Law Commons^™

Selected Dispute Resolution Bibliography, Shannon Moldaver, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

Included in this bibliography is a selected set of dispute resolution and related professional responsibility and access to justice readings, primarily (although not exclusively) with a general negotiation and mediation focus. This bibliography is not comprehensive. Rather – given the breadth of dispute resolution, legal process, professional responsibility, and access to justice materials available – this bibliography includes a brief sampling of available readings that may be of interest to those studying, practicing, or thinking about dispute resolution.

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea—Towards Access To Justice For Local Communities In Investor-State Arbitration Or Business And Human Rights Arbitration, Akinwumi Ogunranti

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the proposal to adapt international arbitration to business disputes involving human rights (Business and Human Rights Arbitration—BHR arbitration). The BHR Arbitration proposal seeks to give local communities, who are victims of MNCs’ human rights and environmental abuse, access to justice in a specialized international arbitration tribunal— Business and Human Rights Arbitration Tribunal (BHR Arbitration Tribunal). Through a comparison between investor-state Arbitration (ISA) and BHR Arbitration, this paper contends that it is more efficient to reform ISA than to create a BHR Arbitration tribunal. Reforming ISA prevents possible parallel arbitration system that may arise from the …

International Dispute Resolution: International Commercial Arbitration: 2018-19, Hugh Meighen

Osgoode Course Casebooks

Course number: 3007D.03

Who Has Benefited Financially From Investment Treaty Arbitration? An Evaluation Of The Size And Wealth Of Claimants, Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

We collected data on the size and wealth of the foreign investors that have brought claims and received compensation due to ISDS. Our main findings are that the beneficiaries of ISDS, in the aggregate, have overwhelmingly been companies with more than USD1 billion in annual revenue – especially extra-large companies with more than USD10 billion – and individuals with more than USD100 million in net wealth. ISDS has produced monetary benefits primarily for those companies or individuals at the expense of respondent states. Incidentally, we also found that extra-large companies’ success rates in ISDS, especially at the merits stage, exceeded …

Designing Emotional And Psychological Support Into Truth And Reconciliation Commissions, Verlyn F. Francis

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

Truth and reconciliation commissions are a dispute resolution process used to attempt reconciliation of disputants after internal conflicts and civil wars. A large component of this transitional justice process involves truth-telling by perpetrators and victims.

Using the example of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, this article argues that successful reconciliation depends on the design of the process. It is important for the designers of conflict resolution process to balance individual and institutional interests while ensuring all stakeholders are at the design table. Since truth-telling in these circumstances usually involves recalling and testifying about traumatic events, it is important …

Arbitrator Behaviour In Asymmetrical Adjudication (Part Two): An Examination Of Hypotheses Of Bias In Investment Treaty Arbitration, Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article reports on a study of potential systemic bias in the resolution of ambiguous legal issues by investment treaty arbitrators. It outlines tentative but significant findings that the arbitrators in general tended to favour (1) foreign investors over states overall, (2) foreign investors from major Western capital-exporting states over other foreign investors, and, albeit based on more limited data, (3) the United States as a respondent state over other respondent states. The evidence is derived from an extensive content analysis of the arbitrators’ resolution of fourteen legal issues that are contested among arbitrators or in secondary literature. The findings …

Implementation Of Arbitration Decisions In Domestic Law, J. Scott Wilkie

Articles & Book Chapters

Arbitration, even if it seems simply providing for the possibility of arbitration, is increasingly attracting attention as a possible means to discipline the resolution of otherwise potentially intractable international tax controversies concerning the allocation of taxing rights under tax treaties.While perceived, though not without reservation, to be a potential welcome addition to a typical mutual agreement procedure (MAP) patterned on article 25 (“the MAP article”) of the OECD Model Tax Convention on Income and Capital(“the OECD Model”) in the form of article 25(5), other provisions of article 25, notably its “interpretive” and “application,”and “legislative”,aspects and contemplated recourse to a “joint …

Increasing Innovation In Legal Process: The Contribution Of Collaborative Law, Martha Emily Simmons

PhD Dissertations

This dissertation examines the role of innovation in resolving complex disputes, using Collaborative Law as its case study. Innovation, for the purposes of this research, can be defined as applied creativity that leads to optimal resolution for clients. The process of innovation is required to resolve complex problems, which are increasingly prevalent in legal, economic and social spheres. Collaborative Law indeed has the capacity to resolve such issues in the legal realm. Collaborative Law is a process by which parties and their lawyers enter into a binding contract that limits the representation to a facilitative problem-solving process with the intent …

Foreign Investor Protection And Climate Action: A New Price Tag For Urgent Policies, Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

From a climate perspective, not all investment is equal. Desirable investment in clean energy needs encouragement and protection, while undesirable investment in fossil fuels needs clear policy signals to avoid further investment in destructive activities and stranding more assets. In this paper, evidence is presented on how foreign investor protection provisions in trade and investment agreements tilt the playing field in favor of entrenched incumbents and against urgent action on climate; on the potential for a massive expansion of investor-state litigation and risks to climate policy in proposed trade deals; and on key flaws in recent European Commission proposals to …

