About the Network
ADR research often develops in separate academic and professional spaces. The network was established to bring these together and create a forum for ongoing exchange among researchers at different stages of their careers.
It provides a structured yet open forum for those engaged in, or seriously interested in, ADR research and scholarship, connecting participants across disciplines, jurisdictions and professional backgrounds.
Members include professors, early career researchers, PhD candidates, postgraduate students, mediators, legal practitioners, policy advisers and interdisciplinary researchers. Participants join from across the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia and North America.
The network is intentionally inclusive, while maintaining a clear focus on the development and exchange of ADR-related research.
How the Network Works
The network meets online every 5-6 weeks and operates through a combination of two session formats:
Expert-Led Sessions
Sessions feature invited speakers from academia, legal practice and the ADR profession. Presentations draw on both research and practical experience, offering insights into current developments, challenges and innovations in the field. Speakers may be drawn from the network or invited externally.
Reflective Discussion
In addition to speaker-led sessions, the network hosts structured reflective sessions. These sessions are designed to build on previous discussions and allow members to critically engage with emerging ideas, test perspectives and explore presented material in greater depth. This dual format supports ongoing intellectual exchange and enables members not only to share research but to develop and refine it over time.
What Happens in a Session
Sessions typically run for one hour and include:
• Short presentations or facilitated discussion prompts
• Open discussion and Q&A
• Contributions from participants across different disciplines and jurisdictions
Discussions are active and collaborative. Participants share perspectives and connect ideas across research and practice.
Research Areas
The network engages with a broad range of ADR-related topics, some of the speakers and topics include:
• Amanda Bucklow: Reflections on mediator skill, presence and value beyond settlement
• Prof Andrew Goodman: Mediation advocacy and professional blind spots
• William Brown: Construction adjudication and procedural efficiency
• Raheena Lalani Dahya: Trauma-informed mediation and ethical practice
• Ata Turkfiliz: AI in international arbitration and decision-making
• Dr Can Eken: Enforcement of arbitral awards under the New York Convention
• Jacky Lewis: Family mediation and participant-centred approaches
• Dr Bill Holohan SC: Empirical research on mediation in Ireland
• Aşiyan Süleymanoğlu: Compulsory mediation in Türkiye
• Dr Velimir Živković: Efficiency in arbitration (Basketball Arbitral Tribunal)
• Prof Bryan Clark: ADR research methods
• Dr Shirley Shipman: Emerging areas of research in ADR
Our scope of discussions is broad and focuses on the evolving and interdisciplinary nature of ADR research.
Beyond the Sessions
The network operates as an ongoing conversation. Following sessions, members may receive:
• Relevant research papers and publications
• Summaries, links to talks and external resources
• Opportunities to continue discussion and collaboration
Who the Network is for
The network welcomes participation from:
• Academics and researchers at all career stages
• PhD candidates and postgraduate students
• Mediators, arbitrators and legal practitioners
• Policy and industry professionals
• Individuals exploring or developing an interest in ADR research
Participation is open, but the network is centred on those with a genuine interest in contributing to ADR scholarship and practice.
To join the network or express interest in presenting, please get in touch via email.
Participants can:
• attend sessions
• present research or work in progress
• contribute to discussions
• connect with others working in related areas
What participants gain:
• feedback on ongoing research
• exposure to different approaches and jurisdictions
• insights into ADR practice and policy
• opportunities for collaboration
Convener Bios
Professor Jane Bryan
Jane is a Professor at Warwick Law School, a National Teaching Fellow and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Jane is a nationally and internationally accredited civil/commercial and workplace mediator and established (and led until 2024) Warwick University’s peer mediation service. Jane was appointed the Chair of the Academic Forum of the Civil Mediation Council in 2023. Jane has been awarded two prestigious National Mediation Awards at the House of Commons for her work embedding mediation in Higher Education. Jane’s module leadership and teaching has included Land Law, Medicine and the Law, and Trusts Law. Jane was the Academic Lead for the University of Warwick Community Values Education Programme (2019-2023). Jane won a Warwick Award for Teaching Excellence (WATE) in 2022 and was a finalist in the OUP Law Teacher of the Year Award 2019. Jane is a Foundation Fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy and a Senior Fellow of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.
Zora Kızılyürek
Zora is a PhD researcher at Lancaster University, focusing on compulsory mediation and its role within the civil justice system. Her research adopts the Dispute System Design Analytic Framework to evaluate compulsory mediation policy and establish a set of criteria to assess its long-term effectiveness. A qualified lawyer registered with the Istanbul Bar Association, she is also an accredited civil, commercial and workplace mediator. Zora has taught mediation and currently teaches Business Law modules at Lancaster University. She has presented at academic conferences and co-authored work on dispute resolution. She is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and co-leads the ADR Researchers Network, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among scholars in the field.