CPR’s Alternatives to the High Cost of Litigation, September 2026 issue (Vol. 44, No. 8)
August 12, 2026
Germany presents an intriguing paradox. Few European jurisdictions have invested more systematically in building the legal and professional infrastructure for mediation. The country has a dedicated Mediation Act, a well-developed network of professional associations, increasingly rigorous training standards, and a mediation community that has steadily diversified from its family-law origins into commercial, workplace, public sector, and specialized practice areas. Yet the growth of mediation itself has been far more modest than the sophistication of the framework supporting it.