The Icsid Under Siege: Unasur And The Rise Of A Hybrid Regime For International Investment Arbitration, Kendall Grant

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

The legitimacy and effectiveness of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) — a dispute resolution body established in 1966 under the auspices of the World Bank — is a matter of spirited debate. It has been argued by some that ICSID’s ideological and procedural bias impedes fairness and by others that its complexity and cost restrict access to justice; many contend that the absence of an appeal process has exacerbated uncertainty and unpredictability. In 2009, in the wake of rampant dissatisfaction and ideological challenge, especially on the part of Latin American states, Ecuador proposed the creation of …

Notes On The German Economy And Energy Ministry's Proposal For Reformed Investor-State Dispute Settlement (Isds), Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

These notes provide a general reaction to a proposal by the German economy and energy ministry for ISDS in a treaty between Europe and the U.S. Overall, the proposal takes only a minority of the steps needed to make ISDS independent, fair, open, subsidiary, and balanced. I suggest that the appropriate approach remains to reject ISDS in new treaties (especially among Western developed countries). The proposal would be a good starting point for replacing ISDS in existing treaties with developing or transition countries – but that is clearly not its purpose.

A Parade Of Reforms: The European Commission's Latest Proposal For Isds, Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

The European Commission's most recent proposal for ISDS reflects a move away from essentially fake reforms to something potentially more meaningful. However, it is insufficient to satisfy the criteria of independence, fairness, openness, subsidiarity, and balance and does not appear reliable until backed by clear language and a negotiating red line for the proposed Canada-Europe CETA and any other agreement providing for ISDS.

The European Commission's Push To Consolidate And Expand Isds: An Assessment Of The Proposed Canada-Europe Ceta And Europe-Singapore Fta, Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Legal Studies Research Paper Series

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the European Commission’s approach to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) in the proposed CETA with Canada and FTA with Singapore. The text on ISDS in both agreements is evaluated according to general criteria of independence, fairness, openness, and balance. The main conclusion reached is that there is no significant difference between the CETA and FTA when it comes to ISDS. With the qualified exception of the criterion of openness, both agreements fall well short of satisfying the criteria. As such, neither agreement offers a significant improvement on the U.S. model of ISDS and, …

“A Different Day In Court”: Exploring The Place Of Judicial Mediation In Ontario’S Alternative Dispute Resolution Landscape, Nicole Aylwin, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

In January 2011, the Ontario Bar Association established a taskforce to explore the question of how judicial dispute resolution could improve access to justice in Ontario. In their recently released final report, the taskforce offers some compelling conclusions. In particular, the report recommends that JDR be formally recognised as part of the alternative dispute resolution options available in Ontario since it would provide litigants the opportunity to receive their “day in court” without the necessity of a costly trial.This article elaborates on the findings of the report and places them within the larger context of current research and Canadian policy …

Arbitrator Behaviour In Asymmetrical Adjudication: An Empirical Study Of Investment Treaty Arbitration, Gus Van Harten

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

The study examines arbitrator behaviour in the unique context of investment treaty arbitration. It employs the method of content analysis to test hypotheses of systemic bias in the resolution of jurisdictional issues in investment treaty law. Unlike earlier studies, the study examines trends in legal interpretation instead of case outcomes and finds statistically significant evidence that arbitrators favour: (1) the position of claimants over respondent states and (2) the position of claimants from major Western capital-exporting states over claimants from other states. There is a range of possible explanations for the results and further inferences are required to connect the …

Public Justice, Private Dispute Resolution And Democracy, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Comparative Research in Law & Political Economy

This paper is about the widespread and systematic privatization of the public civil justice system. In particular, it: (1) documents the move to privatize civil disputes across all aspects of the justice system (including courts, administrative tribunals and state-sanctioned arbitration regimes), (2) looks at some of the benefits and drawbacks of privatization, specifically including negative impacts on systems of democratic governance, and (3) identifies justice - rather than efficiency - as the primary benchmark by which civil justice reform initiatives should be judged.

An Introduction To Representative Negotiation, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Whither Community Justice?: The Rise Of Court-Connected Mediation In The United States, Colleen M. Hanycz

Articles & Book Chapters

This paper traces the development of mediation in the United States along two distinct paths: the court-connected paradigm and the community justice paradigm. In the former, as a child of the labour arbitration movement, the link between mediation and the law appears to have been forged at conception. In the latter, we see two distinct branches: the 'Community Mediation Center' model and the neighborhood Justice Center' model. Of those illustrations of community justice, only the first has been strongly connected to the law and legal institutions, while the second strand has retained its institutional independence. These neighbourhood justice centres appear …

Re-Framing The Sharia Arbitration Debate, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

This article is a response to Mr. McGuinty regarding his response to religious arbitration in the province of Ontario. First, the issue is not about simply prohibiting religious tribunals. Second, it is not only an Ontario issue. Third, it is not necessarily even a Sharia (or religion) issue. This article focuses on these three problems.

