EIRP Proceedings, Vol 4 (2009)

Abstract

Alternative dispute resolution, usually referred to by the acronym ADR, is the focus of growing interest in the business world, and particularly the international business world. Contract drafters are continuously inventing new ADR procedures, most of which are derived from, or inspired by mediation, although in fact this is only one type of alternative dispute resolution. There is no doubt that ADR has emerged out of practice. At present, there is a very broad range of alternative means of dispute resolution used in equally broad array of circumstances. An exhaustive list of different types of ADR cannot be drawn because ADR lends itself to numerous derivatives consisting of combinations of common types. Of all the ADR types, mediation is the most traditional and the most central, around which all the other derivatives gravitate.