After an afternoon exploring Paddington, I anxiously awaited meeting Clare Rodway, LLB – (@ClareRodway) the Managing Director of KYSEN PR, which Kysen PR provides tailored PR and marketing expertise to legal, accountancy and other professional services organisations. (www.kysenpr.co.uk) Clare and I had missed each other at #Lex2011Tweetup, which has been the subject of a prior post, so we met for coffee. We had a wonderful chat about our mutual interests as well as the distinctions between law firm PR, marketing and operations in the US v. UK, and the implications of the Legal Services Act in the UK.

From there I found a taxi and was off to the begining of the activities for what really brought me to London.

I walked into a lower level of BPP Law in London a little past 6 to attend the Opening Reception for The International Academly of Dispute Resolution’s 10th Annual International Law School Mediation Tournament. (www.INADR.org) I was pleased to find over a hundred students, faculty, coaches, administration and support staff joining the handful of INADR folks from the Chicago area who came to London for the first time the tournament has been held in London. The buzz in the room was amazing. Our colleagues here had set up the event to create collegiality amongst everyone. While we call it a “tournament” – it really is a collaboration – students from around the world coming together to meet, learn, and share a common interest in helping people manage conflict and solve disputes.

It became clear that with 34 teams here, we would need additiobnal judges, so I put the word out to the London legal/mediation community from the reception via direct emails form the reception and later via twitter. The London community as one would expect responded to the call immediately, contacting colleagues, their chambers and recommending organizations to contact.

Thanks to all who have helped and who continue to do so.