Privatizing Our Public Civil Justice System, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Dispute Resolution And Legal Education: A Bibliography, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

No abstract provided.

Dispute Resolution, Access To Civil Justice And Legal Education, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

This article examines current dispute resolution teaching and research programs in the context of improving access to justice through recent civil justice reform initiatives. Animated by extensive domestic and international literature, online and survey-based research, the article explores the landscape of alternative dispute resolution education (primarily at law schools), comments on the need for continued thinking and reform and acts as a leading resource to assist in the ongoing, collaborative development of dispute resolution initiatives in legal education in Canada and abroad.

Thinking About Dispute Resolution, Trevor C. W. Farrow

Articles & Book Chapters

This is a review of Julie Macfarlane et al., eds. Dispute Resolution: Readings and Case Studies. 2nd ed. Toronto: Emond Montgomery, 2003.

Mediating Ethically: The Limits Of Codes Of Conduct And The Potential Of A Reflective Practice Model, Julie Macfarlane

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

Discussions regarding the appropriate ethical behaviours for mediators and the subsequent development of formal codes of conduct have focused on hallmark issues such as third party impartiality and party self-determination. However, in an informal process, ethical choices are inherent in every intervention made by a mediator. In adopting the standard-setting approach of an adjudicative model, mediator codes of conduct are a poor fit with the conceptual and structural characteristics of this fluid, uncertain, and essentially private process. Confining the substantive and conceptual debate over mediation ethics to formal codes dangerously underestimates both the scope and the significance of choices faced …

Class Actions As Alternative Dispute Resolution, John C. Kleefeld

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article situates the action in ADR theory by viewing it as a hybrid process that draws on both the command and consensus portions of a rational dispute resolution continuum. Class action legislation does this in a number of ways, the most important being the scope it gives to courts to approve or disapprove class settlements that have been privately negotiated by defence and class counsel. The rationale is to protect the interests of absent class members and ensure that the legislative goals of class actions-access to justice, judicial economy and behaviour modification-are well served. Class actions can thereby render …

Defending The Weak And Fighting Unfairness: Can Mediators Respond To The Challenge?, Michael Coyle

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

As mediation gains in popularity as a tool for resolving civil disputes, and particularly as a substitute for court decisions, some have questioned mediation's ability to assure fairness of process and outcome. Others have argued that the main strength of mediation lies in the power it gives the parties to invent their own approach to resolving their dispute, leaving little room for mediators to impose their own notions of fairness on the process. This article examines the extent to which mediators have an obligation to address issues of fairness in the processes they manage. Through a functional and context-based analysis …

Would Adr Have Saved Romeo And Juliet?, Pam Marshall

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

Like many disputes, Romeo and Juliet is a story with no winners; the outcome is destined to be lose-lose. Disputes are an inevitable part of human interaction and people need to learn effective and reasonable ways of dealing with their disputes. The question is how can this be done in a way that leaves people intact. The article compares and contrasts two modes for resolving disputes: adjudication and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The article looks at what happens when disputes arise-how do problems become "disputes" and what do people do about them? The role of lawyers as dispute creators as …

Conciliation Des Litiges Et Formes Alternatives De Régulation En Droit Administratif Fédéral, France Houle, Daniel Mockle

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

Despite the considerable attention devoted to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Canada, few studies are available on its impact in public law, especially in federal administrative law. Yet, there is much evidence that these techniques are increasingly used and it is therefore timely to catalogue and classify them. To this end, a distinction is drawn between dispute resolution techniques used for transactional purposes and those used for regulatory purposes. This classification provides the basis for a theoretical analysis which focuses on public law and raises questions generally neglected in the existing literature concerning ADR: the particular nature of federal law, …

Protecting The Confidentiality Of Communications In Mediation, Owen V. Gray

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

This article explores the justifications for protecting mediation communications from disclosure. It reviews the existing legal protections for mediated dispute settlement discussions. The major issues that seem to arise when statutory reform is considered are identified, and a recent study of the issue by the Manitoba Law Reform Commission is described and critiqued. The author argues that a distinction should be made between circumstances in which a party is required or permitted to testify about what took place in mediation, and circumstances in which the mediator may be required to do so. He suggests that mere extension to mediation of …

Why Arbitrate?: Ontario's Recent Experience With Commercial Arbitration, Randy A. Pepper

Osgoode Hall Law Journal

In 1988, Ontario adopted the International Commercial Arbitration Act and in January 1992 the Arbitration Act, 1991 came into force for domestic arbitrations. These statutes and similar legislation in other provinces pushed Canadian arbitration regimes into the forefront of industrial nations. However, there has not been a significant increase in the number of commercial arbitrations being conducted in Ontario. This article suggests that Ontario is ideally placed to become an important centre for domestic and international arbitration. The author asserts that if commercial parties and their counsel were more familiar with the benefits of the arbitral process and with the …