ADR BOARD REPORT
Home ADR Board Report 2020-21
Associate Director: Asst. Prof. Priyanka Shet
Advisory Committee: Dr. M.R.K Prasad
Dr. Sandhya Ram S.A.
Dr. B.S.Patil
The ADR Board was initiated with the aim of inculcating among law students, the amicable settlement approach rather than the adversarial approach towards the client’s issues. The students are expected to learn the purpose, skill and techniques of the alternative dispute resolution methods like Negotiation, Mediation, Conciliation, etc. The membership of the board is the outcome of a rigorous screening procedure from amongst the numerous interested students. The Members once selected, are trained in the ADR techniques through orientation and experience sharing sessions. These members represent the college in various National as well as International ADR competitions. The Board also conducts client counseling orientations and training for the competitions. This year the members of the Board have made us proud by winning the most prestigious Competitions, National as well as International. The Board is also instrumental in hosting ‘Lex Infinitum’, the International Dispute Resolution Competition every year.
The MOU
(i) VMSCL-AIDR Partnership
We have entered into an MOU with the AIDR (Association for International Dispute Resolution) headed by Thomas Valenti, (attorney from USA), Mr.Tanmay Pandey and Mr.Harshit Pandey. This MOU is mainly for the purpose of conducting Lex Infinitum and also other sessions for ADR. The MOU is operative for a period of 2 years (2020-21 & 2021-22).
(ii) VMSCL- Mediator Academy Partnership
We entered into an MOU with the Mediator Academy, London, UK in July 2021. The purpose is to provide online educational opportunities to our students as well as other students registered with us to do a Mediation Certificate Course.
Selection to ADR Board
The members of the Board are selected each year through a rigorous screening procedure which requires them to participate in a negotiation session with other participants. This year due to the difficulty which the pandemic has posed, the Board had to rethink and innovate the process of selection. There were consultations held with the Advisory Committee as well as existing Board members regarding the process of ADR selection keeping in mind the need to adapt to the recent times. It was thereby decided to have the selection process online.
(i) Notice and Registration
Notice was issued on 22-09-2020 announcing the selection rounds dates and seeking registration from the interested students by posting google form for the purpose of seeking information including their name, class, contact details, email ids, whether selected to Board in previous year, etc. Registration was kept open till 30.09.2020. The selection rounds were open for all the classes except the F.Y.B.A. LL.B. Total of 92 students registered for the selection rounds.
(ii) Problem for Selection
The problem for the Selection round was communicated to the participants through their email ids as well as in class watsapp group. The title of the problem was “Size Does Matter” and it was a negotiation between Amit Bhusulu and Shyam Tari. The Problem was framed by Prof. Dr. M.R.K.Prasad and Dr. B.S. Patil.
(iii) Exemption
Keeping into consideration the changed circumstances, the Board adopted a different policy of exemption this year. All those students who were members of the Board in the previous year and were interested in continuing with membership, were exempted from selection rounds for this year.
(iv) Training/Orientation
Training for the students who registered for selection rounds was conducted on 10-10-2020 by Prof. M.R.K. Prasad and Dr.B.S.Patil. This was done through googlemeet. The students were trained about the process of negotiation, its types and the format of the selection. They were also informed about the judging criterion which was based on identification of interest, Relationship building and problem solving, Building Confidence, Mutually generating creative options and legitimizing it, Professionalism and Effective Negotiation Skills. A watsapp group of participants was also formed for further communication.
(v) Assessors for the Selection round.
There were 7 assessors for the selection round; 4 practicing advocates (Adv.Sydney Cardozo, Adv. Bernard D’souza, Adv.Jayant Karn, Adv.Elton Furtado) and 3 faculty members (Prof. M.R.K.Prasad, Ms. Pearl Monteiro and Mr.Aamod Shirali). Orientation was held through google meet on 29th Oct to brief the judges about the schedule and discuss the judging criterion. All the relevant details including problem, judging criterion, schedule, etc was communicated to the judges through a watsapp group created for Assessors.
(vi) Selection Round
Selection rounds of the ADR Board were a trial round for Lex Infinitum which would be held in Feb 2021. Therefore, the Organising Committee members were put in charge of conducting the online process of selection. Selection round was held on 30.10. 2020 in which 42 students participated. There were a total of seven Judges assessing students in two to three sessions each. There were 2 CI rooms created and 7 google meet links for selection rounds. 4 back up students were used to fill in vacant slots due to loss of connectivity, etc. A total of 18 students were selected and results were displayed on the college website and sent to the class whatsapp group on 02.11.2020. ADR Board comprised of a total of 65 students including newly selected students.
