What Is the Value of the Institutional Format? The Importance of Rules, Procedures, and Administrative Support

Why are parties increasingly choosing institutional formats for mediation and arbitration? What role do procedural rules, administrative support, and trust in institutions play in ensuring the quality and effectiveness of dispute resolution processes?

During this panel discussion, participants will explore the significance of the institutional approach to dispute resolution, the role of rules and procedures in ensuring predictability, and the impact of professional case administration on the quality of mediation and arbitration. Special attention will be given to how institutional mechanisms contribute to the development of professional standards, strengthen confidence in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and promote a culture of effective conflict management.

The panel will provide a platform for discussing international experience in the operation of ADR institutions and current trends in the development of institutional mediation and arbitration.

Event Information

Date: June 10, 2026

Time: 10:00–11:45 EEST (Kyiv, GMT+3)

Moderators

Elisabeth Vanas-Metzler - Managing Counsel at VIAC, formerly Deputy Secretary General of the institution.

Stella-Jo Turner - certified mediator, researcher and practitioner in mediation and arbitration, judicial clerk in Austrian courts.

Speakers

Mark McLaughlin - Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University, researcher in international economic law and dispute resolution.

Katja Kröll - commercial mediator, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and tax advisor, specializing in corporate disputes and family business conflicts.

Hanna Tümpel - international mediator, lecturer, dispute resolution specialist, Co-Director of the Master's Program in Mediation at European University Viadrina.

Laura Spaniz - University Assistant (Prae-Doc) at the University of Graz, researcher in sociology of law, legal policy, negotiation, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Who Will Benefit from the Event?

The panel will be valuable for mediators, arbitrators, attorneys, representatives of ADR institutions, business professionals, international organizations, researchers, and everyone involved in the design and administration of dispute resolution procedures.

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".