The National Arbitration Forum Blog

Lynn Cole, a member of the National Arbitration Forum Panel of Neutrals, took the time to answer a few questions for the National Arbitration Forum Blog.

Ms. Cole is a full-time dispute resolution professional in mediation and arbitration with over 26 years experience as a trial attorney in complex litigation. Florida-certified and Harvard-trained in mediation, she also works as an Adjunct Professor of ADR at Stetson University College of Law. She is a founding member and Director of Mediators Beyond Borders.

1. Lynn, let's start with the basics...What types of arbitration and mediation have you done?

I have a wide range of legal experience in the areas of business and complex commercial, contracts, labor and employment, banking, securities, anti-trust, partnerships, utilities, and insurance, among others.

2. How did you get involved with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) internationally, for instance in Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia, Jordon, Lebanon, and this fall in Croatia?

I wanted to make a difference. So, I began a search on the Internet, seeking options that could use my experience and skills. As a long time member of the American Bar Association, I discovered its Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative. CEELI is a public service project designed to advance the rule of law by supporting the legal reform process in Central and Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union. Through its work, CEELI helps build the legal infrastructure that is indispensable to strong, self-supporting, democratic, free market systems. One component of building a strong free market system, as espoused especially by the European Union, is alternative dispute resolution programs. It sounded great for volunteer work and in 2005 I applied. I was offered a position in Bulgaria as a mediation/legal specialist for three months. I've shared my perspectives on my experiences in Bulgaria on my website (Diary of A Mediator Gone Global, Musings of Mediator Gone Global part 2, and A Journey in Mediation).

3. From your work, please discuss ADR internationally and here in the U.S.?

ADR has been used around the world for hundreds and hundreds of years. Relative to use in Europe, arbitration in the US is new. Mediation is a practice that goes back hundreds of years with roots in all three Abrahamic religions. The US has led the way in making mediation a profession and using it in Court-related programs.

ADR is different in each country, and it is exciting to see other countries continue to develop alternatives. I've been working in two primary regions, the Balkins and the Middle East. I've found that people are excited all over the world about ADR. I maintain a blog relevant to ADR in the Middle East, see the Middle East Networks blog at http://lynncole.com/blog/.

4. In your opinion, what does the future hold for ADR?

Online capabilities. I think in today’s shrinking world parties should be able to meet "virtually", no matter the location. That is why I have formed Global Mediation Initiatives, which has as its first initiative an online, video mediation program. The entire mediation process can be conducted almost anywhere in the world over the web, face to face.

5. Do you have any advice for aspiring arbitrators or dispute resolution professionals?

ADR is a growing, dynamic, and expanding area of the law. Mediation and arbitration are different in dynamics. One may appeal to you more than the other, and that shouldn’t stop you. It just so happens that I like both.

For more information on international ADR, see Middle East blog or http://www.lynncole.com/.

Thank you Ms. Cole for taking the time to answer our questions!