Abstract: There is a worldwide trend of conjugating alternative dispute resolution procedures, creating hybrid procedures, amongst which the most common, although not sufficiently known in Brazil, is Med-Arb. Med-Arb is thus a kind of alternative dispute resolution, which consists on a fusion between mediation and arbitration, congregating the advantages from both. From mediation, Med-Arb has absorbed the possibility of friendly composition either before or during the proceedings. In respect to arbitration, Med-Arb offers the advantage of a flexible procedure, which allows its adaptation to the case, as well as the possibility of obtaining a definitive and effective decision. Once the conflict is established, a third neutral person would act as a mediator and, in case the attempt for a deal were frustrated, this third person would exercise the function of arbitrator, to put an end to the dispute. The sum of these advantages would, therefore, allow parties to find a consensual solution, preserving their commercial relationship, while, at the same time, a guarantee of having the conflict solved is granted. Nevertheless, the use of the Med-Arb gives rise to relevant discussion, such as the impossibility of the third neutral person to accumulate both functions of mediator and arbitrator, as well as the lack of confidence in the method itself caused by such accumulation of functions. On the other hand, Med-Arb defenders support that this concentration of functions in the same person could make the procedure even more agile and cheaper. Anyway, it is up to the legal practitioners the choice of which dispute resolution method fits better to the concrete case.

- 1. Introdução - 2. A mediação como forma de solução alternativa de conflitos - 3. A arbitragem "pura" - 4. Mediação aliada à arbitragem - 5. Alternativas à cláusula de Med-Arb - 6. A soma de vantagens: Med-Arb