The Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), Europe’s biggest provider of mediation services, has struck an international strategic alliance with its US equivalent, JAMS.

The alliance is an attempt to deal with the increase in ADR on both sides of the Atlantic. CEDR, a not-for-profit organisation, saw its caseload increase by 8 per cent in 2004, from 642 to 693 cases. It hopes the new cooperation agreement will also result in an increase in cases from the US.

Graham Massie, CEDR’s chief operating officer, said the time was right for the agreement. He said: “Mediation is starting to catch on in a significant way in the UK and Europe. It is no longer the voice in the wilderness. We would definitely like to see more US business coming our way.”

The alliance was formally launched in Los Angeles in April and will launch in the UK on 24 May.