Ever wondered why an opponent with a weak position won’t agree to what seems like a perfectly reasonable settlement?

Hear from Michael Jamieson, Commercial Manager at the New Zealand Dispute Resolution Centre on Tuesday 30 June at 12:30pm, for a thought-provoking session exploring the psychology behind so-called “hopeless” cases.

This webinar will unpack the behavioural drivers behind these situations—and how understanding them can sharpen your strategy.

Together, we’ll explore:

• Why parties with weak claims or defences often resist “reasonable” settlements
• How these responses are more predictable—and psychologically rational—than they might first appear
• Why even strong cases frequently settle for less than their expected value
• How consistent departures from expected value can become costly over time
• How recognising these patterns can help you anticipate behaviour and make more effective decisions

This session will offer practical insights to help you navigate negotiations with greater confidence and clarity, and will provide the following learning outcomes:

• An understanding of why people’s subjective assessment of a dispute does not align with the objective ‘expected value’
• Recognition of where you and the other party are sitting from a risk-averse or risk-seeking perspective
• An understanding of what behaviours can be predicted from this and the implications for settlement negotiations