Transatlantic tie-up offers mediation and arbitration

The first transatlantic mediation and arbitration association was launched last week when London-based provider ACI sealed a deal with the California-based International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC).

The ACI/IMAC association will enable clients wishing to mediate or arbitrate in the US and UK to have a co-mediation or co-arbitration using experts from both organisations based in either jurisdiction.

In addition, the organisations will refer customers approaching them in their own jurisdictions to each other, if their customers wish to mediate or arbitrate there.

ACI has a panel of around 130 lawyers including barristers, solicitors and former judges.

IMAC - founded by Paul Wright, an English barrister and California attorney - has a similarly sized panel comprised of US attorneys and retired US judges.

ACI director Elizabeth Birch said: 'The market is ready to move forward in international mediation to co-mediation which provides a more effective solution for the large multi-party, cross-border disputes.'

Jeremy Fleming