While several Australian and international studies have explored the family lawyer-client interaction, these studies have been limited to investigations of discrete areas of the lawyerclient relationship and have been necessarily limited in their methodologies. The present study employed a quantitative empirical methodology in an Australian wide field study of 230 family lawyers and 94 clients that investigated the family lawyer-client interaction from a procedural justice framework. Using multivariate analyses, the study establishes that the Tyler and Blader two-component model of procedural justice applies in the lawyer-client dyad and is influenced by the approach of the lawyer, the emotional response of the client, and the level of co-party conflict that the client is experiencing. Further, the study gives meaning to the terms 'conciliatory and constructive' and 'adversarial' as they apply to family law dispute resolution. The study establishes a construct to measure the conciliatory and adversarial approach of family lawyers and identifies that lawyers tend to incorporate a mixture of the two into their work. The results also identify four distinct behavioural factors that characterise the two approaches: the client-centred and interest-based factors characterise the conciliatory approach; and the lawyer-directed and court-focused factors characterise the adversarial. The study found that in terms of perceptions of fairness, and feelings of satisfaction, the clients preferred the lawyers who took a client-centred and interest-based approach, but in circumstances where the clients were experiencing high-levels of conflict, or fear for the safety of their children, they also appreciated the lawyer who was lawyer-directed and court-focused. Overall, the study shows that in order to create a fair and satisfying dispute resolution service for their clients, family lawyers need to maintain a fine balance of family lawyering behaviour. On a general level, the study provides a profile of Australian family lawyers in terms of their approach to dispute resolution, their attitude towards ADR processes and their favoured negotiation styles. It also profiles family law clients in terms of their emotional adjustment to the divorce and their perceptions of the family lawyers assisting them to resolve their disputes. The study substantially expands the procedural justice theory base and has significant implications for practical family law education, government policy, family lawyering, and the ADR and collaborative law movements. The study indicates where future research could benefit these communities.

Thesis (LLD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Arbitration as a mode of dispute settlement has been growing steadily all over the world. The momentum for commercial arbitration in particular was provided by the 1985 UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration (“the Model Law”). Legislation based on the Model Law has been enacted in many countries. The arbitration laws of three of these countries, Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, are selected for consideration in this dissertation because of their common origins, similar statutes, similar problems, shared experiences, and their regional distribution. As the writer’s arbitration practice is based in Kenya, that jurisdiction is the primary, albeit not the only, source and foundation for this work, the focal point of reference and the citations from the law and practice incorporated in this research. The work consists of three chapters. Chapter one is a brief introduction and an overview of arbitration. This is followed by the statement of the research question, the justification for the research, methodology and the structure and content of the dissertation. Chapter two describes the legal and contextual framework for the investigation of the research questions in the selected jurisdictions of Kenya, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Customary Law arbitration is included as a significant feature of African arbitration law. The UNCITRAL Model Law, the Arbitration Act, 1995 (Kenya), the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1988 (Nigeria), the Arbitration Act, 1996 (Zimbabwe), the Arbitration Act, 1996 (England), and the South African Draft Arbitration Bill are all used as legislative or statutory points of reference in the discussion of the research questions. Chapter 3 contains the main focus of the dissertation in which six recurrent arbitration problems in Kenya are discussed in the context of domestic arbitration. The research investigates (i) the illusiveness of consent as the basis for consensual arbitration (ii) jurisdictional challenges (iii) the procedural powers of the arbitral tribunal (iv) the disruptive effect of adjournments and postponements on the arbitral process (v) constraints on the granting of interim relief and (vi) the enforcement of the arbitral award. Original, creative and innovative proposals in response to these problems include: the express legislative recognition of the manifestation of consent in both the verbal and written forms of the arbitration agreement, the use of the constructive