IFC helps Ministry of Justice

Court-referred
commercial mediation program

The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation IFC), and the Ministry of Justice are working together to create a court-referred mediation program to help resolve commercial disputes efficiently and amicably.

The program would allow specially trained judges to decide which cases are suitable for mediation. Included in the plan are three pilot projects where new commercial court cases will be put forward for mediation in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and Tripoli.

The initiative is part of the IFC’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) project in Lebanon, which helps companies settle disputes out of court and encourages foreign investment by creating an environment conducive to efficient business practices.

“Mediation can bring a valuable contribution to Lebanese business,” said Maysam Noueiri, President of the Beirut commercial appeal chamber and interim First President of the Beirut appeals court. “If commercial disputes are resolved quickly and fairly, our over-burdened courts can concentrate on other important matters. What’s more, mediation doesn’t just solve the disputes, but also seeks to ensure similar problems don’t arise in the future," she said.

“Smaller businesses simply cannot afford lengthy legal proceedings”, said Milo Stevanovich, Manager of IFC’s Commercial Justice Program in the Middle East and North Africa. “By settling disputes out of court, in a transparent and fair manner, entrepreneurs and investors are free to focus on their expansion and wider economic growth,” he said.

The ADR project was launched in Lebanon in August 2011. The project has helped the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon and the Tripoli Bar Association establish mediation centers, and trained 34 qualified mediators.