Meet-and-greets 2026
Mediation is firmly embedded in the justice system. Lawyers are required to inform their clients about the possibilities offered by mediation. Magistrates play a key role in referring people to mediation and helping them resolve their conflicts amicably. But how do you refer someone to a mediator you have never met? And how can you be sure that the people you refer will be in good hands? Our meet-and-greets in October offered a way to bridge that gap.
In 2026, the Special Commission on Construction took the initiative to organise several meet-and-greets at courthouses, bringing together magistrates, accredited mediators, lawyers, architects and other professionals from the construction and business sectors. On 8, 14 and 22 October, participants had the opportunity to meet professionals from other fields, introduce themselves and learn more about how they work.
8 October, Brussels
Accredited mediators and magistrates gathered on the seventh floor of the Brussels Enterprise Court. Around small discussion tables, each mediator explained their areas of expertise, shared their experience and outlined their approach. They also presented some interesting cases. Every ten minutes, participants moved on to another table. More new faces, more new connections! The magistrates left with a much fuller address book and a clearer idea of which mediators they could appoint. Getting to know the mediators personally made it easier to refer cases to them.
14 October, Liège
The construction sector, too, has much to gain from resolving disputes amicably. This was the starting point for the meet-and-greet in Liège. Around 60 participants from the construction and legal sectors attended the event, including magistrates, lawyers, architects, contractors, insurers and mediators. The event was organised by the Commission MARCS of the Liège Bar Association. Participants learned about the specific features of mediation in construction disputes and discovered the added value of co-mediation, in which mediators combine their different areas of expertise to tackle complex disputes.
22 October, Antwerp
The impressive Court of Assizes courtroom at the Antwerp Court of Appeal provided the setting for a gathering of magistrates, lawyers and mediators specialising in construction, commercial and employment disputes. After a short introduction featuring an inspiring video testimonial, it was time for speed networking. Introducing yourself, your work and your passion in no more than two minutes? These professionals rose to the challenge! This was followed by group discussions on questions submitted by participants in advance. And if a group ended up with even more questions than it had started with? The conversations continued over drinks at the networking reception.
Interested in attending the next edition?
There is no denying it: the meet-and-greets were a success. Would you like to take part in a future edition? Keep an eye on our meet-and-greets overview for upcoming events. Interested in organising a meet-and-greet yourself? Feel free to get in touch. We look forward to meeting you!
