Changing times are afoot in mediation

It's been a while dear reader, yes it's because of the merging of my practice with Staffordshire Mediation and the formation of Familymediation.co.uk which will be up and running soon.

And yes I'm adding in this link to give the new website some back channeling (or whatever the SEO peeps tell me I should do).

So here goes something a bit different to the normal, asking for a summary of news from the old AI bot (this is a test so I'm not shocked the links don't appear to work still it's not a bad summary):-

Stay updated on the latest mediation news this week — from China’s new international mediation body and U.S. labor disputes to UK family mediation support, AI in dispute resolution, and ADR settlement reports.

🌍 China Launches a New Global Mediation Body

China, along with more than 30 nations, has created the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) headquartered in Hong Kong.

• Designed to handle disputes through mediation instead of litigation or arbitration, the body could reshape global conflict resolution.

• Recent accessions include Togo, Myanmar, Central African Republic, and Angola.

• Analysts see this as part of China’s effort to expand influence in the legal and diplomatic arenas.

🔗 China forms new global mediation group with dozens of countries (AP News)🔗 China sets up international mediation body in Hong Kong (Reuters)

🇺🇸 U.S. Labor Dispute: Rail Strike Mediation

President Trump signed an executive order establishing an emergency mediation board to avert a potential strike by Long Island Rail Road unions.

• The board introduces a 120-day cooling-off period during which mediation must occur.

• If talks stall, a second board may be convened, extending the process into 2026.

This highlights how mediation remains a key mechanism to prevent major disruptions in critical infrastructure.

🔗 Trump appointing board to mediate New York rail labor dispute (Reuters)

🇬🇧 UK Expands Family Mediation Support

The UK government has extended its Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, offering up to £500 to help separating couples resolve disputes outside of court.

• The program will run through March 2026.

• Thousands of families are expected to benefit, reducing legal backlog and encouraging less adversarial solutions.

🤖 AI Research in Mediation

A new study, Simulating Dispute Mediation with LLM-Based Agents for Legal Research, introduces AgentMediation, an AI-driven platform simulating mediation scenarios.

• It allows researchers to model different mediator strategies and disputant behaviors.

• This could influence the future of online mediation and hybrid human–AI systems.

📊 ADR Systems: Settlement Reports Released

ADR Systems published its Commercial Settlement Report and Personal Injury Settlement Report for August 2025.

• These reports offer case studies and data on mediated outcomes, helping practitioners benchmark their approaches.

• They also announced the addition of Hon. Patrick J. Sherlock (Ret.) to their mediator panel.

✨ Reflections

• Global stage: IOMed marks a shift toward institutionalized, state-level mediation.

• Domestic disputes: The U.S. and UK are both relying heavily on mediation to reduce disruption and legal burdens.

• Future tech: AI’s role in mediation is no longer speculative—it’s being actively tested.

• Transparency: ADR settlement reports give practitioners valuable insights into outcomes.

Mediation continues to evolve as both a diplomatic and domestic problem-solving tool. With governments, institutions, and researchers investing in this field, the future of dispute resolution looks increasingly collaborative.