SCC: Insightful Discussions at Friday’s Mediation Roundtable On Friday, Madeleine Thörn, SCC Deputy Secretary General, moderated an eng...

Insightful Discussions at Friday’s Mediation Roundtable On Friday, Madeleine Thörn, SCC Deputy Secretary General, moderated an engaging roundtable on mediation. Participants from across Europe including both inhouse and external counsel took part in lively discussions after hearing from remarkable speakers, Pirita Virtanen and Jonas Bengtsson. Pirita, commercial mediator, articulated that "Mediation is structured negotiation," a sentiment that resonated across the room as participants reflected on the importance of negotiating before turning to arbitration. Pirita also reminded us of the powerful role of vulnerability in mediation—something that, as she wittily noted, doesn’t necessarily require a sauna session! From the corporate perspective, Vattenfall General Counsel Jonas Bengtsson shared his perspective that "The legal case is always strongest at the outset of the dispute." He underscored the need for awareness around prestige, personal reactions, and responsibility of the outcome, providing a strategic lens to the discussion. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to Friday's roundtable. Your active engagement is what drives these sessions forward! As Madeleine Thörn noted, "Mediation has significant potential, and there’s growing consensus on its benefits in reducing costs and saving time. With the SCC Arbitration Institute’s commitment to knowledge sharing, training, and tearing down the boundaries to its use, we’re already seeing a rise in mediation cases—and we expect this trend to continue."