“We’ve been too serious for too long.”

This is the belief of Ranse Howell - director of international operations for the world’s largest provider of mediation and arbitration services, JAMS - as well as the reasoning behind the firm’s ongoing “Cocktails and Conversations” seminar series. This series, which takes the format of hybrid and in-person seminars, is looking to celebrate the future of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and, perhaps more importantly, to allow the firm to reconnect with the London market, and members of the London market to reconnect with each other.

Half of the events are taking place this July and half in September, Howell said. While it might seem counterintuitive to pro-actively plan events when the future of in-person gatherings is so uncertain, he said, it is built into the very DNA of JAMS to be optimistic and to find ways to bring its constituents together—ideally in person, but at this point, the organization is experienced in virtual and hybrid gatherings too.

Originally published in Insurance Business Magazine UK - July 22, 2021.