Analysis of Legislative Amendments Implemented to Enhance the Effectiveness of Mediation in Georgia

Abstract

The article analyzes the contemporary stage of development of the mediation institution in Georgia and the significance of the legislative amendments implemented in December 2025 in the context of improving the effectiveness of mediation. The study reviews the practical implementation of the Georgian Law on Mediation, the main trends in the development of both private and court-annexed mediation, the institutional formation of the mediation profession, and the practical functioning of court mediation centers.

Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of legal and practical challenges that have emerged in the application of the existing regulatory framework. These include, inter alia, the refinement of enforcement mechanisms for settlement agreements reached within court mediation, the legal model governing the appeal of disciplinary decisions concerning mediators, the legislative regulation of special authorization for representation in mediation proceedings, and the improvement of rules governing the refund of state court fees. The paper argues that these amendments significantly strengthen the effectiveness of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism, enhance legal safeguards for users, foster greater trust in mediation, and contribute to the further institutional development of the field in Georgia.