Inaugural Conference on "Issues relating to Enforcement in International Arbitration" on 3 December 2008

The AFSIA Steering Committee was founded in June 2008, and originally consisted of Ms Crina Baltag (PwC Research Fellow at the School of International Arbitration, QMUL, London), Dr Stavros Brekoulakis (Lecturer at the School of International Arbitration, QMUL, London), Ms Dimitra Capas (Associate at Norton Rose, Athens; Chair of the Steering Committee), Mr Maarten Draye (Associate at Hanotiau & van den Berg, Brussels) and Mr. John Rhie (Associate at McDermott Will & Emery, London).

To celebrate its inauguration, the AFSIA held a well attended all day inaugural conference on 3 December 2008 at New Connaught Rooms in London. Inspired by the discussions provoked by the interesting findings of an empirical survey on enforcement practices conducted by the School  as well as the New York Convention’s 50 year anniversary, the programme featured topics on "Issues relating to Enforcement in International Arbitration". In four sessions, more than 20 speakers from the long list of SIA alumni and friends in key positions in all fields of arbitration practice - ranging from law firms, arbitration and other institutions to arbitration users and arbitrators - explored the issue of enforcement of arbitral awards from various angles. The day started with discussions on the effictiveness of the New York Convention, and potential issues of enforcement of arbitral awards against states or state entities. After the lunch break, Sir Roy Goode, one of the founders of the SIA, led a panel of alumni from all corners of the world to discuss regional approaches to the enforcement of arbitration awards. In a final session, speakers discussed the interplay between enforcement of awards and post-award settlement.

Following the conference, participants gathered for a drinks reception at the nearby Centre for Commercial Law Studies of Queen Mary at Lincoln's Inn Fields, followed by dinner at the Kingsway Hall Hotel.

Global Arbitration Review brought the following report on this event:

"QMUL alumni gather in London

Wednesday, 03 December 2008

The School of International Arbitration at Queen Mary University of London today held its first alumni event in London.

The school, launched in 1985, was the first academic institution dedicated to the study of international arbitration. Since then more than 2,500 students from 80 countries have attended courses.

Stavros Brekoulakis, now a lecturer in international dispute resolution at the school, gave the first address of the day, sharing his memories of class of 2002. "We were taught by Julian Lew QC, Loukas Mistelis and the late John Adams," he recalls - "brilliant academics, who successfully transmitted their knowledge and passion for arbitration and made the subject approachable and fun". Brekoulaskis added that the school's "unique strength" lies in its ability "to attract the brightest people from around the world". The event reflected this, attracting 140 alumni from 35 countries.

Among them were some of the school's first students from the 1980s - including Nassib Ziadé, now deputy secretary general at ICSID, and Jack Coe, a professor at Pepperdine University in California. Julian Lew QC, a barrister at 20 Essex Street in London and the school's head since its launch, said the conference was an "exciting initiative". He extended a special welcome to Sir Roy Goode, a professor at Queen Mary's Centre for Commercial Law Studies, whom he described as the "father" of the school. Lew remembered how when the school opened 23 years ago international arbitration was still an "esoteric and strange subject" that preoccupied only a few Swiss, French and Dutch professors. He says the decision to launch the school proved "prophetic", noting that many law faculties across the world now teach the subject. Lew added that it was "gratifying" that many alumni have remained in the field of arbitration - "working in private practice, companies, government service, arbitral institutions and the UN, and as professors in universities." Many have become arbitrators, he said.

Last year saw the launch of the school's official alumni organisation, Alumni and Friends of the School of International Arbitration, which was dreamt up in a London restaurant by Stavros Brekoulakis and others. Lew said he hopes AFSIA will become as important as ICCA in developing arbitration.

The conference focused on enforcement, the topic of a recent survey conducted by the school's director, Loukas A Mistelis and its PricewaterhouseCoopers-sponsored research fellow, Crina Mihaela Baltag.

Session leaders included Domenico Di Pietro of Chiomenti Studio Legale in Rome, Sabine Konrad of Dewey & LeBoeuf in Paris and Laurence Shore, co-chair of international arbitration at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher in New York.  Lew set the tone, with a thought-provoking opener. "Why is the UNCITRAL Model Law good enough for over 60 jurisdictions, but not good enough for England, France, Switzerland, Sweden and the US, the countries that regard themselves as the most important arbitral centres?" he asked.

This day will end with a drinks reception and dinner. Lord Justice Sir Bernard Rix, the chair of the advisory council for the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, is guest speaker."
AR (Global Arbitration Review)

  

Prof. Sir Roy Goode leading session 3

Prof. Dr. Loukas Mistelis leading session 4 

Dr. Laurent Lévy delivering his comments

Dr. Stavros Brekoulakis intervening