Courts and Mediation: Effective Models of Cooperation

What can effective cooperation between the court system and mediation look like? Which models have already proven successful in different countries, and how can access to peaceful dispute resolution become a practical reality for citizens?

During the panel "Courts and Mediation: Effective Models of Cooperation", participants will discuss modern approaches to collaboration between courts and mediators, referral mechanisms, court-connected mediation, and international best practices in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Special attention will be given to the recommendations of the Council of Europe and CEPEJ regarding the development of mediation within judicial systems, as well as tools that enhance access to justice and improve its effectiveness.

Event Information

Date: June 8, 2026

Time: 14:00–15:30 EEST (Kyiv, GMT+3)

Moderator

Maksym Khodakivskyi (Ukraine) - Judge of the Sobornyi District Court of Dnipro, PhD in Law.

Speakers

Mari Vanhanen (Finland) - Judge at the Helsinki District Court and mediator.

Cynthia Jourius (USA) - Director of the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO), Maryland Judiciary.

Dr. Nick White (USA) - Research and Evaluation Program Manager, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO), Administrative Office of the Courts, Maryland Judiciary.

Danielle Shalov (USA) - Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program Administrator, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Natalia Korol (Ukraine) - Head of Staff of the Vinnytsia Court of Appeal, Chair and Co-Founder of the NGO VAPS, lawyer, mediator, and PhD.

Volodymyr Petrov (Ukraine) - President of the Commercial Court of Odesa Region.

Agata Gawlowska-Sobusiak (Poland) - President of the District Court in Brzesko.

Who Will Benefit from the Event?

The panel will be valuable for judges, attorneys, mediators, court administrators, representatives of public authorities, researchers, and everyone working to promote accessible, effective, and people-centered justice.

The event is organized by the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation in partnership with the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) and with the financial support of the European Union within the framework of the EU Project "CONSENT".