Conflict Resolution, Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution – Carr, Swanson & Randolph » » international development

CSR Conducts Three day Mediation Workshop in Rio

admin — Wed, 18 May 2016 15:12:26 +0000

CSR’s Bob Randolph and Frank Carr have just returned from conducting a successful three-day mediation workshop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This was CSR’s third trip to Brazil to conduct mediation training. Given Frank Carr’s and CSR’s expertise in construction dispute resolution, the workshop focused on construction mediation issues that Brasil companies might face in the run-up to the Olympics. The workshop was sponsored by the CPR Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (NYC) and hosted by Barbosa Mussnich Aragao (BMA), one of Brazil’s premier law firms. CPR and BMA have partnered to bring alternative dispute resolution to Brazil, which has just recently enacted a new mediation law to encourage the use of mediation nation-wide. CSR expects to return to Brazil within the coming 12 months to conduct an advanced course for the more than 50 mediators who have already completed the CPR foundation course.

CSR participates in Study of Sierra Leone’s Agricultural Sector

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 02:11:13 +0000

In October 2015, CSR participated in a study of Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector conducted by the International Development Group (IDG) to determine what, if anything, could be done to increase that embattled country’s ability to feed its people in the aftermath of Ebola and run agricultural surpluses that could be sold abroad to earn foreign exchange. CSR’s Bob Randolph looked specifically at Sierra Leone’s court system to evaluate whether judicial ineffectiveness in enforcing agribusiness contracts and executing on judgments creates a drag on agricultural productivity. The IDG team’s findings will be published by USAID later in the year.

Pete Swanson continues to provide mediation training assistance in Kosovo

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 16:42:09 +0000

Building on the mediation training provided to US AID’s Commercial Law Enforcement Project in October of 2013, Pete Swanson returned to Kosovo for three weeks in March, 2014, to provide additional assistance to budding Kosovar mediators. Pete provided refresher training to seasoned mediators in Pristina, more basic training to a new cadre of mediators based in Prizren, and supervised the rigorous practicums (simulated mediations) that graduating mediators must face before mediating on their own.

CSR Provides International Mediation Training In Brazil

admin — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 23:44:57 +0000

Frank Carr and Bob Randolph have just completed a successful three day international commercial mediation training in Sao Paolo, Brasil (November 15-17), for The International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution (CPR) and CAMARB. CPR (based in NYC) is the leading non-profit independent resource helping global business and their lawyers resolve complex commercial disputes more cost effectively and efficiently. CAMARB (Chamber of Arbitration-Brasil) is one of the three leading dispute resolution providers in Brasil.

Carr and Randolph were training with some of the top lawyers and arbitrators in Brasil, many of whom either represented, or handled arbitrations for Fortune 500 countries. The training was quite well received. In the words of one participant, a senior partner in a major law firm:

“I have to confess that it was a difficult process of negotiation with my wife and kids to participate in the training program and not to travel with them and enjoy the holiday in Brazil, but everything became easier after sharing with them the histories, exercises and my enthusiasm with everything that I learned during the three days. You are great. Be sure that we will spread the word here in Brazil about the quality and professionalism that we experienced.”

It was fascinating to see how easily some of the more adversarial negotiators were able to adapt to a facilitative mediation style. CSR looks forward to returning to Brasil.

CSR appointed by Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea to conduct review of Court Annexed Mediation Program.

admin — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:27:40 +0000

Under a contract with the International Finance Corporation, CSR was appointed by the Supreme and National Courts of Papua new Guinea to do a review of their country-wide court annexed mediation program and to provide recommendations for growth and expansion of the initiative. CSR partner Pete Swanson traveled to PNG in April for the month to conduct the survey, meet with stakeholders, and draft the report and recommendations which were accepted by the IFC early this summer. (April, 2013)

CSR USAID Award–Rule of Law

admin — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:19:11 +0000

CSR is a member of a team, led by Democracy International, that has been awarded an indefinite quantity contract (IQC) by USAID to provide “rule of law” consulting services to USAID missions world wide.

CSR Provides Mediation and Arbitration Training in Turkmenistan

admin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 18:14:24 +0000

In November Bob Randolph and internationally acclaimed arbitration expert Mark Ball provided mediation and international commercial arbitration training in Turkmenistan to government officials under a contract with Deloitte consulting, at the request of USAID. The training was well received and generated a lot of interest in ADR amongst the participants, many of whom were senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Energy (oil and gas) Ministries.

Bob Randolph asking the Turkmen particpants for a show of hands

Bob Randolph and Mark Ball with Turkmen Participants