Course overview
Every commercial relationship carries the possibility of a dispute, and how an organization handles that possibility often matters more than who is right. Litigation is slow, public, and expensive; arbitration and mediation offer alternatives that can be faster, private, and less destructive to a relationship worth keeping. Choosing among them well, and drafting so the choice is available, is a commercial skill as much as a legal one.
This course, held at EuroQuest International Training, examines the full range of dispute-resolution options in business. Participants study negotiation and mediation, the arbitration process and how it differs from court, and how an organization can reduce disputes before they arise. Named instruments such as the New York Convention appear as educational subject matter; the course is not legal advice.
Why the forum often matters as much as the merits
Two organizations with the same underlying dispute can reach very different outcomes depending on where and how it is resolved. Arbitration under a recognized set of rules can deliver an award enforceable across borders under the 1958 New York Convention, while mediation may preserve a relationship that litigation would end. The choice of forum shapes cost, speed, privacy, and enforceability. This course treats that choice, and the drafting that secures it in advance, as central to managing commercial risk.
What you will be able to do afterwards
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Compare negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
- Select a forum by cost, speed, privacy, and control.
- Apply interest-based negotiation to preserve a relationship.
- Judge when negotiation has run its course.
- Prepare for mediation and clarify the mediator's role.
- Convert a mediated settlement into a binding agreement.
- Draft arbitration clauses that specify institutional rules.
- Enforce arbitration awards under the New York Convention.
- Design escalation clauses for staged dispute resolution.
Course outline
Unit 1: Introduction to business dispute resolution
- The spectrum from negotiation to litigation.
- Cost, speed, privacy, and control compared.
- Alternative dispute resolution and its appeal.
- Matching the method to the dispute.
Unit 2: Negotiation strategies in business
- Approaching a dispute as a problem to solve.
- Interest-based negotiation in conflict.
- Preserving a relationship while disagreeing.
- Knowing when direct negotiation has run its course.
Unit 3: Mediation skills and practices
- How mediation works and when it fits.
- The role and techniques of a mediator.
- Preparing effectively for a mediation.
- Turning a settlement into a binding agreement.
Unit 4: Arbitration in business contexts
- Arbitration compared with court litigation.
- Arbitration clauses and institutional rules.
- The process from filing to award.
- Enforcing awards under the New York Convention.
Unit 5: Building a dispute-resilient organization
- Drafting to reduce the room for dispute.
- Escalation clauses and staged resolution.
- Early warning and internal handling of conflict.
- Learning from disputes to prevent the next one.
How the course is delivered
The course is delivered through facilitated discussion, worked examples, and documented case studies of commercial disputes, with structured conversation around participants' own situations. It builds practical judgment and is educational; it is not legal advice.
Who should attend
The course suits managers, commercial and contract staff, project leaders, and professionals who deal with disagreements over agreements. Those who want the specialist view of mediation will find Mediation and Conflict Resolution in Business Law a useful companion.
About EuroQuest International Training
EuroQuest International Training, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Bratislava, delivers professional courses to more than 15,000 participants across over 1,000 titles, in cities including Dubai, London, Barcelona, Istanbul, Vienna, Paris, and Geneva, led by experienced practitioners.
Frequently asked questions
Is arbitration always better than going to court?
Not always. Arbitration can be faster and private and produces awards enforceable across borders, but it has costs and limits of its own. The course helps you weigh it against litigation and mediation for a given dispute.
Do I need a legal background?
No. The course is aimed at commercial and management professionals and treats legal concepts as educational subject matter. It is not legal advice, and specific disputes should go to qualified counsel.
Can disputes really be prevented?
Many can be reduced through clear drafting, staged escalation clauses, and early internal handling. The course devotes attention to preventing disputes as well as resolving them once they arise.
Related courses
- Negotiation Strategies for Complex Contracts
- Understanding Commercial Contracts and Obligations
- International Business Law and Trade Regulations
- Contract Negotiation and Drafting Best Practices
Register for this course
To reserve a place or ask about dates and in-house delivery, contact EuroQuest International Training and our team will help you arrange the details.
All Course Dates & Locations
29 dates · 18 cities · Oct 2026 – Jul 2027