Double reward for cutting Edge ADR ;DISPUTE RESOLUTION: BNFL and housing ombudsman recognised as judges praise the creativity and breadth of work ;Hammond Suddards Edge, BNFL and the Independent Housing Ombudsman scheme last week scooped the fourth biennial awards from the Centre for Dispute Resolution (CEDR) for developing alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

;It is the second time running that Hammond Suddards Edge has won the professional award.

City firm CMS Cameron McKenna was runner-up.

;Hammonds won for the breadth of its practice in ADR, track record for the design of dispute resolution schemes for large contracts, and development of dispute avoidance/risk as well as resolution ;techniques.

;BNFL (British Nuclear Fuels as was) won the industry award because it promotes mediation in a highly contentious, public and emotive arena.

;The Independent Housing Ombudsman scheme won the ;public sector award as a recognition of how ADR is an integral part of its practice and is used to promote management best practice in landlord/tenant matters.

The ombudsman, Roger Jefferies, is a solicitor.

;Camerons was recognised for the quantity of mediations it has carried out and for developing pre-action procedures designed to assist ADR.

;Commendations were given to the Planning Inspectorate, a government agency experimenting with ADR, and the Dispute Resolution Centre in Kenya for its efforts to promote ADR in the under-resourced African country.

;Lord Bingham of Cornhill, who chaired the judging panel, said: The judging panel was impressed with the creativity and breadth of ADR application evident in the entries.

It is proof that business and the legal profession have begun to embrace ADR techniques and that the public sector is following suit.

;Peter Crossley, national head of commercial dispute resolution at Hammonds, said: We are delighted and honoured to have received this award for the second time in succession.

The whole firm is committed to dispute resolution and mediation in all areas of our practice.

;The awards were given by Lord Hurd of Westhill, the former foreign secretary who acts as a CEDR ;mediator and was announced as CEDRs new chairman earlier this year.

He took over officially from outgoing chairman Sir Alex Jarratt chancellor of the University of Birmingham at the ceremony, held ;in London.

;Jeremy Fleming