Celebrated Canadian neutral awarded the Academy's highest honor for excellence in both conflict resolution and ADR training.

OCALA, Fla., Dec. 2, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN) is proud to announce that Allan J. Stitt, a leading figure in Canadian dispute resolution, has been selected as the recipient of the Academy's 2025 Distinguished Neutral of the Year Award, recognizing a lifetime of achievement in conflict resolution and ADR education.

"Allan has been an ADR pioneer and thought leader in Canada and internationally for more than three decades," said Darren Lee, Executive Director of NADN. "As President and CEO of ADR Chambers, the largest panel of neutrals in Canada, Allan is widely respected for his skill in helping clients navigate even the most complex disputes. Just as impactful is his work as the founder of the Stitt Feld Handy Group, whose training programs have educated more than 60,000 professionals worldwide across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia — making it one of the most prominent ADR education providers globally."

A trusted mediator and arbitrator, Allan enjoys a stellar reputation on both sides of the bar and has been called upon by many of Canada's and Europe's most prominent firms to resolve high-profile commercial disputes. He has also led ADR system design projects for major institutions and served on numerous global dispute resolution panels.

Allan's academic foundation includes studying ADR and negotiation under Professor Roger Fisher, Professor Frank Sander, and Bruce Patton at Harvard Law School where he earned his Master of Laws in 1992. He has since served in leadership roles as Past President of the ADR Institute of Canada, the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Canada, the Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Ontario, and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC).

Internationally, Allan has represented Canada as a delegate to UNCITRAL, contributing to the Singapore Convention on Mediation and the development of Model Expedited Arbitration Rules. He currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Abraham Global Peace Initiative and is an Honourary Member of the Advisory Board for the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators in Kenya. He is also a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

His accolades include the Ontario Bar Association's Award of Excellence in ADR, an honourary Doctor of Laws from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, and the Windsor Law Dual JD Distinguished Alumni Award. He has been consistently listed in The International Who's Who of Commercial Mediation, The Best Lawyers in Canada – ADR, and Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite (2023, 2024, 2025).

"Thank you so much to the NADN. This is an incredible honor and I'm humbled to receive this award from my peers," commented Allan Stitt. "It has been incredibly rewarding to be in a field with so many brilliant and decent people, and it's heartening to be able to help people resolve their disputes while trying to preserve their relationships. I look forward to continued innovation and collaboration with others in the ADR field."

About NADN

The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals is an invitation-only association of elite mediators and arbitrators across the USA & Canada, peer-vetted for excellence, depth of experience, and professionalism. NADN supports its members through marketing infrastructure, scheduling technology, thought leadership and national programming.

For further info regarding the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, please contact Kathy Vazqueztell (kathy@nadn.org, Tel: 813-600-3678) or visit www.NADN.org/about

Media Contact

Darren Lee, NADN, 1 813 600 5678, director@nadn.org, www.NADN.org

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SOURCE NADN