dispute resolution technique, statutory recognition of customary law arbitration, the use of an expedited arbitration procedure, the award of exemplary and punitive damages in arbitration, a code of sanctions to facilitate the arbitration process, and a simplified method of enforcement and execution of the arbitral award. The dissertation concludes with reflections on the future of arbitration in Africa, and the need for modernization and harmonization of arbitration laws for peaceful resolution of disputes and serious conflicts across Africa. The aim of this study is best illustrated by a short story: In the early nineties there was a man, untrained in any known discipline, who strutted court corridors, trade centres and market places, carrying a placard advertising himself to lawyers, traders and marketers as “An Arbitrator and Private Judge”. He attracted business, charged a handsome percentage fee on the value of the claim, was duly paid, until officialdom caught up with him and put paid to his burgeoning career as “Arbitrator-Judge”. But the reckless enthusiasm spawned by his wit and imagination, and the idiosyncratic practices in dispute resolution persisted and are manifest in Kenyan arbitration culture today. The need to remove bad practices, avoidable impediments, and inefficiency in the arbitration culture of Kenya in order to make its procedures and processes more efficacious, is the heart of this study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Arbitrasie as ‘n wyse van geskilbeslegting is wêreldwyd aan die toeneem. Die 1985 UNCITRAL Modelwetgewing insake Internasionale Kommersiële Arbitrasie het die momentum hiervoor gebied. Talle lande het vervolgens gereageer deur wetgewing geskoei op hierdie model te promulgeer. Die arbitrasiereg van drie lande, tewete Kenia, Nigerië en Zimbabwe, is vir doeleindes van hierdie proefskrif gekies op die basis van gemeenskaplike geskiedenis, soortgelyke wetgewing, soortgelyke probleme, gedeelde ervaringe en regionale verspreiding. Aangesien die skrywer se arbitrasie-praktyk in Kenia gebaseer is, word hierdie jurisdiksie as die primêre, alhoewel nie die enigste, bron en basis vir die navorsing gebruik. Die werk beslaan drie hoofstukke. Hoofstuk een verskaf ‘n kort inleiding tot en oorsig van die reg rakende arbitrasie. Dit word gevolg deur die navorsingsvraag, die rasionaal vir die navorsing, metodiek en die struktuur en inhoud van die proefskrif. Hoofstuk twee bied die regs- en kontekstuele raamwerk vir die ondersoek in die gekose jurisdiksies, nl. Kenia, Nigerië en Zimbabwe. ‘n Bespreking van gewoonteregtelike arbitrasie word ingesluit, aangesien dit ‘n belangrike deel van Arbitrasiereg in Afrika uitmaak. Die UNCITRAL Modelwetgewing, die Wet op Arbitrasie 1995 (Kenia), die Wet op Abitrasie en Konsiliasie 1988 (Nigerië), die Wet op Arbitrasie 1996 (Zimbabwe), die Wet op Arbitrasie 1996 (Engeland) en die Suid-Afrikaanse Konsepwet op Arbitrasie word gebruik as die statutêre basis vir die bespreking van die navorsingsvrae. Hoofstuk 3 handel met die hooffokus van die proefskrif. Ses probleme wat telkemale opduik in die konteks van plaaslike arbitrasies in Kenia, en wat as die navorsingsvrae geïdentifiseer is, word vervolgens bespreek. Hierdie probleme is (i) die ontwykendheid van toestemming as basis vir arbitrasie deur ooreenkoms; (ii) jurisdiksionêre uitdagings; (iii) die proseduele magte van ‘n arbitrasie tribunaal; (iv) die onderbrekende effek van verdagings en uitstelle van arbitrasie-verhore; (v) beperkinge op die verlening van tussentydse regshulp, en (vi) afdwinging en uitvoering van die arbitrasie-toekenning. Oorspronklike, kreatiewe en innoverende voorstelle as antwoord op hierdie probleme sluit in: die uitdruklike statutêre erkenning van toestemming tot arbitrasie in beide mondelinge en geskrewe vorms; die gebruik van konstruktiewe dispuutoplossingstegnieke; statutêre erkenning van gewoonteregtelike arbitrasies; die gebruik van ‘n versnelde arbitrasie-prosedure; die verlening van skadevergoeding in die vorm van ‘n strafbedrag; ‘n kode van sanksies om die arbitrasie proses te fasiliteer; en ‘n vereenvoudigde wyse waarop arbitrasie-toekennings afgedwing en uitgevoer kan word. Die proefskrif sluit af deur die toekoms van arbitrasie in Afrika te bespreek, asook die behoefte aan modernisering en harmonisering van arbitrasiereg ten einde geskille dwarsoor Afrika op ‘n vreedsame wyse te kan besleg.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / Real Estate and Construction / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Local government has to face new challenges and demands as they approach the 21st century, especially in view of the fact that the South African system of local government has been significantly altered since the first democratic local government elections which were held in November 1995 and July 1996. The integrated development plan (IDP) of a municipality reflects on the municipal council's vision for the long-term development of the municipality with special emphasis on the municipality's most critical development for service delivery purposes. The integrated development plan consists of separate plans developed for new initiatives to fit into the