American Bar Association International Law Section Annual Meeting - "Industry Perspectives on International Mediation: Promise, Pitfalls, and Practical Realities"

Dispute Resolution Track

As international mediation gains traction, corporate adoption remains uneven across sectors and regions. This panel brings together corporate counsel from diverse sectors to discuss how industry dynamics, company culture, and geographic considerations shape the use of mediation in cross-border disputes. Panelists from global media, logistics, and financial institutions will share how they approach mediation within complex international frameworks, from managing cross-border employment and commercial disputes to navigating regulatory and enforcement challenges.

The discussion will explore what drives companies to use mediation, where skepticism persists, and what these experiences reveal about confidence in the rule of law and the evolving culture of dispute resolution worldwide.

Program Co-Chairs:

• Margaret Poppe, International Practice Development Manager, JAMS, Washington, DC
• Melanie Stein, Arbitrator, Mediator & Third-Party Neutral, Princeton Dispute Resolution LLC, Princeton, NJ

Moderator:

• Gilbert K. Squires, P.E., BCS, FCCA, DCIArb, International Arbitrator, Mediator, and Special Magistrate, JAMS, and Former President of Conoco Mexico Ltd. – Miami

Speakers:

• Mario Búcaro, Attorney at Law and Diplomat – Guatemala
• Cherine Foty, Senior Associate, Covington & Burling LLP - In-House Litigation Secondee in the Tech Industry – Washington, DC
• Jessenia Vazcones-Yagual, AVP, Head of Private Company D&O Claims, Sompo – New York