Can mediation deliver justice? Lessons from Grenfell Tower and Bosnia
A UCL Centre for Dispute Resolution event. Lecture will be delivered by Bill Marsh.
Can mediation deliver justice? Lessons from Grenfell Tower and Bosnia
11 Mar 2026, 18:00 – 19:30
About the lecture
Mediation is now central to our civil justice system. The pragmatic arguments for that are well-trodden. But are mediators “mere” pragmatists, or can mediation deliver “justice”? Should it even aspire to? And if so, how? Bill Marsh will draw on his experiences of mediating with large groups of people pursuing “justice” in emotive situations, from Grenfell Tower to Bosnia, to pose questions about whether mediators are really in the business of “justice”.
Timings
17:30 Registration
18:00 Event begins
- Introduction, Associate Professor John Sorabji
- Lecture by Bill Marsh (1 hour)
- Q&A (facilitated by Dr Anna Howard) (30 minutes)
19:30 Drinks reception
In Bill’s own words, he has “hung around the middle of other people’s fights, to see who wants to talk” for some 35 years. He mediates in commercial, civil, environmental, religious and human rights conflicts, in this country and overseas. He also trains and mentors mediators, and advises governments on mediation. He is married to Belinda, and they have three adult sons. Bill is an average but enthusiastic fly-fisherman.
UCL's Centre for Dispute Resolution is a new academic hub dedicated to promoting greater understanding, accessibility and development of dispute resolution to advance the rule of law for all. The new research centre - which launched in October 2025 - is led by Co-Directors Associate Professor John Sorabji and Professor David Ormerod, and brings together a wide range of internationally leading scholars from within the Faculty, as well as experienced and prestigious honorary academic staff and visiting members.
The Centre is delighted to be hosting this important and timely lecture which builds upon a hugely popular lecture which Bill Marsh delivered at the Civil Mediation Council’s 2025 Conference.
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Throughout 2026, UCL will host a vibrant programme of events and activities celebrating our founding values, our global impact, our communities, and our vision for the future. Visit the UCL200 website to explore the full programme and learn how you can get involved.
To see how UCL Laws is contributing to this landmark year — with events, stories, and initiatives highlighting two centuries of legal scholarship and impact — visit the UCL Laws UCL200 page.
Image by Sang Hyun Cho from Pixabay
Further information
Ticketing
Pre-booking essential
Cost
Free
Open to
All
Availability
Yes
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