Elsa Costa

Elsa Costa Andorra France Spain

Mediator Associated Mediator
Andorra Andorran (Andorra) France French (France) Spain Spanish (Spain) Resident in France French — Fluent Spanish — Fluent English — Fluent

Surname
Costa
First name
Elsa
Current professional position
Independent Mediator & External OECD Mediator
Organisation / firm
Elsa Costa Médiation
Country of residence
France
Nationality
Andorran (Andorra) French (France) Spanish (Spain)
Languages spoken & proficiency
FrenchFluent SpanishFluent EnglishFluent

Mediator roles
Mediator Associated Mediator
Professional biography
Elsa is an IMI Certified Mediator, ADR trainer, and former judge, with extensive experience in complex, high-value, and cross-border disputes. She is accredited as a mediator by the Court of Appeal of Paris and maintains an independent practice alongside her role as an external mediator at the OECD. Her professional background provides a strong legal and institutional foundation for disputes within PMAC’s scope, including patent, technology, and other intellectual-property matters. From 2005 to 2019, she served as a judge in the French administrative courts,and in that capacity, she handled complex matters involving intellectual property and European Union law. This judicial experience has given Elsa substantial familiarity with technically and regulatorily dense disputes, expert evidence, public-law and commercial considerations, and cross-border legal questions, issues that often arise in high-stakes patent, licensing, R&D collaboration, technology-transfer, and broader IP disputes. In her mediation practice, Elsa has handled more than 600 cases. She is experienced in multi-party processes, confidential negotiations, preventive dispute-resolution initiatives, and conflict coaching for individuals and teams. Her approach helps parties protect confidentiality, manage legal and commercial risk, and develop practical, durable settlements. Elsa also designs and delivers ADR training for lawyers, judges, professionals and future mediators. She lectures on alternative dispute resolution at Sciences Po and other universities, and regularly publishes professional articles on mediation and dispute-resolution practice. She holds a Master of Laws from Panthéon-Assas University, a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Sciences Po Paris and a Mediation Degree from IFOMENE.

Mediations conducted
More than 200
7 years in this role

Legal / dispute expertise
Business & Corporate Law Commercial contracts Copyrights & related rights Damages & valuation Designs Dispute resolution / arbitration practice European patents Licensing & technology transfer National patents Regulatory & compliance (incl. pharma, medical devices, technology) Trade secrets & know-how Trademarks Unfair competition Unitary patents

Governing law experience
Civil law
Mediation style
Facilitative Transformative
Brief description

My mediation style is structured and pragmatic. I adapt the process to the circumstances of each matter. In complex, high-value, multi-party, or cross-border disputes, I place particular emphasis on careful preparation, clear process design, and effective communication among parties, counsel, experts, and decision-makers. I am comfortable working with technically dense material and expert evidence, while ensuring that the mediation remains focused on informed decision-making rather than adversarial argument. I work collaboratively with counsel, respecting their role in advising and representing their clients while using the mediation process to support informed, constructive decision-making.

Education (degrees)
Master of Laws & Master's Degree in Public Administration
Relevant training
University Diploma in Mediation & Conflict Resolution / 200 hours
Working Creatively with Conflict / 40 hours
Certifications / licenses
Accredited Mediator Court of Appeal of Paris
Memberships / accreditations
International Mediation Institute
Institutional panels & memberships
IMI – International Mediation Institute
Publications and/or speaking engagements

- The Conseil d’Etat clarifies the scope of the judge’s role in approving settlements La Semaine Juridique · 17 September 2026 - Co-author of Guide to Amicable Dispute Resolution Methods 2026/2027 - Book Under the editorship of Professor Soraya Amrani-Mekki · LexisNexis, leading French legal publisher - Simplifying business life: a test for public authorities La Semaine Juridique · 29 June 2026 - Return-of-assets clauses and mediation in public procurement La Semaine Juridique · 20 July 2026 - “I’ll become a mediator when I retire”: debunking a persistent myth Lextenso - actu-juridique · 17 December 2025 · With Ludovic Pessot - Social peace cannot be handed down from the bench; it is built through dialogue among citizens who take responsibility Journal Le Monde · 11 November 2025 · With Ludovic Pessot - Settlement Approval and Administrative Judicial Scrutiny La Semaine Juridique · 6 October 2025 - Targeted referral to mediation: A new access route to mediation Lextenso - actu-juridique · 4 March 2024 - Mediation: shaping tomorrow’s public Administration Actualité juridique du droit administratif · 18 September 2023 - Towards the introduction of expedited mediation proceedings Lextenso - actu-juridique · 4 september 2023