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“Innovation is the way forward,” remarked Senior Advocate Amarjit Singh Chandhiok, President of Maadhyam International Council for Conflict Resolution, as he set the tone for the day. Emphasising the need for collaborative thinking, he noted that mediators must continuously adapt and innovate, joining hands to craft solutions in an increasingly complex dispute landscape.

Echoing the urgency, Lalit Bhasin, President of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF) and Managing Partner of Bhasin & Co., drew attention to the paradox within India’s dispute resolution ecosystem. Despite its potential, arbitration, he observed, “has not taken off in the country,” while a significant number of arbitration cases involving Indian parties continue to be referred to international centres such as Singapore.

Bhasin attributed this gap to multiple systemic issues—prolonged arbitration processes, excessive judicial intervention, lack of institutional frameworks, and the dominance of a narrow professional pool. In contrast, he asserted, mediation presents a more viable and humane alternative. “The only effective alternative to arbitration is mediation,” he said, while cautioning that India’s achievements in mediation so far remain “minuscule.”

For meaningful reform, Bhasin stressed the need for a long-term roadmap beginning at the foundational level. Introducing mediation and negotiation skills in schools, he argued, could fundamentally reshape societal attitudes towards dispute resolution. “True justice delivery requires not just mechanisms, but a shift in mindset,” he noted.

Across multiple sessions, the conference delved into the evolving dimensions of ADR—from cross-border mediation and enforcement challenges to the role of technology and the human element in dispute resolution. A recurring theme was the need to balance innovation with the core principles of mediation: neutrality, confidentiality and trust.

Speaking on Institutionalising Mediation in India through Cross-Cultural Insights, Dr Sukhsimranjit Singh, JAMS Mediator and Founder of Singh Academy, underscored the importance of collaboration and youth engagement. “The future lies in partnerships and in involving the next generation,” he said, pointing towards a more inclusive and globally connected mediation ecosystem.

One of the key areas of concern remained the enforceability of cross-border mediation settlements, particularly in the context of the Singapore Convention. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul (Retd.), Supreme Court of India, and Judge at the Bahrain International Commercial Court, highlighted that the “big difficulty lies in implementation and enforceability,” especially in commercial disputes.

Adding a global perspective, Orit Asnin, an experienced mediator from Israel with over 6,000 mediations to her credit, described the present moment as a “mediation revolution.” While acknowledging structural challenges, she emphasised that each country must evolve its own approach while preserving the fundamental pillars of mediation—impartiality and confidentiality.

At the domestic level, Senior Advocate and master trainer Sushila Sarathi stressed the importance of recognising mediation as a legitimate tool for grassroots justice. “We cannot deliver justice at the grassroots unless mediation is formally recognised and integrated,” she said, highlighting the gap between policy intent and ground-level implementation.

The conference also explored emerging and complex intersections, ‘the humanness of mediation in the age of AI, resolution of intellectual property disputes, mediation in diplomacy, and the evolving role of lawyers beyond adversarial frameworks’. These discussions reflected a broader shift: from viewing mediation merely as an alternative to litigation, to recognising it as a central pillar of a modern justice system.

International participation added depth to the deliberations, with delegates including Dr Sukhsimranjit Singh, Hon’ble Judge Fernando Hoffmann (Brazil), Hon’ble Judge Vanessa A. Zaahar (Retd., USA), and Orit Asnin (Israel), among others. Their insights reinforced the idea that while legal systems differ, the pursuit of equitable, efficient and humane dispute resolution remains universal.

What emerged clearly from Day Two was that ‘mediation is no longer at the margins’ but ‘it is at the centre of conversations on justice reform’. Yet, the journey ahead demands more than endorsement. It requires structural reform, institutional strengthening, cross-border cooperation, and above all, a cultural shift in how disputes are perceived and resolved.

As the conference progressed, the underlying message remained consistent: achieving the constitutional promise of justice will not come from courts alone, but from a collective reimagining of dispute resolution—one that is accessible, collaborative and humane.

OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS Our sincere gratitude to JAMS and Weinstein International Foundation for their invaluable support and collaboration in making this Conference a truly international platform.

OUR SPEAKERS We extend our deepest appreciation to every speaker, panellist and moderator whose knowledge, experience and thoughtful perspectives enriched the dialogue and made each session impactful.

OUR AUTHORS OF THE BOOK ‘VIKALP’ A special acknowledgement to the authors and contributors to VIKALP, our collection of scholarly articles, released at the inaugural event. Their scholarship and insights add enduring value to the ADR discourse and reflect the breadth and depth of thought within our community.

OUR DELEGATES To every delegate who joined us in New Delhi – thank you. Your presence, participation, questions and conversations gave the Conference its energy and substance. A meaningful Conference is shaped as much by those who engage from the audience as by those on the stage. You were an essential part of this shared experience.

OUR SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS Our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and supporters. Your trust in Maadhyam, generosity and belief in our vision enabled us to create a Conference of this scale and international character. We deeply value your partnership.

OUR MAADHYAM FAMILY Our deepest gratitude to Mr Amarjit Singh Chandhiok, President of Maadhyam for his exceptional stewardship and leadership in transforming an ambitious vision into a memorable reality. To the Maadhyam Team and Volunteers, our sincere appreciation for your dedication, commitment and tireless work behind the scenes.

TO EVERYONE WHO WAS PART OF THIS JOURNEY – THANK YOU. The Conference may have concluded, but the conversations have only begun. We look forward to building on this momentum through new ideas, meaningful collaborations, continued learning and a stronger ADR community in India and across borders. Thank you for making ADR Pathways to Legal Harmony a landmark moment in Maadhyam’s journey.