Following students are selected to the ADR BOARD for the academic year 2020-21
| SR.NO | NAME | CLASS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gautami Rajendra Kamat | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 2. | Eshaan Patil | Second Year BA LL.B (A) |
| 3. | Simran Khadilkar | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 4. | Pushkar Narayan Navti. | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 5. | Riya Amonkar | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 6. | Gloria Judy D'souza | Third Year BA LL. B |
| 7. | Anish V Pai | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 8. | Vibhuti Sirsat | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 9. | Vidhi Desai | Second Year LL.B |
| 10. | Anant Negi | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 11. | Shrinjan Ghosh | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 12. | Meera Manoj Bhandankar | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 13. | Shalaka Sanjay Dhavalikar | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 14. | Divyabharati Naidu | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 15. | Sharlene Fernandes | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 16. | Joshua Camilo Noronha Dias | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 17. | Kartik Panchal | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 18. | Angelica Mercia Pinto | Third Year BA LL.B |
Following students continued as members from the previous year.
| Sr.No. | Name | Class |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Akshada Bharne | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 2. | Gabe Mendes | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 3. | Rashmi Viegas | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 4. | Isha Saglani | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 5. | Aneefa D | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 6. | Shivani Nadkarni | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 7. | Sanaya Monteiro | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 8. | Shamita Nadkarni | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 9. | Rajiv Mendonca | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 10. | Shreya Raikar | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 11. | Vaibhavi Kanekar | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 12. | Shruti Tilve | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 13. | Dhru Dhawan | First Year BA LL.B |
| 14. | Siddhant Shetye | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 15. | Om D’Costa | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 16. | Poojangi Kharbe | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 17. | Vasudev Salkar | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 18. | Aashna Pathak | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 19. | Meryl Vaz | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 20. | Ruchika Birje | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 21. | Samuel Pereira | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 22. | Veda Kerkar | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 23. | Rizzio Noronha | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 24. | Angelica Moneiro | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 25. | Tabita Souto | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 26. | Yash Naik | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 27. | Jonathan Correa | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 28. | Sherwyn Correia | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 29. | Herrah Baretto | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 30. | Aloka Naik | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 31. | Vrutika Prabhu | Second Year LL.B Degree |
| 32. | Savio Travasso | Second Year LL.B Degree |
| 33. | Vishesh K | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 34. | Sachin Panicker | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 35. | Dania Shaikh | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 36. | Manasi Kamat | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 37. | Samuel Fernandes | Second Year BA LL.B |
| 38. | Rhea Almeida | Third Year BA LL.B |
| 39. | Shivani Nazare | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 40. | Rashmita Monserrate | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 41. | Anusha Almeida | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 42. | Sanjana Kakodkar | Fourth Year BA LL.B |
| 43. | Komal Mathur | Third Year BA LL.B |
Achievements in Competitions
| Sr. No. | Name | Competition | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dania Shaik Rashmi Viegas Simran Khadilkar | Online National Mediation Competition by KLE Society’s KLE College of law, Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai organised in Feb 2021. | Best Negotiating Team Award |
| 2. | Mr.Savio Travasso | Online National Mediation Competition by KLE Society’s KLE College of law, Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai organised in Feb 2021. | Best Mediator for the Preliminary Round |
| 3. | Nikhil Araujo | KLE College of Law National Client Counselling Competition Navi Mumbai conducted in March 2021. | 'Best Male Counsel in Semi Final Rounds' |
Participation in Competition
| Sr. No. | Name | Competition | Stage qualified |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sharlene Fernandes Shalaka Davalikar Eshaan Patil | JLU, 1ST INTERNATIONAL ONLINE MEDIATION TOURNAMENT 2021 organised by Jagran Lake city University, Bhopal Participated in the from 23rd -25th April 2021 | The team qualified till the preliminary round. |
| 2. | Vishesh Kulkarni | NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law's National Mediation Tournament on 13th of February 2021 | Quarter Final round of the competition |
| 3. | Shivani Nazaré Dania Sheikh Shrinjan Ghosh Nikhil Araujo | KLE College of Law National Client Counselling Competition, Navi Mumbai, 12-13 March '21 | Semi Final Round |
| 4. | Rhea Almeida, Om D'Costa, Anant Nagi | 3rd NUJS Mediation Competition 2021 Dates - 7th, 8th and 9th May 2021 | Preliminary Rounds Awards - Ex Curia International Spirit of the Competition Award |
| 5. | Veda Kerkar Kartik Panchal | (Negotiation) NLSIU | VII National Law School – Negotiation, Mediation and Client Counselling Competition (VII NLS NMC) 28th APRIL - 02 MAY, 2021 | PRELIMINARY |
| 6. | Dania Shaik, Rashmi Viegas Simran Khadilkar | Online National Mediation Competition by KLE Society’s KLE College of Law, Navi Mumbai Date - Feb 27th - 28th (2021) | Level Qualified - Finals (Won the finals) |
| 7. | Ruchika Birje Dhruv Dhawan Yash Yogesh Naik | Madyasthan UPES ADR Fest 2021 3rd National Mediation Competition UPES 25th to 28th February 2021 | Preliminary Round) |
| 8. | Samuel Fernades and Vasudev Salkar | NLSIU ( VII NLS NMC) Client Counsel Mediation segment | Quarter finals. |
| 9 | Shalaka Dhavalikar Gautami Kamat | Madhyastham UPES ADR Fest 2021, National Negotiation Competition Date: 25th - 28th February, 2021 | Semi-final Round |
| 10. | Sanaya Monteiro Vibhuti Sirsat | Mediate Guru's 1st International Mediation Competition | Preliminary round |
ADR Practical Paper
Training for Negotiation was given to the B.A.LL.B final year students by Dr. B.S.Patil during the regular ADR lectures. Training was conducted for T.Y. LL.B Degree by Prof. Dr. M.R.K Prasad and Dr. B.S.Patil in the month of June. This year due to Pandemic, it was not feasible to conduct actual negotiation sessions in college. It was therefore decided to give two problems for negotiation. These were the same problems as used for Lex Infinitum 2021. Also the Youtube link for viewing the final round of Lex Infinitum was sent to the students for the purpose of practice. The written assignment was assessed during the viva conducted on 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th of July 2021.
