Organized by the Georgian Bar Association and supported by the U.S. Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), the first session of the certified course “Summer School: Representation in Mediation 2026” was held.

The participants were welcomed by the Chairman of the Georgian Bar Association, Irakli Kandashvili, and CLDP International Programs Specialist, Ivan Gubarev.

The three-day training session was led by local and international experts Irakli Kandashvili, Pete Swanson, and Simona Frumen.

During the course, participants, together with the experts, explored the fundamentals of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), the core principles of mediation, the practice of drafting effective mediation clauses, the role of lawyers at various stages of the mediation process, and strategies and preparation for mediation, including BATNA and WATNA assessment and effective client communication. The program also covered the specific features of commercial and investment mediation, techniques for preparing opening statements, legal issues, and other important practical topics.

The second session of the “Summer School: Representation in Mediation 2026” will be held on June 28–30.

The project aims to deepen both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of newly admitted lawyers and participants of the Professional Adaptation Program in the field of mediation, enabling them to make more effective use of mediation opportunities in their professional practice.