IMI-CMS-CDRC International Mediation Evening for Professionals

Join us for a night of international mediation networking and learning for professionals at the IMI-CMS-CDRC event on July 3rd, 2026!
About this Event

On Friday, 3 July 2026, the International Mediation Institute is once again bringing an exciting program and networking opportunity within the in Vienna, connecting the international mediation community with local lawyers and users. Expect vibrant discussions within a panel of experienced mediation professionals, followed by a networking reception.

Assessors and coaches partaking in CDRC Vienna are invited, as well as IMI Certified and Qualified Mediators, local and regional mediators, mediation supporters, and professionals wishing to exchange and network to advance mediation locally and internationally. The International Mediation Evening for Professionals is kindly hosted by CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Vienna.

Doors will open at 5:30 PM, with the Panel Discussions starting at 6:00 PM CEST. Kindly note that the event has limited seats, and places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Panel

Following the success of our 2025 panel on effective mediation advocacy skills, this year we are shifting the lens to explore the deeper, structural dynamics of the mediation room. While lawyers are indispensable to the dispute resolution process, their traditional adversarial training can sometimes clash with the collaborative nature of mediation. The panel will dismantle the traditional boundaries of counsel, mediator, and client while walking through the lifecycle of a mediation, tackling difficult questions at every stage:

• The Preparation Phase: The panel will analyze how counsel can adapt legal evaluations specifically for mediation, test client settlement authority, and leverage pre-mediation conferences for strategic alignment.
• The Negotiation Phase and the Principal-Agent Problem: Speakers will dissect the optimal division of roles between client and counsel, navigating the delicate boundaries of lawyer intervention and managing sub-optimal dynamics.
• The Drafting and Settlement Phase: Discussion will center on drawing precise lines between the mediator and counsel regarding who bears the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the legal and practical viability of the final agreement.

The event will open with welcoming remarks by:

• , Executive Director of the International Mediation Institute (IMI)
• , CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz (CMS RRH)
• , CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz (CMS RRH)
• , Director, CDRC

We are bringing together a diverse expert panel featuring:

• , IMI Certified Mediator, Singapore, IMI Board Chair
• , Mediator, Member of the VIAC Mediation Advisory Board, Austria
• , IMI Certified Mediator, Accredited Associate Mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre, Accredited Member of the Swiss Federation of Mediation (FSM) and the Swiss Chamber of Commercial Mediation (SCCM), Certified Executive Coach (ICF ACC)
• , Mediation Practitioner, Founder of the International Centre for Dispute Resolution Lahore (ICDRL) and CEO of ADR ODR International Pakistan
• , Expert Civil and Commercial Mediator based in London, Ranked in Tier 1 in both Chambers and the Legal 500 and in the Hall of Fame

Join us as we shift the lens to the mechanics of a "perfect" mediation, bridging the gap between traditional legal advocacy and effective dispute resolution strategy!

About the CDRC Mediation and Negotiation Competition

The 2026 edition of the CDRC Mediation and Negotiation Competition in Vienna takes place from Thursday, 2 July 2026 to Tuesday, 7 July 2026 in Vienna, Austria. CDRC Vienna is the leading global consensual dispute resolution moot competition, attracting top students annually to Vienna. By benefitting greatly from the experience and knowledge of and guidance from the world-leading consensual dispute resolution experts, competitors can develop and hone their skills, experience, and brilliance in international commercial mediation. The Event invites students to compete as negotiators and mediators, and welcomes professionals to divulge their experience as expert assessors. It is a joint initiative of the International Bar Association–Vienna International Arbitral Centre.

The Competition is proudly supported by the .


We hope to see you in Vienna!

The event is verified by for continuing professional development (CPD) and continuing legal education (CLE).

Agenda

🕑: 05:30 PM - 06:00 PM
Registration and Networking
🕑: 06:00 PM - 06:05 PM
Welcoming words from the host, CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz Rechtsanwälte GmbH
Host: Daniela Karollus-Bruner, CMS RRH
🕑: 06:05 PM - 06:10 PM
Welcoming words from the International Mediation Institute
Host: Ivana Ninčić Österle, IMI Executive Director
🕑: 06:10 PM - 06:15 PM
Welcoming words from the IBA – VIAC CDRC Mediation & Negotiation Competition
Host: Thomas John MCIArb, Director, CDRC
🕑: 06:15 PM - 07:15 PM
Panel Discussion: Perspectives on the Role of Lawyers in a Mediation
Host: Amelie Huber-Starlinger, Austria

Info: Moderator: Tat Lim (IMI Certified Mediator, IMI Board Chair and CDRC Assessor, Singapore)

🕑: 07:15 PM - 07:30 PM
Q&A
🕑: 07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
Networking Reception