In this episode of the FFI Podcast, we speak with Christopher Gibson, FFI’s 2086 Scholar in Residence, about the evolving landscape of mediation and arbitration and what these changes mean for lawyers and advisors working with family enterprises worldwide.

Christopher Gibson explores how dispute resolution is changing, including the growing role of artificial intelligence in mediation and arbitration. He shares insights on helping family enterprise clients maximize value while minimizing risk, and reflects on the importance of exercising control wherever possible in a world filled with uncertainty.

He also discusses how legal education is shifting from traditional Socratic teaching toward more skills-based learning—emphasizing drafting, simulation, problem solving, and knowing how to find answers in practice.

About the Contributor

Professor Christopher Gibson is Professor of Law and Director of the Business Law and Financial Services Concentration at Suffolk University Law School in Boston. An expert in international law, arbitration, and intellectual property and technology, he has published widely on international dispute resolution, investment law, and emerging technology issues.

Professor Gibson’s career spans public international service and private practice, including work with the Iran–U.S. Claims Tribunal, the UN Compensation Commission, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), where he helped develop recommendations leading to ICANN’s Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP).

A tenured faculty member and Director of Suffolk’s ADR Program, he has received the school’s highest teaching honors and has taught internationally, including in Hungary and Sweden, as well as as a visiting professor at Boston University.

Professor Gibson is active in leading arbitration and legal organizations and is co-founder and Director of the Foreign Direct Investment International Moot Competition (FDI Moot). He serves as an arbitrator and expert witness in complex commercial disputes and is recognized by Silicon Valley Arbitration and Mediation Center’s 2026 List of the World’s Leading Technology Neutrals.

INTERVIEWER: Jordan Rich is the co-founder of Chart Productions. In addition to his extensive on-air experience, Jordan is a voiceover artist, appearing on thousands of radio and television commercials. The recipient of numerous awards, Jordan also shares his skills by teaching broadcasting and voice-over.