonwealth Lawyers Association were delighted when the CLA Mediation Conference won the best ‘Business and Professional Services Event’ category at the Belfast Ambassador awards, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast on Thursday 10 November 2022. The awards, which are organised by Visit Belfast, recognise the efforts of Belfast’s academic, legal, medical, and business leaders who helped secure major conference and event wins for the city during 2022. Commenting on the award, the President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Brian Speers, said: “I am delighted that the Commonwealth Mediation Conference has received this important award and I pay tribute to colleagues who worked tirelessly to ensure the conference was an outstanding success”.