Eminent arbitration practitioners from around the world gathered to discuss current and developing concerns in the international arbitration industry, with a particular focus on Asia. This year’s forum, themed “The Future for International Arbitration”, was attended by close to 200 experts and practitioners  from  the international  legal and  arbitration community. The speakers at this year’s event included: Dr Michael Pryles, Harpreet Singh SC, John Savage, Prof Lawrence Boo, Philip Jeyaretnam SC, EY Park, Sally Harpole, Nakul Dewan, Hop Dang, Liu Yuwu, Justice Quentin Loh SC, Justyn Jagger, Dr Andreas Shell, John Pyall, Peter Newall, Judith Gill QC, Meef Moh, Nikolaus Pitkowitz, Zia Mody, Chelva Rajah SC.

Litigation Edge participated in the exhibition, and we enjoyed our exposure to the world of arbitrators. We were struck by how international the community was, as we met with lawyers from UK, Australia, India, Maldives, Malaysia, Vietnam. The international community brings a rich diversity of personalities and an incredible breadth of know-how to our shores.

The amount of documents involved in and the cross border nature of arbitration makes a strong case for parties to digitize their evidence, and from there to e-discovery, perhaps.

We produced a special Litigation Edge Newsletter for SIAF 2011 to mark our first exhibition.

via Singapore International Arbitration Forum 2011.

Organised at Hotel Prince De Galles on the sidelines of the 27th American Arbitration Association (AAA), ICC International Court of Arbitration, and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Joint Colloquium on International Arbitration, the open dialogue entitled “Meet DIAC and its Executive Committee” was attended by 76 renowned arbitrators and experts who were impressed with the world-class services offered by DIAC.

The panel of speakers included Dr Nael Bunni, Chairman, Dr Hadif Al Owais, DIAC Acting Director and Vice-Chairman of DIAC Executive Committee and the Executive Committee members including Michael E. Schneider, Dr Tarek Fouad A. Riad and Dr Fathi Kemicha who gave presentations on the various aspects of DIAC’s operations including its rules, methods of appointment of arbitrators, their fees and cost issues related to arbitration cases.

via Dubai International Arbitration Centre holds 4th successful open dialogue in Paris | Dubai Chamber | AMEinfo.com.

“Arbitration is of major importance in attracting investments and achieving the development and stability of the national economy,” Al Mansouri said.

“I do hope we will be able to pass it by the end of this year. We will try to move on it as fast as possible. It will help prevent accumulation of cases in courts,” he added.

“Arbitration is one of the key instruments to resolve disputes amicably and thus enhance investor confidence in the economy's fundamentals to support businesses.”

He said the country is in the process of developing about 14 regulations, which include a law on foreign investment, a companies law and a competition law.

The draft law addresses arbitration procedures, confidentiality, and the selection of arbitrators.

It will also cover Islamic arbitration and will be the first to govern arbitration and reconciliation procedures nationwide.

Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have arbitration centres — the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and the Abu Dhabi Conciliation and Arbitration Centre — that deal with cases on an emirate level.

The draft federal law of arbitration is taking feedback from these centres as well as the International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration.

via gulfnews : Arbitration law set for year-end.

In an effort to counter such trends, overcome the difficulties with Australia's federal system and in a bid to promote Australia as a centre for international arbitration and dispute resolution, the International Arbitration Amendment Bill 2009 was introduced into Parliament on 25 November 2009, following the Commonwealth Government's year long review of international commercial arbitration in Australia.

via Legal update: Australia’s position as an International arbitration centre to be enhanced – Deacons.

Hong Kong is steadily gaining global recognition as an international arbitration centre for the Asia Pacific region, providing an ideal venue for speedy and reliable dispute solutions.

That’s a key message that Mr. Yan Lung Wong, Secretary of Justice of the Hong Kong SAR government, conveyed to federal Minister of Justice, Robert Nicholson, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin and other senior judiciary, legal, business, academic figures and government officials during his three-day visit to Ottawa and Toronto last week.

via Ottawa Business Journal.