Lex Infinitum 2021- Knowledge Session.
Knowledge Sessions were initiated by the ADR Board, in order to spread awareness and training about the negotiation – mediation process in a capsule form. On account of the Covid – 19 pandemic, the knowledge sessions were held on the zoom platform. The sessions were spread over a three-day slot from 18th to 20th February 2021, and had a galaxy of six internationally renowned resource persons. A total of seventy-one participants, from all over the world registered for the same.
Knowledge Session Day 1 (18.02.2021)
1. Catherine Davidson
The Knowledge Sessions for the year 2021 kicked off with a session by Catherine Davidson, a trained and certified from Australia. She began her session for the day by showing everyone the diamond model of mediation. She further went on to state the importance of a mediator’s opening statement and how it should provide structure to the session and let the parties know that they are in safe hands, talk about time constraints of any and she also talked about the importance of note taking during the session.
2. Charles LaFond
The second session on Day 1 was by Charles LaFond, an Austrian trained and certified mediator. He focused on the basic structure of mediation. He talked about one off deals in mediation. He also gave real life examples and integrated them into his session. He moved onto the styles of mediation and how to establish stability in an unstable environment. He taught us how to prepare for a negotiation process, how to set your agenda and how to clarify your agenda. He emphasised how information is important and how one must start to explore and share information to build trust and a rapport.
Knowledge Session Day 2 (19.02.2021)
1. Josephine Reyes
Day 2 of the knowledge sessions began with an informative session by Josephine Reyes. She talked about effective communication and online communication skills given that nowadays mostly everything is now online. Josephine started her session with a successful Q/A session after which she started talking about the advantages of online mediation like how it saves a lot of money or how it’s useful in cases where there’s a large power imbalance or in hostile cases. Mediation from home is useful as the parties are in familiar surroundings which are soothing. She explained the concept of shuttle mediation and told us how online mediation isn’t a new thing and has actually been practiced for a long time along with over a call or telephone mediation. She mentioned how empathy and rapport building is difficult online as it’s difficult to read a person via a screen. She concluded her session with the topic of active listening. She ended her session with another Q/A session.
2. Gregory Bond
The second session on the second day was taken up by Gregory Bond from the United Kingdom. He spoke about information gathering and how it is an interesting concept. He talked about how information gathering must be done in a mediation session. He went on to discuss the difference between mediation and litigation and how it’s voluntary and how it’s not conducted under an oath and doesn’t consist of any kind of cross examination. He went on to speak about what kind of information you gather from your clients and what is going throughout the information gathering process like determining the strength of their case, weaknesses of their case and whether they can afford it. He mentioned the importance of showing genuine interest in your client and asking genuine questions and that respecting the client’s autonomy is a must. “Gathering information is an art, ” Gregory said. He concluded his session with a Q/A session.
Knowledge Session Day 3 (20.02.2021)
1. Thomas Valenti
The final day of the Knowledge Sessions kicked off with a session by the one and only Thomas Valenti, who spoke on what’s working what’s not in a mediation session. “Don’t blame others and see what’s not working”, said Thomas. He iscussed the critical elements of a mediation session like gathering information, talking about time constraints and deadlines, and how to build positive communication skills by examining, concentrating, asking and summarising.
2. Damali Peterman
The final Knowledge Session for the year 2021 was conducted by Damali Peterman whose topic was precautions of settlement agreements. Damali conducted a very informative session in which she explained how one can draft a settlement agreement and what are the Do’s and Don’ts while doing so. “Settlement agreements should be appealing, accurate, do-able and precise” said Damali, who conducted a very interactive session and ended her session with a very interesting Q/A session.
