The Working Group II (Dispute Resolution) of the U.N. Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) met in February to complete its work on the drafts of the instruments. That should be exciting to dispute resolution professionals because the end result may be significant growth of international commercial mediation.

Howard R. Marsee, a mediator with Upchurch Watson White & Max since 2001, is set to speak at the 26th annual conference presented by the Florida Dispute Resolution Center in Orlando Aug. 9 to 11, 2018. More than 900 dispute resolution professionals may attend this year's conference at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes "to enhance their knowledge, sharpen their skills and network with colleagues from across the state." Seminars such as Howard's will provide Continuing Mediation Education (CME) credits required to maintain Florida Supreme Court certification as a mediator.

April Y. Walker, a respected Central Florida litigator, has become the newest member of Upchurch Watson White & Max Mediation Group's panel of neutrals. Ms. Walker has statewide ties as a native of Miami and a graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville. Additionally, she began her litigation career at Carlton, Fields, Ward, Emmanuel, Smith & Cutler (now Carlton Fields Jorden Burt) in Tampa in 1997. She left the practice to clerk for U.S. District Judge Stephan P. Mickle in the Northern District of Florida but returned to the firm's Orlando office in 2008. She was an associate litigation attorney until she was elected a shareholder in 2015.