Drafting Committee
The IIMC Colombo Drafting Committee is composed of mediation experts who have years of experience in practising, mentoring, and teaching mediation. What makes this Drafting Committee unique is their expertise in investor-state mediation and in drafting competition cases.
Dr. Greg Bond | Co-Chair
Greg Bond teaches mediation, negotiation and cross-cultural communication in commercial law, management and MBA programmes at Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau, near Berlin, Germany. He works in business and organisations as a mediator, trainer and facilitator, particularly in workplace mediation, dialogue processes, peer coaching, and corporate team development. He is a member of numerous academic and other advisory boards, including of the Master’s in Mediation and Conflict Management at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt / Oder, Germany. He is a professor in mediation at New Vision University Tbilisi, Georgia. He publishes regularly on mediation.
Sophie Tkemaladze | Co-Chair
Sophie Tkemaladze is an independent mediator and arbitrator from Georgia (the Country) as well as an assistant professor at New Vision University. Sophie has worked extensively with different international organizations (USAID, UNDP, EU) assisting them introduce and advance the practice of arbitration and mediation in different countries, including Georgia, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Iraq. She is passionate about teaching and has trained lawyers, judges, mediators, civil servants, and students in the skills of mediation, law and practice of arbitration. Occasionally also arbitrates on the courts (proper) as a referee at the Georgian Tennis Federation.
Ian Velásquez Fins | Committee Member
Ian is a Brazilian Lawyer and founder and member of the research group Centro de Métodos Autocompositivos (“CMA”). Coach for the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (“PUC-Rio”)’s Mediation and Negotiation Team (GAEMNE). Researcher in Online Dispute Resolution at Legalite PUC-Rio. Researcher of Law and Economics at Núcleo de Análise Econômica do Direito (NAED PUC-Rio). Editorial Assistant at Associação Brasileira de Lawtechs & Legaltechs (AB2L). Author of academic papers in negotiation, mediation, and arbitration.
Kandula Udawatta | Committee Member
Kandula Udawatta is an LLB (Hons) graduate from Staffordshire University, UK, and is currently reading for his Attorney-at-Law exams at Sri Lanka Law College. He is a staunch advocate for the fostering of Alternative Dispute Resolution attitudes in Sri Lanka and is presently working at the Institute for the Development of Commercial Law and Practice, which is the leading organization in facilitating Arbitration/ Mediation among the legal fraternity of Sri Lanka; and holds a Diploma in Commercial Arbitration from the same. Kandula has also participated in several moots during his undergraduate studies such as the Henry Dunant Moot Court Competition, and H.V. Perera QC International Commercial Arbitration Moot, the Bucerius Mediation Competition and in ADR Case Management workshops, both local and foreign, which has enabled him to gain a lot of insight into the various aspects of alternative dispute resolution. He has assisted several teams in preparing for moot competitions through training and drafting mock cases and hopes to contribute to the building of a young team of ADR enthusiasts within Sri Lanka.
Vivek Krishnaswamy | Committee Member
While at university, Vivek received several accolades for his performance at international mediation competitions. He later became an IMI-qualified mediator and has been an expert assessor at several mediation and negotiation competitions.
Along the way, Vivek developed a passion for impactful negotiation and now negotiates contracts for Savvy Coop. Savvy is a patient-owned cooperative that provides its pharma clients with key insights directly from the people who matter most – patients and caregivers.
He’s excited to be a part of IIMC 2023 as a member of the Drafting Committee, laying the foundation for the future of dispute resolution.
Chintan Nirala | Committee Member
Chintan Nirala is currently enrolled in a doctoral program at McGill University in Canada, where he is specializing in international investment law and constitutional law. His research primarily focuses on the socio-legal aspects of investment law, as well as the viability of establishing a multilateral investment court. Chintan holds a Master of Laws degree in International Dispute Resolution from King’s College London in the United Kingdom, and he earned his Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree from the University of Allahabad in India.
Prior to his current academic pursuit, Chintan worked as a consultant, offering expertise in investment disputes and international commercial arbitration cases. As a qualified advocate in India, he has practiced law within the country and has been part of a commercial chamber. Additionally, he has served as a tribunal secretary and research intern under various judges in the Indian Supreme Court and High Courts. Chintan has also contributed to the editorial teams of several legal journals and actively participated in pro bono work.