Richard Schiffer (Co-Chairman)
Area/Thematic Expertise
An international lawyer with experience in most parts of the world. Pioneer in bringing the use of mediation to the resolution of commercial disputes from the USA to Europe. In 1989 founded ADR Group, the first commercial mediation service in the UK; and in 2010 founded ADRg Ambassadors.
Career Overview
Richard is an international lawyer with 40 years experience in most parts of the world. He is a UK Solicitor (qualified in 1993) and a US Attorney (licensed in Illinois in 1969). Richard has been a pioneer in bringing the use of mediation to the resolution of commercial disputes from the USA to Europe. He is Chairman of ADR Group, Co-Chairman of ADRg Ambassadors and a member of its Management Committee. He is also Director and Treasurer of the UK’s Civil Mediation Council.
A US and British citizen, Richard has been resident in Europe since 1971. After qualifying as a lawyer in the United States and working for the US government, he relocated to Amsterdam in 1971 and became the General Counsel and Assistant to the Chairman of an innovative multinational in the worldwide marketing, transportation, and storage of petrochemicals. Since relocating to London in 1986 he has enjoyed a varied career as a London-based international corporate lawyer.
From 1979 through 1986 Richard Schiffer was professionally involved in an intense and particularly acrimonious international legal dispute that led him to believe that there ought to be a better way to solve such problems. Through the landmark "Getting to Yes without Saying No" by Fisher and Ury of the Harvard Negotiation Project, he came upon the use of mediation for that purpose. Inspired by this book Richard Schiffer brought mediation from the USA to Europe in 1987 in conjunction with the then American organisation United States Arbitration & Mediation. In 1989 he founded and has since chaired ADR Group, one of the market leaders in the use of mediation and other alternative dispute resolution techniques in Europe and around the world.
Professional Qualifications
- US Attorney (licensed in Illinois - 1969)
- UK solicitor (1993)
- Qualified Mediator (ADR Group)
- Director and Treasurer of the UK's Civil Mediation Council
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Our Ambassadors
- Dr Rachel Aron
- Sir Michael Arthur KCMG
- Sir Stephen Brown KCVO (Co-Chairman)
- John Buck
- Sir Colin Budd KCMG
- Dr Peter Collecott CMG
- Charles Crawford CMG
- Sir Stewart Eldon KCMG OBE
- Peter Jenkins CMG
- Karel Kovanda
- John Macgregor CVO
- Sir David Madden KCMG
- Sir John Ramsden Bt
- Richard Schiffer (Co-Chairman)
- James Dancer (Chief Executive)
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