SIMC’s First Specialist Mediators’ Workshop in Europe – Spain, Madrid 2025

October 02, 2025

The trainers for the workshop engaging with the participants: (from left) George Lim SC, Kevin Kwek and Chuan Wee Meng.

SIMC is proud to have conducted its Specialist Mediators’ Workshop (SMW) in Madrid, Spain – our first-ever workshop in Europe.

The two-day program held on 24 & 25 September, led by Chairman, George Lim SC and CEO, Chuan Wee Meng, with support from Kevin Kwek, Joint Managing partner at Kennedys Legal Solutions and Specialist Mediator at SIMC, and Siddharth Jha, Counsel at SIMC, brought together a truly remarkable group of participants from Spain, Colombia, France and beyond. Over two days of interactive role-plays, coaching and sharing, participants explored frameworks and practical skills for mediation in complex cross-border disputes.

Participants break off into smaller groups to practice and role-play mediation scenarios.

Participant Reflections

Feedback from the class highlighted the value of the 7 Elements framework, cross-border perspectives, and hands-on roleplays. Participants described the workshop as “magnificent professionals and magnificent experience”, “a very good practical first dive into mediation”, and “an extremely useful universal life skill”

SIMC is deeply grateful to Marlen Estévez, President of the Madrid Business Mediation Center and Co - President of the ADR Section of the Madrid Bar Association, as well as a participant of the workshop, and to our partners at CIAM-CIAR for their support in making this milestone possible. With this first successful edition in Madrid, SIMC looks forward to expanding its training and partnerships across Europe and continuing to promote mediation as a vital tool for resolving disputes globally.

Dinner together with the participants to celebrate the workshop.

Meet the Class of SMW Spain 2025

Ana María Palomeque Rivas – Lawyer with 30+ years’ experience, Head of ADR at the Madrid Bar Association, and a registered mediator with Spain’s Ministry of Justice.
Carlos Abad – Business leader and board director with four decades’ experience in finance, real estate and renewable energy, former CEO of Haya Real Estate, and Independent Board Member at Solaria.
Carlos Jesús Gutiérrez García – Partner at Martínez-Echavarría with 25 years in litigation and arbitration, former Senior Counsel at Siemens Gamesa, ICC Arbitration & ADR delegate, and accredited mediator.
Carmen Pérez Andújar – Partner at MAIO Legal, with nearly 30 years of litigation, arbitration, and mediation practice in Spain and internationally, recognized among Spain’s top lawyers.
Carlos Umaña – Senior partner at Brigard & Urrutia, Colombia; specialist in infrastructure, corporate and regulatory law, former Managing Partner, and Honorary Consul of Singapore in Colombia.
Clara Cerdán – Former General Counsel of Grupo Ferroatlántica, international projects leader, professor of business law, and Vice-President of Women in a Legal World.
Elena Otero-Novas – Former State Attorney of Spain, experienced board director, arbitrator, and current Chairwoman of the Spanish Court of Arbitration.
Emilio Ramírez Matos – Lawyer, Vice President of the Arbitration Court of the Madrid Bar Association, legal advisor to cultural foundations, and academic specializing in civil and immigration law.
Elisabet Rojano Vendrell – Legal Director at Menarini Group (Spain & LatAm), corporate governance leader, and Country Representative for Spain at the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Francisco Javier Domínguez Chicharro – Civil Engineer with 35+ years in international rail and infrastructure projects, leading multidisciplinary teams worldwide.
Iñigo Quintana Aguirre – Independent arbitrator and counsel, formerly Partner at Cuatrecasas, expert in cross-border litigation, arbitration and EU private international law.
Iván Darío Gómez Lee – Colombian lawyer, founder of CIMA (International Center for Mediation & Agreements), arbitrator, former Auditor General of Colombia, and academic leader.
Jacques Bouyssou – Partner at Alerion Avocats (Paris), litigation and arbitration specialist, Co-Chair of the IBA Litigation Committee, and founder of Paris Place de Droit.
Javier Jiménez-Ugarte – Spanish diplomat with 45 years’ service (including Ambassador posts), mediator, and academic contributor in international law and mediation.
José María Dutilh Carvajal – Managing Partner at ACTHOS Jurídico, specialist in corporate restructuring and insolvency, accredited mediator and arbitrator, and independent board member.
María Bacas Malo – Experienced general counsel (ABB, Alstom, Starbucks), accredited mediator with CEDR, and partner at Mind the Law – Mind the Agreement.
Mariona Quintano – Arbitration and litigation lawyer at Ontier, focused on corporate disputes, and passionate about integrating mediation into legal practice.
María Torres – Colombian lawyer specializing in international ADR in infrastructure and transport, arbitrator, adjudicator, and contributor to CIAM-CIAR dispute board rules.
Marlen Estévez Sanz – Partner at RocaJunyent, President of Women in a Legal World, and Chair of the Madrid Business Mediation Centre (CMEM), widely recognized as a leader in ADR.
Judge Mary Lucero Novoa Moreno – Colombian judge and Vice President of the Superior Council of the Judiciary, with 30+ years in law and judicial training.
Miguel Ángel Malo – Independent mediator accredited by CEDR, formerly counsel at Cuatrecasas, recognized by Best Lawyers for his mediation and arbitration expertise.
Pablo Laorden – Managing Partner of Lámbal Abogados, FCIArb, FIDIC-accredited adjudicator, and leading trainer and dispute board member in construction law.
Rosa Cabero Quiles – Lawyer at De Castro Estudio de Abogados, qualified mediator, academic lecturer, and board member of Women in a Legal World.
Veranika Apet – Lawyer with 15 years’ cross-jurisdictional experience in corporate law and M&A, with practice across the EU and Latin America.