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​SYAR Online Mediation Training Programme, 2026 



The SYAR Online Mediation Training Programme 2026 in collaboration with American Academy of ADR Attorneys, Dentons Link Legal and Presolv360. It is a three-day intensive online training designed to convert knowledge into practised mediation skill. Built around commercial mediation, it moves participants from all the fields to understand the fundamentals of conflict and interest-based negotiation through to mediation advocacy, the drafting of settlement agreements, and the conduct of a complete mediation from opening statement to signature.

The curriculum follows internationally recognised mediation training standards and is delivered by practitioners, mediation trainers, mediation counsel and ADR experts. Emphasis falls on practical skill development, ethical conduct, communication, negotiation and settlement drafting.

Learning is deliberately experiential. Sessions combine lectures and live demonstrations with guided role-play, case studies and full mediation simulations conducted in breakout rooms, where participants are assigned roles as Mediator, Party and Observer and receive personalised expert feedback.

Participants also work through a dedicated drafting session covering the agreement to mediate, the mediation brief, the confidential mediation statement and the mediated settlement agreement.

With the cohort capped at thirty-five, every participant receives individual attention, direct professional feedback and genuine access to the faculty.

Expert Trainers- 

Kathleen Ruane Leedy

Session I — Understanding Conflict, Interests, Positions & the Fundamentals of Mediation

She is a certified mediator and global mediation trainer with roots dating back to 2008 at the Justice Center of Atlanta, Inc., an institution established under President Jimmy Carter's initiative, and at MWI in Boston, MA. Her professional journey spans 18 years and includes more than 500 hours of specialized training in civil, elder, family, and divorce mediation across seven states. She has facilitated over 1,000 court and private practice cases and have taught the mandatory 40-Hour Basic Mediation course since 2017, now in 20 U.S. states and international jurisdictions. 

Simona Frumen

Session II — Communication and Other Relevant Skills for Mediators

She is an internationally recognised mediator, mediation trainer, executive coach and conflict management expert from Slovenia. With more than 20 years of experience and over 500 mediations, she supports leaders, organisations and professionals in resolving complex disputes and strengthening communication. She regularly delivers mediation and conflict resolution training across Europe and internationally, combining practical expertise with interactive, experience-based learning.

Prerna Kholi 

Session III — The Pre-Mediation Phase: Preparation and Planning

She is one of the Founding Partners of the Zeus Law Firm. She is a highly skilled and accomplished attorney specializing in Dispute Resolution, with a focus on mediation and conciliation. With over 30 years of experience, she possesses extensive knowledge in mediation and regulatory matters. Alongside leading the Mediation and Conciliation practice vertical, she is also spearheading the Overseas Indian Desk of the Firm.

Anisha Sharma 

Session IV — The Mediation Process: From Opening to Settlement

She is an Indian Advocate and internationally accredited dispute
resolution professional specialising in arbitration, mediation and online dispute resolution.
She is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb), CEDR Accredited
Mediator, IMI Qualified Mediator, SIMI Level 1 Mediator and serves as a Reserve Mediator
with the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Malaysia. Her work is driven by a
commitment to advancing accessible and effective dispute resolution in an increasingly

global legal landscape.

Shravan Yammanur

Session V — Mediation Advocacy

He is an Advocate-on-Record of the Supreme Court of India, Shravan has successfully represented clients in high-stakes disputes before the Supreme Court and High Courts, handling complex legal issues with commercial and strategic significance. He is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UK) as an Evaluative Mediator and has been recognized as a Future Legal Leader 2026 by the Indian Business Law Journal.

Speaker- To be Decided 

Session VI — Advanced Mediation Techniques & Drafting Settlement Agreements

Vaibhavi Khuthia

Session VII — Online Dispute Resolution (ODR): Emerging Opportunities in Mediation

She is a lawyer based in Mumbai, specialising in mediation, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), and conflict resolution. She holds a Master’s degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from Maharashtra National Law University and currently leads the Mediation wing at Presolv360, one of India’s leading Online Dispute Resolution platforms. Her work involves designing and managing large-scale mediation programmes, building mediation ecosystems with institutions and enterprises, and driving the adoption of technology-enabled dispute resolution.

Prof. Ashiv Choudhary

Session VIII — The Mediation Act, 2023

He is an Assistant Professor at Jindal Global Law School and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (CADR). He holds an LL.M. in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution from Queen Mary University of London, where he graduated with Distinction in his dissertation titled Arbitrability of Patents in India, and holds a B.A. LL.B. from The Law School, University of Jammu. He is a certified mediator and UGC-NET qualified. His research interests lie at the intersection of alternative dispute resolution and emerging technologies, with a particular focus on the implications of artificial intelligence for arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and online dispute resolution.