My Impressions from the 2025 ABA Dispute Resolution Spring Conference in Chicago
Hello everyone!
I’m back and filled with ideas after attending the 27th Annual ABA Section of Dispute Resolution Spring Conference, which just wrapped up Saturday, April 26th, 2025 in Chicago. Following my experience at the international mediation congress in France earlier this year and the ABA Techshow after that, I was keen to engage with the dispute resolution community again, and the ABA Spring Conference provided just the opportunity.
The conference provided useful opportunities for networking, particularly for meeting colleagues I had previously known or followed only online, like Colin Rule, Jim Melamed, and Susan Guthrie.
The conference venue was Chicago’s Willis Tower (a place I just learned was the former Sears Tower I grew up learning about). It proved to be a well-chosen facility, offering a practical layout for easy navigation between sessions (although it did take a while to find the correct session room the very first time). I have no complaints about the food. It, along with the various beverages throughout the day, were better than at most conferences I’ve attended. Useful as well were the soundproof pods to handle calls or attend other online session. These pods proved genius for a hybrid conference where attendees have the choice of in-person or online sessions. I will add that meeting in person proved to still be the best way to participate at this event.
The pandemic caused conference creators everywhere to toy with purely virtual events. But I admit nothing can replace in-person networking. I just hope future in-person conferences can be held outside of Chicago so more participants can attend. It’s worth noting that the ABA TechShow was also held in Chicago just three weeks prior. Incorporating other host cities for future large ABA gatherings would be of great benefit to professionals across the country.
The program included several insightful sessions. Three that particularly caught my attention were:
- “Family Law Mediation Methods, Rules and Norms from around the Globe”: This offered a fascinating comparative look at international family mediation practices – discussing variations in caucus use, attorney involvement, and fee structures (hourly vs. flat fees). It was a good reminder of the diverse ways mediation adapts globally and helped me consider if my approaches are in the mainstream.
- “Mediator-robots can assist parties who are stuck in a negotiation”: In this session we explored the use of telenoid robots in mediation. It sparked a good discussion but left me with many questions like could robots do a better job than human mediators in reducing bias? Another is do they compromise the essential human element of mediation?
- “Communities in Conflict: Symbols, Monuments, and Public Spaces”: This session cleverly used roleplay instead of a standard lecture. It allowed us attendees to engage meaningfully with sensitive issues surrounding community conflict. I’d consider this session the most-provoking gathering I attended.
A key takeaway from the conference overall was the clear advancement of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). Presentations on initiatives, such as the work being done in New Mexico (including their use of a music video to promote ODR), demonstrated the growing focus on expanding ODR accessibility.
Final Thoughts
All in all, the 2025 ABA DR Spring Conference was a valuable and well-executed event. It successfully blended practical knowledge, forward-thinking discussions, and essential networking. I left the conference with new perspectives, stronger connections, and enthusiasm for the future of dispute resolution.
Did you attend, either in person or online? I’d love to hear your impressions!
