Early Neutral Evaluation Certificate Programme

This intensive two-day certification programme equips you with the practical skills to conduct credible, effective ENEs across commercial, workplace, and legal settings. You'll learn how to break negotiation deadlock, inform strategic decision-making, and help parties avoid costly litigation.

Resolve

Programme Outcomes

Early Neutral Evaluation is a flexible, non-binding process where an impartial expert assesses the facts, legal merits, or procedural aspects of a dispute early in its lifecycle.

  • Differentiate your practice
    Stand out with formal certification from the organisation that has trained over 10,000 neutrals worldwide in 70+ countries. 
  • Expand your professional services
    Add a valuable evaluative process to complement your mediation, arbitration, or legal advisory work. ENE fills a critical gap between facilitative mediation and binding arbitration.
  • Break deadlock with confidence
    Learn proven techniques for conducting evaluations that help disputing parties move forward when negotiations have stalled. Your assessment can be the catalyst that unlocks settlement.
  • Reduce time and costs for clients
    Master how to provide realistic outcome assessments early in disputes, helping clients make informed decisions before litigation costs escalate.
  • Gain practical, not just theoretical, skills
    This isn't a lecture-based course. You'll conduct evaluations, receive expert feedback, and leave with immediately applicable skills tested in realistic scenarios.

What skills will I learn?

  • The different investigative and evaluative processes and when to use them
  • The evaluator's various roles and how to maintain impartiality
  • A practical framework for structuring your ENE process
  • How to prepare effectively for evaluations
  • Running processes with and without hearings
  • Techniques for assessing evidence, legal arguments, and procedural issues
  • Drafting clear, credible evaluations that inform decision-making
  • Ethical considerations and maintaining neutrality

Who should attend this training?

You're an ideal candidate if you:

  • Already conduct informal case evaluations and want to formalise your approach with certification
  • Have mediation or arbitration experience and want to add ENE to your service portfolio
  • Work in sectors where early evaluation is becoming standard practice (healthcare disputes, financial services complaints, construction adjudication, family business succession)
  • Advise clients on litigation strategy and want enhanced skills for providing early case assessments
  • Want to distinguish your CV with internationally recognised certification from CEDR

This programme particularly appeals to:

  • Mediators and arbitrators seeking additional training in evaluative dispute resolution processes
  • Lawyers currently providing informal evaluations who want certification to enhance their professional profile
  • Sector specialists in healthcare, financial services, or family businesses where ENE is increasingly used as a preliminary resolution step
  • In-house counsel and dispute resolution managers who oversee conflict management within organisations

The training works best for professionals with existing knowledge of dispute resolution principles, though formal qualifications in mediation or arbitration are not required.

What is Early Neutral Evaluation?

Early Neutral Evaluation is a flexible, non-binding process where an impartial expert assesses the facts, legal merits, or procedural aspects of a dispute early in its lifecycle. It can:

  • Break deadlock in litigation or negotiation, enabling settlement
  • Provide a realistic view of outcomes, including addressing the wishes of the parties
  • Inform strategy and reduce time/costs
  • Support better decision-making

Course Programme:

Pre-course Preparation

You'll be sent pre-course reading in advance of the course taking place. 

1

Day 1: Foundations | 08:30-18:00

  • An overview of different investigative and evaluative processes and how these differ from other forms of dispute resolution
  • The different roles of a Neutral in ENE
  • A framework for ENE and the variety of process options
  • How to prepare for an ENE
  • Understand running a process (with and without hearings)
  • Practice using different skills in this context
2

Day 2: Putting into practice | 08:30-18:00

  • Learn how to assess/evaluate in a commercial dispute
  • Practice assessing (as a neutral) using a detailed case
  • Experience being a participant in ENE through roleplaying

Post-Course

As part of the certification process you will be required to draft an evaluation and demonstrate the development of your self-reflection.

Meet The People Behind Our Services

At CEDR, our trainers and facilitators aren't academics teaching theory from textbooks - they're seasoned practitioners who apply these skills in high-stakes environments every single day. From resolving multi-billion pound commercial disputes to defusing hostage crises, our team of over 50 expert mediators across 20 countries represent the pinnacle of real-world conflict expertise. 

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CEDR Trainers

99% of attendees rate the faculty's teaching style as excellent.

The difference between CEDR training and other programmes comes down to one principle: our trainers teach what they practice every day. As the most experienced body of mediation trainers globally, CEDR has refined adult learning techniques over 35 years to ensure engaging, practical training throughout.

Every member of CEDR's training faculty maintains an active professional practice. They're not teaching from outdated case studies or textbook theories - they're sharing techniques they used last week, challenges they navigated last month, and emerging trends they're seeing right now.

Your Progress After CEDR's Training

Trainers

Deliver Effective Evaluations with Proven Methodology

You will have built the confidence to conduct ENE in diverse disputes - from straightforward cases to complex, multi-party evaluations. Plus, have gained hands-on experience with the full range of process options and developed your own methodology for delivering assessments that achieve early resolution and prevent costly litigation.

Trusted by individuals and global brands

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After Certification: Continued Support and Connection to CEDR

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MyCEDR Membership

  • Exclusive access to six masterclasses per year and various in-person events
  • Observe an actual CEDR mediation*
  • Access to MyCEDR resources, including exclusive articles
  • Discounts and priority booking for CEDR advanced training seminars and events

Everything You Need to Know Before You Book

Can I attend this training if I have no mediation experience?

The training works best for professionals with existing knowledge of dispute resolution principles, though formal qualifications in mediation or arbitration are not required.

What's included in the course fee?

Expert instruction and feedback
Two full days of intensive training led by experienced practitioners who regularly conduct ENEs across commercial and workplace disputes. You'll receive personalised feedback on your evaluation technique, with trainers observing your practice sessions and providing actionable guidance.

Comprehensive course materials
Pre-course preparation materials to ensure you arrive ready to engage fully with practical exercises, plus all training materials and case studies used throughout the programme.

Do I pay VAT if I'm an international participant?

Do I need to pay VAT on my course booking?

This depends on where you are based. UK participants are charged VAT at the standard rate of 20% on all course fees.

If you are based outside the UK, different rules apply depending on your location.

I'm based in the EU - do I pay UK VAT?

If you are an EU-based business or person purchasing a course in a professional capacity (e.g to use the skills within your role or for future employment), UK VAT is not charged. Instead, you will be responsible for accounting for VAT in your own country under the reverse charge mechanism. This means you self-report the VAT liability to your local tax authority rather than paying it to us. You should confirm your obligations with your local tax adviser or finance team before booking.

If you are an EU-based individual (i.e. not purchasing on behalf of a VAT-registered business, or for you to use in a professional capacity for your role or future employment), different rules may apply and we recommend checking with your local tax authority.

I'm based outside the UK and EU - do I pay VAT?

Participants based outside the UK and EU are generally not subject to UK VAT on course fees. However, you may have obligations under your own country's tax rules for imported services. We recommend checking with a local tax adviser to understand any reporting requirements that may apply to you.

How do I ensure my booking reflects the correct VAT treatment?

When booking, please ensure you provide your country of residence or your business's country of registration. EU business customers should also provide their valid VAT registration number or Tax Certificate so we can apply the reverse charge correctly. If you are unsure how to proceed, please contact us at training@cedr.com before completing your booking.

Will I receive a VAT invoice?

Yes. All participants receive an invoice upon booking. For UK participants this will include VAT at 20%. For international participants, the invoice will reflect the applicable treatment for your location.