Pepperdine’s Straus Institute Hosts First Mediating the Litigated Case Global Training Program at Château d’Hauteville

From Monday, September 18, to Friday, September 22, 2023, the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Caruso School of Law’s inaugural Mediating the Litigated Case (MLC) global training program brought together 30 participants from 13 different countries to learn timely negotiation and dispute resolution skills. Spanning five days and held at Pepperdine’s historic Château d’Hauteville campus in Blonay - Saint-Légier, Switzerland, the popular training program featured distinguished international faculty from around the world, including the United States, Germany, Israel, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The professional skills program was structured into two comprehensive modules, each delving into the intricacies of advanced mediation. Throughout the training, participants were treated to cutting-edge discussions on mediation, including topics such as the intersection of neuroscience and mediation, investor state mediation, and bias-reduction strategies. Additionally, the program offered a unique opportunity for participants to learn about the mediation process in a format geared specifically toward civil litigators, in-house counsel, and dispute resolution professionals.

“One of the highlights was a trip to the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, providing participants with a firsthand glimpse into the world of global conflict resolution,” shares Helen Winter (LLM ’17), assistant professor of law and practice at Caruso Law. “Attendees raved about both the enriching content and the convivial atmosphere, making the first MLC global training at Chateau d’Hauteville an unforgettable experience that fostered cross-cultural connections and advanced the field of dispute resolution on a global scale.”

The program provided a forum for direct, informal contact with the entire Straus faculty as well as world-renowned negotiation and mediation practitioners, allowing for personalized instruction to ensure a close, dynamic relationship between faculty and participants. With its picturesque and peaceful environment, the Château d’Hauteville enabled attendees to engage in thoughtful and potentially world-changing conversations, helping to refine their negotiation and dispute-resolution skills while advancing their professional development. 

For more than 35 years, the Straus Institute has been at the forefront of teaching dispute resolution and Winter is confident the MLC global training program will continue to make an impact for legal professionals around the world. “Overall the MLC global training in Switzerland was a huge success and we are looking forward to future programs,” she says.