Conflict Mediation and Negotiation Course
Module 3
This module covers
Mediation Skills and Considerations
Experts
Dr. Julie Fraser
Julie Fraser is Assistant Professor with the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights (SIM) and the Montaigne Centre at Utrecht University. She teaches in the bachelor and master programmes, including Public International Law, International Criminal Law, Transitional Justice, and International Human Rights Law. Julie's present research interests include human rights and the environment, as well as relationships between Islamic and international law. In 2024, Julie completed field work in Kenya researching the resolution of disputes arising due to climate change before alternative justice mechanisms.
She is a senior peace fellow with the Public International Law & Policy Group, where she works on projects for clients relating to transitional justice, human rights, and criminal accountability.
Prior to academia, Julie practiced law as a qualified solicitor, including working at the International Criminal Court and Australian Government Solicitor. In addition to the PhD, Julie holds three degrees, a BA and LLB (honours) from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and an LL.M (cum laude) with from Utrecht University.
Matthew T. Simpson
Originally from Toronto, Canada and a past National Law Journal “40 Under 40” awardee, Matt leads Mintz’s global Private Equity practice and helps his clients navigate complex corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, growth equity, venture capital and other minority investments, and restructurings.
Matt also serves as outside general counsel to several clients, advising them on all aspects of their legal needs, taking several clients from startup to IPO, and beyond.
In addition to his corporate practice, Matt is a recognized international negotiator and legal advisor. In 2010, the United Nations and African Union appointed Matt the Principal Legal Advisor to the Darfur Delegation in the Darfur Peace Negotiations. Embedded in Doha, Qatar as an official member of the Darfur delegation, Matt led a team of over two dozen legal and policy advisors on all aspects of the peace negotiations including the negotiation of a $2 billion development fund, the return of IDPs and refugees, and the formation of a regional government for Darfur. Since 2006 Matt has affiliated with the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG) in Washington, DC where he has advised on over a dozen post-conflict legal and policy initiatives including leading the first-ever surrender to the International Criminal Court, war crimes prosecution efforts in Uganda, and the Iraqi constitution. Matt currently serves in a pro bono capacity as a PILPG Senior Peace Fellow advising on various peace processes and post-conflict initiatives.
Amb. Donald J. Planty
Ambassador Donald J. Planty is a Senior Peace Fellow at Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG). Ambassador Planty is also a Senior Advisor of the Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), where he advises clients on international issues. He is also President and CEO of Planty & Associates LLC, his own consulting firm. He is former Senior Foreign Service Officer of the United States and U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala with 40 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Ambassador Planty is an expert on Latin American affairs and European security issues, drawing on his experience living and working in Panama, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Norway, Italy, and Spain. As Ambassador to Guatemala, he was instrumental in facilitating negotiation of the historic 1996 Peace Accords, which ended four decades of internal conflict in that country.
Dr. Paul R. Williams
Dr. Paul R. Williams holds the Rebecca I. Grazier Professorship in Law and International Relations at American University where he teaches in the School of International Service and at the Washington College of Law. Dr. Williams is also the co-founder of the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG), a pro bono law firm providing legal assistance to states and governments involved in peace negotiations, post-conflict constitution drafting, and the prosecution of war criminals. As a world renowned peace negotiation lawyer, Dr. Williams has assisted over two dozen parties in major international peace negotiations and has advised numerous parties on the drafting and implementation of post-conflict constitutions. Several of Dr. Williams' pro bono government clients throughout the world joined together to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. More information about Dr. Williams can be found at www.drpaulrwilliams.com.
Professor Darin Johnson
Professor Darin Johnson is a Senior Legal Advisor at PILPG and an Associate Professor of Law at Howard University School of Law.
Professor Johnson was has served as an Assistant General Counsel to the Army Secretariat for four years, completing his military service with the rank of Captain.
After leaving the Pentagon, Professor Johnson continued to practice law as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Department of State’s Office of the Legal Adviser. During his tenure with the Office of the Legal Adviser, Professor Johnson advised on a wide range of international legal issues, involving Middle Eastern, political-military, United Nations, and other multilateral matters. In 2007, he served as the Legal Adviser to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq. Professor Johnson also served on detail to the Office of the White House Counsel in 2011-12. After returning to the State Department in 2012, Professor Johnson served as Chief of Staff in the newly formed Office of the Special Coordinator for Middle East Transitions, which was tasked with coordinating U.S. assistance to politically transitioning countries in the Middle East and North Africa following the Arab Spring uprisings. He received several Departmental honors for his work.
Professor Johnson's research interests include constitutional reform, reconciliation, and the rule of law in post-conflict and transitioning states.
Amb. Zorica Maric Djordjevic
Ambassador Zorica Maric Djordjević was until recently the Head of the Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the World Trade Organization. Her career in public service and diplomacy spans 30 years. She has held various leadership positions including Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro (1989-92) and the Chief Policy Adviser to the Prime Minister (1992-1997). She served as the Special Envoy of Prime Minister and President Milo Djukanovic to the United States and the Head of Montenegro Trade Mission in Washington DC (1998-2006). She was responsible for coordinating USAID assistance and was the liaison to the US Congress, State Department, and the Pentagon for the Government of Montenegro. Through these positions, Ambassador Maric Djordjević made the case for Montenegro's independence.