CoFO will hold its 11th Annual Conference on Monday, October 29, 2012, at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Virginia. The event is open to those who are working as Ombuds in the Federal sector and anyone just interested in the role. Individuals thinking about creating the role within their agency are especially invited to attend.

The CoFO conference will feature three distinguished speakers:

• Charles L. Howard - Partner, Shipman and…

ENOHE will hold its 10th annual conference at St Catherine’s College, University of Oxford, on April 11-13, 2013. The meeting will be hosted the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education in England and Wales and will examine the implications of a more consumer-focused environment for University Ombudsmen.  The cost is £450 for bookings before December 31, 2012 (£500 thereafter) and includes:

• The Conference from lunchtime on Thursday, April 11 to lunchtime on…

As ADR practitioners, Organizational Ombuds generally follow practices that would be familiar to other neutrals, especially mediators.  However, as employees of the organizations which they serve, Ombuds must be careful not to be seen as agents for notice.  As laws and regulations change, organizations must ensure that their Ombuds program remains relevant, but not a liability.  A recent example of this is seen at the University of North Carolina.

Timed to coincide with the start of…