Post by The Bar of Ireland

Are we witnessing a fundamental shift in how disputes are resolved?   On Friday, The Bar of Ireland’s 2026 Mediation Conference at the Dublin Dispute Resolution Centre (DDRC) examined the expanding role of mediation across civil justice.   Across sessions covering probate, medical negligence, family and commercial disputes, a clear theme arose: mediation is becoming increasingly central feature of modern dispute resolution.   Panels including ‘The March to Mainstream’, the rapid-fire session on developments across sectors, and the judicial discussion highlighted recent shifts in attitudes and perceptions towards mediation from a range of perspectives.   Sincere thanks to all speakers and moderators, our judicial panel, and the Arbitration and ADR Committee for their work in organising this conference. Special thanks to the conference supporters: DX, Fairstone Ireland, JJ Rhatigan & Company, Keith Walsh Solicitors LLP, LEAP Legal Software and Mason Hayes & Curran LLP.