Annual Report 2009 - Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Annual Report 2009As at 30 March 2010, the total branch membership stood at1,669, after the transfer of members to the SingaporeBranch. Of these, 1,447 were in Hong Kong, whilst the nexttwo largest groups were in the Mainland China (99) andIndonesia (38).The YMG has enjoyed a busy and varied year. In addition toevents focused on developing members knowledge ofalternative dispute resolution a varied programme ofcommunity service, sporting and social activities have beenundertaken. Plans are currently underway for a delegation tovisit Shanghai. The YMG has been chaired by Johnson Leethis year.The branch continues to be represented on the EditorialCommittee of the Asian Dispute Review Journal by PaulBarratt and Paulo Fohlin. The branch newsletter continuesto be published quarterly, and particular thanks are due toPaulo for his efforts as editor and prime mover in ensuringthat we publish the newsletter regularly. The website has beenupdated regularly under the management of Sacha Cheong.I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members ofthe branch committee for their considerable efforts in thepast year. I would particular like to thank John Cock,Immediate Past Chair, for his assistance and guidance to me.Thanks also to Primrose Law and the staff of the HKIAC fortheir dedicated support without which the branch could notfunction.■EUROPEAN BranchChairman: Axel ReegIn 2009, the European Branch held two meetings, theSpring Meeting in Milan and the Autumn Meeting in Tunis.The Spring Meeting in Milan, held at the end of March inconjunction with the Camera Arbitrale de la Camera diCommercio di Milano, was extraordinarily well organised by agroup of committee members headed by Giovanni De Berti,Cecilia Carrara and Antonio Franchi. It had a very goodturnout in attendees and a high level and interestingprogramme on diverse topics, covering issues of arbitrationand ADR in Italy and, on the second day, issues of a broaderinterest. Particular mention should be made to a session in atalk show format organized by Jo Kuckenburg with fourexperienced arbitration practitioners whose contributionswere limited to a maximum of two minutes at a time. Thisresulted in a very high-level but also most entertaining session.It was no wonder that almost 100 percent of the participantsstayed in the session room not only on the Friday but alsoon the whole of the Saturday of the conference.Likewise, the Tunis Conference was a big success. It wasjointly organized with the ICC and the Lebanon and CairoBranches of the Institute. Apart from focusing on the specialsituation of arbitration in the Maghreb countries, the conferencewas entitled “The place of arbitration – does it matter?”. Thelayout of the conference, the topics and the speakersselected, organized and presented by Sami Houerbi and JoKuckenburg was extremely well received and was a greatsuccess. It should also be mentioned that Emmanuel Gaillardfrom Paris guided the audience through the sessions with ahigh class initial presentation and, at the end of the conference,with an equally high-level summary.Apart from this, the branch committee have held their tworegular meetings and the Annual Meeting was held on theoccasion of the conference in Milan.The branch has further developed projects to organisetraining programmes with established arbitration institutionson the continent and it has represented the Institute on theoccasion of the first European Arbitration Forum held in Kievin May 2009. Finally, the branch is excited about the prospectof hosting the Institute’s Congress to be held in Heidelberg,Germany in October 2010.■INDIA BranchChairman: Lalit BhasinThe principal India Branch officers for 2009 were: Lalit Bhasin(Chairman), Chandrakant Kamdar (Honorary Secretary) andAnil Shah (Honorary Treasurer).The branch was re-activated in October 2008 andsubsequently registered in the name of Chartered Institute ofArbitrators (India) under Section 25 of the Indian CompaniesAct and registered by Registrar of Companies, Maharastra,India. The Board of Directors of CIArb (India) consists of LalitBhasin, Chandrakant Kamdar, Anil Shah and Nusrat Hassan.The branch was officially inaugurated on 26 November 2009in Delhi by Hon Dr M Veerappa Moily, Union Minister of Lawand Justice in the distinguished presence of Mr MichaelForbes Smith, Director General of CIArb, Hon Justice Mr JSVerma, Former Chief Justice of India, Mr RKP Shankardass,distinguished members of the bar, law students, membersof CIArb India and other dignitaries. Membership of thebranch currently stands at 60.CIArb Annual Report 2009: International Branch ReportsPage 19