Straus Conference on Business, Conflict around Globe Receives Rave Reviews
"Probably the most uniformly excellent cast of speakers we have ever had." –Thomas Stipanowich, Academic Director of the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, William H. Webster Chair in Dispute Resolution, Professor of Law
"Every detail of the conference, from speaker selection to presentation timing, was perfectly designed and executed" –Randall Kiser, conference participant
"I enjoyed and profited from the entire event very much." – Pietro Brambilla, Daimler, conference participant
November 11, 2015 -- Nearly 150 practitioners, experts, and students gathered in Malibu,
California, this week for the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution's "Managing
Conflict 4.0: The New Wave of Opportunities for Businesses Around the Globe." Participants
and organizers alike described the two-day conference as a uniquely effective event,
even for an institute that hosts trainings and conferences around the year and across
the globe. Nearly all of the twelve speakers – from companies and organizations ranging
from American Express and Monsanto to the International Red Cross – expressed interest
in opportunities to return or work with the institute again.
The conference, held November 9-10 at the Drescher Conference Center on Pepperdine
University's Malibu Campus, brought together corporate and public leaders, scholars,
and creative thinkers to share insights about handling and leveraging conflict between
and within organizations, particularly in a global context. KPMG Law Germany was the
co-sponsor for the program, and Stipanowich along with Alexander Insam, Partner, KPMG
& KPMG Law Germany, co-planned the conference. Other co-sponsors included Aon, College
of Commercial Arbitrators, International Institute for Conflict Prevention & Resolution,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Germany, and German-American Chambers of Commerce.
The speakers "spoke about cutting edge developments, and usually spoke from personal
involvement," says Stipanowich. "Our students were treated to a truly unique array
of insights into where we are going in the conflict management field."
A highlight of the conference for graduate students was the variety of networking opportunities built into the event. Speakers and LLM and MDR (Masters in Dispute Resolution) students were able to connect at a Sunday reception preceding the event, two dinners, and a Tuesday afternoon "Community of Thinkers" workshop. The workshop, which included participants who came from as far as Europe for the express purpose of participating in the unique session, developed ideas for initiatives in international conflict management, including potential directions for new Straus Institute initiatives.
"The conference was a true success and I am excited to see where all the great ideas
that were presented will lead us in terms of academic work," says Canadian law professor
and Straus Institute alumna Véronique Fraser. "We are all leaving the conference with
newly energized minds and ideas."
Learn more
The conference was a collaboration with Pepperdine School of Law's Dispute Resolution Law Journal, which is developing much of the conference's content into material for publication. The conference was also recorded, and organizers expect the video to be available online soon.
For updates and more information, you may follow Pepperdine Law online:
The conference website will also remain available for a limited time.
About the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution
The Straus Institute has long been recognized as the best dispute resolution program in the world, including appearing at the top of U.S. News & World Report's rankings for the last eleven consecutive years. In the nearly three decades since its founding, the Straus Institute has developed a broad, deep curriculum that serves emerging lawyers, mid-year career professionals, and religious and community leaders alike. The faculty includes full-time teachers, scholars, and practitioners from throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, and Europe.
About Pepperdine School of Law
Pepperdine School of Law, founded in 1964 and located in Malibu, California, is committed to serving students by preparing them for lives of purpose, service, and leadership in a rapidly changing legal environment. Pepperdine Law provides highly qualified students with a superior legal education through a combination of rigorous academic programs, meaningful interaction with faculty, and extensive clinical and experiential opportunities. The school prepares students for positions as counselors, advocates, and judges; as business persons; and as researchers, teachers, and philosophers of the law. On the web: https://law.pepperdine.edu
Contact
Tom Inkel
Director of Communications
Pepperdine School of Law
310-506-4492
thomas.inkel@pepperdine.edu
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