overall strategic planning framework as distinct from the normal operating and capital business plans for each of a Council's existing functions. The plans do not necessarily relate to completely new functions but may relate to changing the way a function operates, enhancing service levels of existing functions or even cutting back services provided by an existing function. Some IDP initiatives may stand apart as individual projects and some may have wide-spread impact across existing functional areas. Emanating from the above is a resultant conflict between administration management of a municipality and the rest of the workforce of the municipality. As a result of the lack of knowledge regarding conflict in a local authority within the framework of an integrated development plan for labour and the need for it to be managed correctly, it was decided to embark on this study and contribute to the existing knowledge on this subject. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Sociology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

"Mémoire présenté à la faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de maîtrise en droit (LL.M.)" / Le réseau Internet favorise les transactions transfrontalières, même entre des personnes vivant à des distances éloignées les unes des autres. La perméabilité des frontières lors de l'utilisation d'Internet rend difficile l'application des règles traditionnelles du droit international privé, fondées sur le paradigme territorial. Le présent mémoire a pour but d'analyser cette problématique. En premier lieu, nous explorons dans ce contexte les caractéristiques d'Internet et les sources pertinentes du droit international privé. À travers le prisme du cyberespace, nous procédons ensuite à un examen des critères juridictionnels retenus par la doctrine et la jurisprudence. Dans cette optique, nous accordons une attention particulière au domaine de la cyberconsommation, lequel est particulièrement vulnérable à l'absence de référence territoriale. En effet, le paternalisme étatique destiné à protéger les consommateurs peut difficilement s'y exercer. Dès lors, il devient évident que la communauté internationale, confrontée à cette nouvelle réalité, sera appelée à se tourner vers des modes alternatifs de résolution de conflits et que les États participeront à cette fin à une corégulation avec le secteur privé. / The Internet facilitates transborder transactions, even among people living far away from one another. The permeability of borders arising from the use of the Internet makes it very difficult to apply traditional rules under private internationallaw, which are based on a territorial paradigm. The purpose of this thesis is to analyse this problem. First, we explore the characteristics of the Internet in this particular context and the relevant sources of private international law. Through the prism of cyberspace, we then review jurisdictional criteria arising from the doctrine and jurisprudence. Special attention is paid to the field of cyberconsumers, which is particularly vulnerable to the absence of territorial references. Indeed, state paternalism designed to protect consumers is difficult to apply in this field. Confronted with this new reality, the international community will increasingly turn to alternative methods of dispute resolution, while States join forces with the private sector to develop co-regulations.

Climate change creates an imperative to develop renewable energy infrastructure, and the state of Vermont has committed to developing new renewables. However, renewables pose significant threats to natural systems because of the dramatic changes to ecosystems that occur with development. Public outcry over new developments and dissatisfaction with the current process used for siting indicate that the old regulatory process may be outdated. This thesis seeks to bridge the divide between ecology and law in renewable energy infrastructure siting. Using the state of Vermont as a case study, it suggests a new, proactive energy planning process that would use spatial analysis and public involvement to bring experts and citizens together to evaluate difficult tradeoffs and make hard choices about where to site renewables. In this thesis I use content analysis to determine which issues are important to stakeholders involved in the debate about energy siting. I then develop spatial analysis of Chittenden County to examine four metrics important to siting: generating potential, carbon storage, viewshed, and biodiversity. This spatial analysis could be applied by policy makers to evaluate tradeoffs among these four metrics. Finally, I propose a new regulatory siting process that would use stakeholder engagement and proactive planning to create "Renewable Energy Zones" where development could be fast-tracked while safeguards are in place to protect important natural resources and the public interest. A better understanding of public concern, landscape-scale spatial modeling of ecosystem services, and a new proactive energy planning process could pave the way for a more effective siting process that allows for rapid development of renewables to combat climate change and includes local voices.

