This book casts an analytical eye on the legal dynamics of mediation premised on a multidisciplinary approach. This is the very first book to meld mediation and applied psychology with a view to portray the myriad of cognitive biases with which the great bulk of legal actors grapple/tussle with in mediation settings. The overriding goal of this book is to provide a multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and full-fledged framework to legal dynamics of mediation while emphasizing the paramount importance of incorporative mediation to protect the fundamental rights of the weakest disputant in the room—something that has not been done yet. This book is the very first one to provide a framework/frame of reference to the usage of artificial intelligence in the remit of both mediation settings and Restorative Relationship Session (RRS).

“This book wraps up with a chapter against the backdrop of which the author seeks to demonstrate that Artificial Intelligence is shaping up to catalyse a host of seismic shifts in the remit of mediation. This chapter provides an interesting perspective on future developments that may change the face of dispute resolution, including mediation, forever. It is a fitting final chapter of a very interesting book, that deals with mediation in a highly original and innovative way.” (Prof. Dr. C.H. van Rhee, University of Maastricht, the Netherlands)

“We are fortunate to have a book like this, which belongs as a central tier in dispute resolution literature. In many ways it provides us a solid foundation for understanding mediation in the wider context of intricate human relations. The exhaustively researched text is not only academically brilliant, but brimming with profound observations that you, as a reader, can practically benefit from. one can easily see how a work of this nature and magnitude establishes Prof. Hugo Luz dos Santos amongst the leading voices on mediation, for the next generations to look up to. As a profound and timeless study on the subject, this book is a rare elucidation that should not only be considered a must-read for mediation, but is indeed worth re-reading over and over again.” (Prof. Dr. Ronald Montague Silley, University of Hamburg, Germany)

“Collectively, the findings in this book revolutionise our perspective on mediation.  When most work tends to look at the subject through a single-disciplinary lens, Dr. Santos provides a multi-disciplinary perspective that tackles the nuances of the topic.  This work will have international impact as it serves as a persuasive guidebook for practitioners and academics alike in the field.  The book would also potentially have policy impact as governments around the world are searching for effective ADR methods to deal with the ever-growing backlogs in their courts.” (Prof. Dr. Peter Chi Hin Chan, City University of Hong Kong, China)

“From time to time, books that change the conversation arrive on your desk.  This is one of them.  Packed with bold claims, this offering by Hugo Luz dos Santos lays its cards firmly on the table.  An inciteful contribution to the literature, it is a work of great endeavour, diligence and also one of broad scope. This thought-provoking book transcends timeframes and jurisdictions and not only maps out mediation’s journey thus far but also extends the discussion into a vision of mediation’s future with the role of lawyers and AI looming large in the analysis.” (Prof. Dr. Bryan Clark, University of Newcastle, United Kingdom)