Our mission is to help policymakers in this country and abroad install ADR soundly in the public sector, academia, and in legal practice. For more information on how to support or get involved with this work, contact Helena Tavares Erickson at herickson@cpradr.org.
In 2010-11, CPR’s Public Policy Projects focused on the following areas:
Commission on Facilities for the Resolution of Mass Claims
Corporate entities facing mass litigation and their law firms, victims’ counsel, neutrals involved in facilities settlements, and resolutions, as well as government agencies have a very strong interest in and need to ensure that distribution systems are most efficient and equitable.
In response, CPR has launched a Commission on Facilities for the Resolution of Mass Claims. Kenneth R. Feinberg of The Feinberg Group acts as Chair and Deborah E. Greenspan of Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky, serves as Reporter for the Commission. Mr. Feinberg and Ms. Greenspan are, respectively, the former Special Master and Deputy Special Master for the September 11 Victims’ Compensation Fund Program, designated by Congress to provide families of victims alternatives to litigation. Mr. Feinberg also serves as the Obama Administration's "Pay Czar" and as the administrator of the BP Independent Claims Facility (ICF) for claims in connection with the BP oil spill.
Led by counsel, academics, neutrals, and experts on complex claims management, the CPR Commission will draw upon their rich and varied experience to develop meaningful guidelines for managing and resolving mass claims of different kinds. The ultimate goal of the Commission is to develop a book that the CPR Institute will publish as part of its Master Guide Series: Better Solutions for Business. The book will provide a roadmap for determining who is entitled to receive money and guidelines for implementing the distribution. >more
CPR Academic Project
CPR is committed to communicating the best and most innovative dispute resolution ideas and theories from academic leadership to the CPR membership of corporate general counsel, partners in leading law firms, judges, and public sector leaders.
CPR’s Objectives:
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Bridge the perceived divide between theory and practice
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Build the best of dispute resolution theory into the mainstream of law practice and dispute resolution design
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Ensure that theorists and researchers understand the realities of real-world problem-solving
This dialogue has particular importance at this time, as more and larger private and public ADR systems are being developed to handle growing segments of legal, business, environmental, and public disputes.
Academic Contributions: Under the CPR Academic Project, legal educators are routinely involved in CPR projects and in meetings of its various industry practice groups. Academics contribute to the revisions of CPR publications and rules, and serve as faculty at CPR meetings and trainings.
Law Student Intern Program: As part of its academic project, CPR has an ongoing Law Student Intern Program, which draws students from a variety of law schools. Under the mentoring of CPR senior staff, the students assist in cutting-edge projects and publications. Recent projects have included web articles on the Kagan Hearings, the Arbitration Fairness Act and Supreme Court cases. >become an intern
CPR Judicial Project
Since its inception in 1985, the CPR Judicial Project has assisted the judiciary, policymakers, and counsel make sound decisions concerning ADR and the public justice system in the United States and internationally. Judges are invited to contribute their expertise to CPR Committees and events. As part of the Judicial Project, CPR participates in the annual Mediation Settlement Day for the New York State Courts and regularly runs ADR training programs for court mediators.
Eastern European Delegation
In August 2011, CPR hosted a U.S. State Department sponsored delegation of attorneys from the Eastern European nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and the Kyrgyz Republic who were studying U.S. approaches to managing conflict.
Russian Delegation
In July 2010, CPR hosted a delegation of Russian academic and business leaders who were studying ADR usage in the U.S.
Neutral Pro-Bono Project
CPR is currently recruiting neutrals who would be willing to serve as pro-bono neutrals in disputes on public policy issues. Contact Helena Tavares Erickson at herickson@cpradr.org.
PAST PROJECTS
- Croatia Mediation Assistance Project
CPR spearheaded the provision of training, consultation, written instruction materials, and other resources on how to design, implement, and operate nationally indigenous Croatian commercial mediation centers.
- Chinese Delegations
In 2007 and 2008, CPR hosted a group of third party neutrals and judges from the Wuhan and Ningbo Provinces of China.
- Egyptian Delegation
In 2007, CPR hosted a delegation of Egyptian judges seeking information on court annexed mediation structures.
- Japanese Delegation
In 2006, together with Employment Disputes Committee Chair, Jay Waks of Kaye Scholer, CPR hosted a delegation of Japanese government officials and academics who are studying the use of ADR and ombuds programs to resolve employment disputes.
- East Indian Delegation
In August 2005, CPR hosted a delegation of Indian business leaders and government officials. CPR taught them about the use of mediation in the U.S. and its applications in the business sector.
- Czech Republic Gathering
In October 2005, CPR participated in a presentation organized by CPR member Northrop Grumman on ADR in the Czech Republic. Participants discussed how ADR may be more effectively deployed in the Czech business community.
- CPR Hosting of European Judicial Officials
In the fall of 2005, CPR hosted a meeting of European judicial officials led by Lord Woolf of Barnes, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. This group investigated best practices in mediation across European borders.
- Case Study of a Settlement Model
In 2004, CPR, in conjunction with Fordham University School of Law and its Program on Conflict Resolution and ADR, initiated a case study of a settlement model used for a major employment discrimination class action. Funding was provided by a federal district court for the case study.