Negotiation in Action
Foundation Mediation Training | Module 2
TRAINERS
Prof. Joel Lee
Proferssor of Negotiation & Mediation, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
Practice Area
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Training Level
Foundation
SILE Public CPD Points
TBC
Date
Thu, 30 July 2026
Time
1pm to 5.30pm
Venue / Format
PracticeForte Resolution Space /
In-person
Registration Fee
SGD S$300
SGD S$255 early bird rate (register before 30 June 2026)
SGD S$240 for PracticeForte Affiliates only
What makes mediation distinct from litigation or arbitration? And what makes it work?
About This Workshop:
Negotiation lies at the heart of every mediation. Before a mediator can guide parties toward resolution, they must understand how those parties are — or could be — negotiating. This half-day module moves from framework to action, equipping participants with the intellectual tools of principled negotiation and then immediately putting them to work.
Led by Joel Lee — one of Singapore’s foremost authorities on negotiation and mediation, and co-pioneer in teaching these disciplines at Singapore universities — this session opens with a rigorous introduction to the Harvard Seven Elements of Negotiation and the ATNA (Alternatives to a Negotiated Agreement) framework. These are not abstract concepts: they are the navigational tools that experienced negotiators and mediators use to read a room, assess leverage, and open pathways to agreement.
The second half of the module is where the learning becomes visceral. Participants are divided into two sides, given a realistic dispute scenario, and asked to prepare their strategy — then negotiate it live under guided conditions. A structured debrief closes the session, turning experience into insight.
What You’ll Learn:
- Master the Seven Elements: Understand the Harvard Seven Elements of Negotiation — interests, options, alternatives, legitimacy, communication, relationship, and commitment — and how each shapes the negotiation landscape
- Apply the ATNA Framework: Learn to identify and evaluate Alternatives to a Negotiated Agreement, and understand how walk-away positions influence the dynamics of any dispute
- Prepare Like a Negotiator: Work within your team to analyse your party’s interests, prioritise your elements, and develop a coherent negotiation strategy before stepping into the room
- Negotiate Under Guided Conditions: Apply your preparation in a live roleplay, practising principled negotiation in a structured, faculty-supported environment
- Reflect and Consolidate: Participate in a facilitated post-roleplay review to identify what worked, what shifted, and how the frameworks played out in practice
- Connect Negotiation to Mediation: Develop an intuition for how negotiation dynamics shape the mediator’s role — and why understanding them is foundational to effective mediation practice
Who Should Attend:
- Legal professionals seeking to strengthen their negotiation skills in dispute resolution and mediation contexts
- Mediators and dispute resolution practitioners looking to deepen their command of principled negotiation frameworks
- Human resource practitioners and people managers involved in workplace negotiations or conflict resolution
- Corporate leaders and executives engaged in commercial negotiations or cross-party dispute resolution
- Educators, counsellors, and social workers who facilitate difficult conversations between parties
- Anyone pursuing IMI and/or SIMI Foundation Mediation Training accreditation
Meet Your Speakers:
Joel Lee is a Professor of Negotiation and Mediation at the Faculty of Law, the National University of Singapore, and a co-pioneer in teaching Negotiation and Mediation in Singapore Universities. A graduate of Victoria University of Wellington and Harvard Law Schools, Joel is a principal mediator with the Singapore Mediation Centre and a Master Trainer with Peacemakers. Joel was a member of the International Mediation Institute’s Independent Standards Commission and Intercultural Taskforce, and was also a key member of the Ministry of Law’s Working Group on International Commercial Mediation. He is the founding and immediate past Chair of the Board of the Singapore International Mediation Institute, and a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) trainer.
Seats are limited!
Theory without practice is incomplete. This module gives you both — the frameworks that structure effective negotiation, and the experience of using them under pressure. Join Joel Lee on 30 July 2026 for a session that will sharpen how you think, prepare, and perform at the negotiation table. This module is available as a standalone workshop or as part of the full Foundation Mediation Training programme.
