A Step-by-Step Process and Procedure in the Referral of Cases to the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse (LMDC) at 1st Online Settlement Month (OSM) Programme in Africa

(From Monday December 7, 2020 to Friday January 22, 2021)

(For the Members of the Bar)

1. Law Firms are expected to Identify suitable cases for Online Mediation.
2. Referral of a minimum of five (5) cases to the 1^st Online Settlement Month (OSM) 2020 Programme from each Law Firm between December 2, 2020 and January 15, 2020.
3. The initiating party/ Law Firm/ Counsel (Applicant) sends a formal notification to the other party/ Law Firm/ Counsel (Respondent) by email, WhatsApp or delivered post, of an intention to refer the case to the 1^st Online Settlement Month 2020 Programme for online mediation with proof of delivery/evidence of formal notification.
4. After a formal notification of an intention to refer the case to Online Mediation has been sent by the Applicant, the Applicant should refer the matter to the LMDC by completing the requisite form. Kindly click on this link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KhkYLQHQGLYO9XUEli4nYTyOAjgE7UPEzDkHVCVldas/edit
5. A link will then be sent by the LMDC Registry to the Respondent by email or WhatsApp to fill out the electronic OSM Submission Form.
6. The LMDC Registry sends a notification by email or WhatsApp to the Applicant to state that the Respondent has been contacted to fill the necessary form.
7. The Applicant is to contact and engage the Respondent to submit to mediation and commence preparations towards online mediation. Such preparations include obtaining necessary documents for mediation, ensuring attendance of necessary parties, etc.
8. Upon completion of all pre-mediation forms by the Applicant and Respondent, the Case Manager will contact both Parties and Counsel to schedule a convenient date and time for a Pre-Mediation Meeting in preparation towards online mediation at the 1^st Online Settlement Month 2020 Programme in Africa.
9. Upon agreement of all parties, of a convenient date and time for a Pre-Mediation Meeting, Parties and Counsel will be sent a zoom link by email and WhatsApp for the scheduled Pre-Mediation Meeting.
10. At the Pre-Mediation Meeting, parties will agree with the Mediator on a convenient date and time for the online mediation session. Parties and Counsel will be sent a zoom link by email and WhatsApp for the scheduled online mediation session at the 1^st Online Settlement Month Programme in Africa. The Online Mediation Session will commence subject to the confirmation by the Case Manager that Parties have performed the required task(s) as agreed at the Pre-Mediation Meeting.
11. Counsel are to ensure the attendance of their client(s) at all Mediation Session(s). Where the client is a Corporation, the representative of the Corporation at mediation should be able to engage in good faith negotiation and take decisions that can bind the Corporation.

Benefits that will accrue to Law Firms that participated in the 1^st Online Settlement Month (OSM) Programme in Africa

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The LMDC will issue a Certificate of Recognition to the Law Firms that promote Online Dispute Resolution and collaborate with the LMDC at the 1^st Online Settlement Month 2020 Programme in Africa as follows:

• Active participation in the resolution of at least three (3) cases referred to the 1^st OSM 2020 Programme from Law Firms and Courts.