On May 21, 2009 Disputing and the Loree Reinsurance and Arbitration Law Forum announced the formation of the LinkedIn Commercial and Industry Arbitration and Mediation Group (post available here), an open forum for the discussion of industry and commercial ADR. At that time the group was 29 members strong, and we are pleased to report that the group has since grown to 404 members. And about 150 of those new members have joined since August 29, 2009.
Discussions have been lively, the group is internationally and professionally diverse, and group members have access to several ADR blogs, as well as articles posted by other group members. It is an excellent networking and learning opportunity for anyone interested in commercial and industry ADR.
The group recently set up a subgroup — the Effective Negotiation and Settlement Subgroup — which is now more than 90 members strong. This subgroup, founded by California mediator, arbitrator and blogger Michael P. Carbone, focuses on identifying and discussing the effective negotiation, mediation and settlement of disputes that are the subject of pending arbitration or litigation proceedings. Membership in the main group is the only prerequisite to participate in the subgroup.
Membership in the group is recommended to those interested in keeping abreast of current events pertinent to arbitration (including consumer arbitration), tracking judicial and legislative developments relevant to arbitration law, learning more about the subject, or simply sharing information. We are proud to have as members a number of commercial and industry arbitrators, attorneys, law professors, industry people and arbitration professionals.
Membership is also recommended if you are a mediator, a business person who utilizes mediation to resolve disputes, an attorney who represent clients in mediation or a person interested in learning about mediation or sharing information on the subject. The group is proud to have as members a number of accomplished mediators, including some well-known ADR bloggers. Not being a mediator myself, I have learned much about mediation simply through group participation.
We welcome new members. The group is not a forum for, and does not permit, advertising or blatant self-promotion, so our members need not be concerned about being subject to sales pitches, and the like.
If you are already a member of LinkedIn, please click here to apply for membership in the Group. If you are not a LinkedIn member, click here, and you will be guided through the process of creating a profile (which does not need to be completed in one step). Once your profile is started, and you have a log-in name and password, you can apply for membership in the Group (which entails no more than clicking on a button). Joining LinkedIn is free, as is joining the group.
We hope you’ll join us and participate!