- Institutional Arbitration Arbitration in its today's dimension is a phenomenon that represents an alternative system to a state organized litigation. Arbitration is way of settling disputes among subjects in various fields of economic activities. There is commercial arbitration which is the most spread and used in the world, sport arbitration, mixed arbitration and others. This thesis, also due to the fact that it has been assigned by The Department of Commercial law - International Private Law, is devoted to international commercial arbitration. Arbitration is a private system of litigation in which private neutrals are called by parties to resolve their dispute. Arbitration held by individual neutrals chosen particularly for determinate cause is called ad hoc arbitration. In response to a stabilization of arbitration procedure, the arbitration institutions were established to provide arbitrational services and other dispute resolution services. Arbitration administrated by such institutions is in theory called institutional arbitrational, which is the subject of present work. The thesis is deemed to report on actual arbitrational and other dispute resolution services offered by major world institutions. These services include the arbitration proceedings itself which is the most important and...

M.Phil. / The Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 introduced new structures for resolution of labour disputes. The Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) was established as an independent body to resolve labour disputes. The CCMA also took over the functions of the old Industrial Court. The Act also replaced the old Industrial councils with bargaining councils. The function of the bargaining councils is to play a parallel role to the CCMA in dispute resolution within their scope of jurisdiction. The purpose of the legislature in establishing the bargaining councils was to alleviate part of the burden of the CCMA in resolving of labour disputes. The Act envisaged that the CCMA would resolve disputes speedily and inexpensively. If bargaining councils fail in their task of resolving disputes, these disputes are referred back to the CCMA adding to its caseload. The study seeks to establish the effectiveness of bargaining councils in handling dispute resolution function and whether they assist the CCMA in alleviating part of its burden. There are 43 bargaining councils that are accredited by the CCMA to conciliate and arbitrate disputes. Some bargaining councils are accredited to do both conciliations and arbitrations but are failing to perform both tasks. Some bargaining councils are closing down. Other registered bargaining councils do not apply for accreditation. Disputes that are not handled by these councils are referred to the CCMA. The CCMA caseload is escalating every year since inception in 1996. In view of these circumstances the study seeks to understand from bargaining councils and from both the unions and employers organizations that are party to the bargaining council agreements, whether there are any problems that hinder the effectiveness of bargaining councils in dispute resolution in the private sector. It has been concluded in the study that there are a number of problems that can cause bargaining councils not to exercise dispute resolution function effectively. It has been established that only few bargaining councils receive a high number of disputes referred. Bargaining councils are quicker in handling disputes than the CCMA, however, most bargaining councils receive a small number of disputes. Bargaining councils also complain about insufficient funds in handling dispute resolution function. They complain that the subsidy they receive from the CCMA is not enough for this function. Small bargaining councils are the most suffering because of low numbers of referrals. It has also been established that bargaining councils pay their panelists very high rates. The non-accredited bargaining councils are rejected when applying for accreditation because of not meeting the required criteria. Employers are negative about belonging to bargaining councils because they feel it is costly. Some employers who belong to bargaining councils are also reluctant to contribute to established council's fund.

The World Trade Organization ("WTO") and its dispute resolution systém is unique in the international economic law, reasons are following: (i) enforcement, (ii) two-level proceding, (iii) exclusive jurisdiction of the Dispute Settlement Body ("DSU"). DSU continues to follow the case law based on GATT 1947 however develops more complex rule of law. How successful DSB is in this task is subject of examination of the thesis. Thesis is divided into two parts: theoritecal and practical. First chapter explains aim of the DSU, comparison of procedural rules with GATT 1947. Following, the second chapter explains the hard law and procedural rules, function and aim of WTO, followed by ideas for improvement of the dispute settlement. Last chapter of this parts is dedicated to methods of interpretation. The second part, practical, analyses the case law of DSU from its establishment in 1995 until now. It analyses possible conflicts between agreements of WTO or conflicts that arise during acting based on the agreements. Among the first cases belong the discrepancies between main 3 agreements - GATT 1994, GATS and TRIPS and cases such as Canada - Periodicals or Argentina- Textiles and Apparel, Indonesia - Auto; another group of cases represents isme of conflict between WTO agreement and other agreement of public...