Interviews
#ThePrivateCaucus:Conversations in Confidence
Interview Series:
Adi Gavrilă, CEO, ADR Center Romania; Senior Expert, ADR Center
In this #ThePrivateCaucus: Conversations in Confidence interview, we feature Constantin-Adi Gavrilă, Mediator, Founder and CEO of ADR Center Romania, former Co-Chair of the International Mediation Institute’s Independent Standards Commission, and recipient of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s 2009 International Outstanding Leadership Award.
Since 2002, Adi has built extensive experience in resolving complex domestic and international disputes. Individuals, companies, and legal counsel alike trust him to design and manage mediations spanning family, labour, civil, and commercial matters.
Beyond the mediation table, Adi is also frequently called upon to facilitate complex, multi-party dialogue processes. He works with communities, governments, and international financial institutions, particularly on issues involving the social and environmental impact of large-scale projects, helping to bridge diverse stakeholder interests.
As a key member of the Organising Committee behind the Maxwell Challenge, Adi brings a strong practitioner’s perspective to the competition. In this interview, he shares how he balances the structured SOLVE framework with a more organic, empathetic approach to achieving outcomes that are not only effective, but sustainable.
Read the full interview below:
Q: How does your approach to mediation shape the way you achieve effective and sustainable resolutions?
Although the mediation process is based on key foundational principles and a clear structure – SOLVE, as we call it at ADR Center – I engage the parties in an organic manner. Hence, I always find it useful to make time to listen empathically to people’s stories. This helps me understand substantive, emotional and procedural needs, it gives me some clarity. Sustainable resolutions emerge when people feel heard, respected, and empowered to make their own decisions.
Q: From your perspective, what are some of the key considerations the Committee keeps in mind when designing the competition?
My belief if that the Committee aims to design a fair, inspiring, and realistic experience, yet an original one that has its own identity. We focus on showcasing cultural diversity, encouraging teamwork, and aligning the competition with real-world mediation standards and ethics. For example, the competition combines online with in person engagements to establish a realistic hybrid environment and approach to the mediation process.
Q: What key professional skills does the Maxwell Challenge aim to cultivate, and why are they essential for effective dispute resolution?
The Challenge promotes active listening, collaborative problem-solving, and adaptability – skills that turn theoretical understanding into practical competence. These abilities are at the heart of every successful mediator’s toolkit. To this end, I hope that, by the end of the competition, students will develop more emotional intelligence, curiosity and creativity.
Q: Other Insights
Even though this is a competition, I see it first as a safe space for learning, where there are no winners or losers. It is perfectly acceptable to be vulnerable, to try, to make mistakes, and to ask questions. Everyone involved should feel respected, valued, and important – because each participant represents the future of the dispute resolution field. After all, we should walk the talk and promote collaboration!
